Choker necklaces in general have a surprisingly strange backstory for a piece of jewelry with such an unsettling name. History buffs might recall that the choker gained traction in the 19th century, but its origins can be traced back even further, perhaps to Anne Boleyn’s iconic “B” necklace in the 1530s. Speaking of necks and unfortunate ends, during the French Revolution, women donned red ribbons around their necks as a somber symbol of solidarity with those facing the guillotine. Cheerful, right?
Fast forward to the 1800s, and chokers became the favored adornment of the wealthy elite, dripping with pearls and precious jewels. It wasn’t until the rebellious 1990s that chokers took on a new, anti-establishment vibe. While no longer a protest against beheadings, they became a quintessential way to embody the grunge angst that permeated the ’90s zeitgeist. And amongst all the choker styles that emerged from that decade, there was one that stood out for its sheer oddity and ubiquity: the Tattoo Choker.
Everyone who was anyone in the ’90s seemed to sport a choker, from edgy spiked dog collars to those laid-back hemp versions adorned with puka shells. But the real conversation starter, the truly unique piece of 90s neckwear, was the plastic tattoo choker.
This distinctive necklace was crafted from a tight, springy, lace-like plastic, designed to cling snugly to your neck. The goal? To mimic the look of a hand-drawn tattoo – because what better way to express teenage rebellion in the 90s than with the illusion of neck ink? It was a statement piece that somehow managed to convey a mix of “I’m incredibly trendy” and “Don’t mess with me,” all while being made of plastic.
If you wore a tattoo choker back in the day, you probably remember the unique pain of having it snapped by some mischievous boy. It was a universal middle school experience. The boys in my school seemed utterly perplexed by the fashion statement. I vividly recall someone shouting, “What is that thing?” before stretching it away from my neck and letting it snap back. The sting was real, and the playground theatrics of clutching my neck in mock pain were definitely part of the experience. And let’s not forget the constant itching. But despite the discomfort and playground antics, wearing a tattoo choker was peak coolness. It struck that perfect balance: edgy but not too goth, undeniably ’90s, yet somehow… timelessly strange. In retrospect, tattoo chokers were perhaps the most ’90s accessory imaginable, a mass-produced, must-have item dispensed from gum ball machines that perfectly encapsulated the decade’s quirky fashion sensibilities.
The tattoo choker’s appeal wasn’t limited to school hallways and playgrounds. It transcended social circles and popped up in mainstream pop culture, solidifying its status as a bonafide 90s trend. Even the cool kids on TV and in movies were in on it.
Tattoo chokers graced the necks of characters in iconic 90s shows and films:
From Sabrina the Teenage Witch to Buffy the Vampire Slayer and She’s All That, the tattoo choker became a visual shorthand for 90s cool, proving that even fictional popular kids understood its must-have status.
So, what’s the tattoo choker doing these days? Well, surprisingly, it’s still kicking. You can easily find them online, with retailers like ASOS offering them for under $10. Feeling crafty? You can even find DIY tutorials online to make your own tattoo choker, proving that this trend refuses to fade completely. And yes, even celebrities are revisiting the tattoo choker, sometimes with a genuine nod to the 90s:
(Here’s Willow Smith, embracing the 90s vibe, even if she experienced it second-hand).
And sometimes, with a more high-fashion, updated twist:
(Rihanna sported a decidedly more glamorous – and pricier – take on the tattoo choker at the 2014 Met Gala.)
The beauty of the tattoo choker is that it remains largely unchanged. As trends like jelly sandals and grunge fashion experience constant “reinterpretations,” the plastic tattoo choker persists in its original, slightly bizarre form. Etsy shops even sell them in authentically 90s-esque packaging, tapping into the nostalgia factor. Ultimately, the tattoo choker is a unique fashion statement that might never fully make logical sense, but it perfectly captures a moment when fashion was wonderfully strange, and achieving coolness was as simple as sporting a lime green tattoo choker.
