Inked in my memory

June 5, 2009 12:28 PM

Please help me find this magazine advertisement or tattoo/model.

In the October 1997 issue of Teen or YM magazine with Jared Leto on the cover, there was a Calvin Klein advertisement that featured a model with a unique rose tattoo. The small tattoo was located on her shoulder or on her arm off right off her shoulder, and it was of a rose. The head/petals of the rose looked like an @ symbol. It was not the AOL rose tho ( @--->---). The stem was not like a typical thorny rose stem, and I believe a snake/serpent was wrapped around that part.

I don't recall any distinguishing characteristics about the model, but she was white.

Other things to note:
1) I am very certain about the issue, but as time passes, I am less certain about which magazine.
2) I have searched the online CK ads archive, but I think it is not complete. The ad was not in black and white, and it was not a celebrity model ad either. The feel of the ad was like this one, but I remember something about a purplish, reddish hue in the background like this one.
3) She wasn't standing, but I think she might have been laying in some contrived pose on water or a branch.
4) I have called the YM and Teen back issue departments, but they do not do back issues that far.

I'm crossing my fingers that someone, somewhere loves this model, Calvin Klein, Jared Leto, tattoos, or old teen magazines, and can help me identify this tattoo.

posted by alice ayres to clothing, beauty, & fashion (6 comments total)

Are you sure that it's either Teen or YM? If so, one good approach might be to search Worldcat to find a library (probably academic, probably at an institution with fashion and/or pop-culture programs) with 1997 volumes of both magazines in their collection. Then, either visit said institution, use an email reference service or just call them up.

It shouldn't be a big deal for whoever answers the phone in the periodical stacks to determine whether Leto appears on the cover of the October '97 YM or Teen. At that point, you can either interlibrary loan the bound volume which contains the issue in question or, alternately, very politely request that the library worker flip through it for you.

If you're not absolutely sure of all the information you mentioned, though, this search could quickly widen and turn into a frustrating wild goose chase. Please, from somebody who used to field these kinds of questions, have all your facts in hand before you contact the library.
posted by box at 3:23 PM on June 5

A Google search for 1997 leto cover tells one that he was on both the March 1997 Details and the July 1996 Seventeen. One of those couldn't be it, could it?
posted by quarantine at 6:41 PM on June 5

One word: Microfiche.
posted by hal_c_on at 9:50 PM on June 5

You could try looking at this woman's website; she seems to have lots of back issues of both Teen and YM and might be willing to tell you which issue you're thinking of and/or acquire those issues for you.

Also, while I can't see a location in your profile, if you're willing to wait a few days, and you're anywhere near Los Angeles, drop me a MeMail.
posted by librarylis at 10:46 PM on June 5

I went looking for scans of the July 96 Seventeen magazine and found this girl's journal. It looks like she knows someone with the magazine who scanned the Jared Leto interview for her. It's from January, so it's fairly recent. Maybe she can help you?

I also found this message board about models with tattoos.
posted by apricot at 4:33 PM on June 6

thanks for all the suggestions. it isn't the 96 seventeen issue. the issue was from my first month in high school (that's how i remembered the date so well). i used to have two copies of the magazine, but my mom threw them away, and i am certain that is why i keep and archive all my magazines now.

i used worldcat, which directed me to my own library, NYPL. i contacted NYPL's research library, and they ordered both magazines. i should have access to them in 2 or 3 days. yay! as such, i am marking box as my best answer.

i did try all the other suggestions, as well, but they didn't pan out. thank you librarylis, for making yourself available to me.


for prosperity sake, i will follow up again to answer my own questions.
posted by alice ayres at 12:40 PM on June 10