Clothing in the Gothic style causes mixed reactions, from complete rejection to genuine interest and admiration. Dark personalities with an impenetrable expression of a deathly pale face, like aliens from the other world or a parallel world, attract the eye, make you turn around with caution or with the thought “damn beautiful, but it won’t suit me.” These are goths. Whether it is necessary to belong to their subculture in order to dress in such a style is a moot point. Now let’s try, without changing our worldview, to join the shocking gothic fashion and add an extravagant touch to your everyday look or for special occasions.
In this article:
- a brief excursion into history;
- style features;
- variations on a theme;
- selection of accessories;
- makeup accents;
- who will suit it;
- famous goth personalities.
Let’s briefly go through history from the Middle Ages to the present day and begin to study photos, select clothes and create the image of a charming goth or change our attitude towards this culture to a more loyal one. After all, its representatives are ordinary people who express their individuality in this way.
The history of Gothic fashion
Gloomy morals reigned in Europe in the 12th-15th centuries. It was an eerie and at the same time romantic time from the point of view of a modern person. The omnipotence of the Catholic Church, the merciless bonfires of the Inquisition, burning witches, noble knights ready to sacrifice their lives for the sake of beautiful ladies.
It was during this era that a majestic style, mesmerizing with cold inaccessibility, was born, called Gothic, that is, barbaric, denying the classical canons of beauty, proportions and harmony. At first, the direction of architecture, and then clothing, with pronounced sharp angles, symbolized the desire upward, towards God, the denial of the earthly importance of existence.
The new style became most widespread in France. The clothes of Parisian fashionistas were pretentious and original:
- pointed hats and pointed shoes;
- thin silhouettes covered with corsets;
- trains of infinite length;
- jagged, uneven edges of sleeves and hems;
- an abundance of bright ornaments and floral motifs.
Tailoring from a simple craft turned into an art, and all cutting techniques known to this day were invented.
And then the world stepped into the Renaissance, and Gothic sank into oblivion. The attempt to emerge from oblivion at the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th centuries was short-lived and unsuccessful. In the 70s of the 20th century, gothic revived again, replacing the fading punk culture, which failed to establish itself in its slogan “Live fast - die young.”
Life was more or less clear, and almost everyone could cope. But the theme of death, the afterlife, and eternal mourning appealed to the taste of gloomy romantics. Their favorite color became black, and cemeteries became their favorite places to walk and gather. The new gothic style finally took shape by the 80s, and in the 2000s it appeared on the catwalks.
A dark and fascinating subculture
Goths are a subculture that arose not so long ago. Despite this, she managed to gain enormous popularity among young people. Many will be surprised, but the gothic subculture originated from punks. It would seem that aggressive, militant punks and goths, immersed in their own experiences and disappointed in life, could have in common. To understand this, let's remember the history of the last century.
At the end of the 70s, young people begin to understand that revolution and destruction are not capable of changing the world. The rebellious mood gives way to disappointment and apathy. After all, their desire to change the world was in vain. The popularity of the punk subculture begins to rapidly decline. They are being replaced by the Goths with their detachment from the problems of the outside world and an exaggerated perception of their emotional experiences. At first, these two youth subcultures differed little. The Goths preferred the same strange hairstyles, clothes, mystical accessories and black color. With the development of the popularity of this movement, gothic musical groups began to appear. The similarity between punks and goths gradually faded away. Young people who preferred this gloomy style tried to emphasize their difference from others, aristocracy and decadent moods. Gradually, a certain Gothic style of clothing for girls and boys, their lifestyle and worldview was established. As a result, the difference became very noticeable.
Modern ready-to-wear style: characteristic features, distinctive features
The Middle Ages left its mark on the appearance of melancholy fatalists. But they adopted only a narrow, laced waist; otherwise, the fashion trends of that time have little in common with the appearance of modern Goths.
These grotesque personalities rather took on the role of a victim of the Inquisition, who appeared in our world with a reminder of eternal sorrow, mourning, and the frailty of existence. But believe me, deep down, none of them are going to die, and the exquisite beauty of death is a way to present oneself to the world and be noticed.
If you want to accurately identify representatives of this subculture in a crowd or try on clothes in the Gothic style, remember the main features:
- predominance of black with contrasting accents - white, red;
- dark rich colors are allowed - purple, burgundy, green, blue;
- clear silhouettes, straight flying lines;
- frank extravagance with subtext for adults;
- vintage or ultra-modern dresses with a complex cut;
- voluminous skirts, mini or maxi length;
- frill, lace, mesh, lacing;
- corsets and belts, mainly over clothing;
- loose black blouses, T-shirts, shirts, turtlenecks;
- an abundance of leather - trousers, skirts, leather jackets;
- rough shoes with platforms or high heels (grinders, camelots, ankle boots);
- eccentric umbrellas, veiled hats, long gloves;
- massive white metal jewelry;
- expressive contrast of dark hair and completely white face;
- deliberately careless aggressive makeup in black and blood-red tones.
Preferable fabrics:
- velvet;
- atlas;
- silk;
- leather;
- vinyl;
- brocade;
- taffeta;
- lace;
- organza.
The Goths have a fair share of aristocracy in both women's style and men's clothing. Long black coats and raincoats, a top-hat, and on special occasions a tailcoat, what a London dandy. But still, the image of a modern goth girl deserves more attention.
Hairstyle is ready
Boys and girls dye their hair black or blue-black. So the face visually becomes even paler. The hair is pulled out with an iron so that it is perfectly smooth. Most often they are given a slightly dirty appearance. So the Goths emphasize that they reject the rules accepted in society. They have their own rules by which they live. There are practically no goths with short hair. Even men grow their hair long, which they wear in a low ponytail or leave loose.
Options for self-expression in clothes from the goths
The image of a Gothic Lolita can be an interesting discovery for girls. This style is one of the types of Japanese street fashion. It does not contain any hints of vulgarity and vulgarity, but on the contrary looks quite elegant and relaxed. Character traits:
- black color actively diluted with blue, blue, red details;
- quite a lot of white - stockings, gloves, petticoats;
- formal dresses with bodices and full skirts;
- flirtatiously peeking shirt collars and lace pantaloons;
- elegant knee length;
- gothic prints;
- elegant hats with ribbons, coffin handbags;
- shoes with massive heels or very high (up to 20 cm) platforms;
- gloomy makeup can be replaced with makeup that focuses on the eyes;
- hair - black curls or straight dark red, purple or red strands are possible in black hair.
The result is a completely charming, feminine image. But the Gothic clothing style is very diverse. There are other directions as well.
- The cyber-gloomy palette is generously complemented by acidic shades, hairstyles – mohawks, dreadlocks, makeup in neon tones.
- Jay is an imitation of the heroes of Japanese anime, but with strict adherence to the Gothic rules - dark clothes and contrasting makeup.
- Medieval - the most romantic branch of the Goth subculture: indispensable corsets, Victorian-style dresses, long gloves, lace, hats.
- Vampire is the most popular style. The emphasis is on the obligatory presence of a rich red color, symbolizing blood and impeccable whiteness of the skin.
- Corporate – allows you to comply with the dress code in a work environment. Usually it is a strict black suit with a snow-white shirt and some jewelry in the appropriate style.
As you can see, putting together a set of clothes in a modern gothic style, suitable for any setting, is not difficult. But that's not all. It is important to maintain the harmony of the image as a whole, that is, to turn into a Goth or Hotness from head to toe.
What styles is Gothic divided into?
All of the above are general, canonical features of the Goths. But every city has its own movement. And they all changed over time. What happened in the end?
Aktiquary
They were impressed by Victorian fashion. There is room to expand, but the style is not for comfortable everyday wear. Whether it's for photo shoots.
Vampires
The second most dominant color is red, preferably with a wine, that is, bloody tint. The general image should simply give associations with vampires, or, in extreme cases, werewolves.
Westerns
A little American fashion from the Wild West. More lace, more feminine, in the classical sense of the word, silhouettes. And men are more cowboys than vampires.
Lolita
A beautiful gothic doll that came to us from Japan under the influence of anime. Their maximum concentration is at anime festivals, I recommend visiting them, these ladies are truly charming.
Gypsy
Take the aesthetics of a gypsy camp and gothic clothes - it will turn out very unusual, but stylish in its own way.
Cyber goth
What would goth androids look like? Microchips, latex, tight clothing from the future and acidic inserts. Why not?
Steam punk
What does a vampire look like in a world where steam has conquered electricity? Very stylish!
Tribal
The shaman has three arms... Bones, dreadlocks, ethnic clothing - here you go.
Faeries
Morgana would be here. All dark fairies obey this style.
Shoes and accessories
Gothess legs will meet all the requirements if you wear:
- high combat boots;
- boots on a massive platform;
- shoes or sandals with wide and fairly high heels;
- for special occasions - an aggressive stiletto heel.
Instead of bags - large black backpacks or elegant suitcases. Headdress – a hat, preferably with a veil or ribbons. Glasses are often round and can be decorated with spikes. An original accessory is a collar made of latex, leather or metal. Spikes on it are also welcome. Another trick is a lace or velvet umbrella for protection from the sun.
Jewelry is only made of silver, white gold or platinum is allowed, but yellow metal is absolutely unacceptable. These are rings, bracelets, pendants, earrings in the shape of Celtic crosses, figurines of dragons, bats, cats. Among precious stones, diamonds, sapphires, pearls are welcome, and among semi-precious ones - all with a cold and black color.
Versatile gothic wardrobe
Gothic fashion is constantly evolving, giving rise to more and more new trends (remember, we named only the main ones). However, there is a basic wardrobe on which the style as a whole is based.
For men , this is, first of all, a suit, stylized as any of the past eras: from a Harlequin outfit to a tailcoat with a shirtfront. And also raincoats, velvet jackets, black leather trousers or wide pants, leather jackets with metal fittings, sweatshirts with pointed hoods, black T-shirts, turtlenecks, mesh shirts. The range is so wide that it makes it easy to embody both a distinctly masculine image and a subtle, graceful one.
For women, the field for creativity is also free. There are capes, capes with hoods, and maxi or knee-length dresses in complex, fancy styles, and sheath dresses, dresses with trains, bolero jackets, multi-layered skirts with torn, jagged edges, airy, patterned blouses, and outer corsets.
Suitable fabrics are silk, cambric, taffeta, organza, guipure, chiffon, crushed velvet, brocade, satin, latex, leather and vinyl. Colors – black, burgundy, cobalt blue, jade green, purple.
Gothic hairstyles and makeup
The classic goth hairstyle is straight black hair. It's a good idea to give them a slightly dirty look. For a romantic look, curls and bouffant hairstyles are acceptable. Many goth girls prefer to dye their hair a deep red or ash color.
Gothic makeup is a thick layer of white makeup on the face, a complete absence of blush, black eyeliner, pencil or eye shadow, dark or blood-red matte lipstick. Nails are painted with black varnish. Top class, if the manicure and makeup are done a little carelessly.
Goths
This is usually the name given to people who prefer total black color in clothes, makeup, shoes and hairstyle. Goths are fond of mysticism and stories about vampires. Many consider themselves relatives of the most famous vampire - Count Dracula. They are used to seeing the world around them in dark colors. You will never see a hint of a smile on a Goth’s face. They are always immersed in their own suffering and are in constant depression. Most often because of unhappy love that broke their heart to pieces. Representatives of this subculture are attracted to death. Goths see something attractive and alluring in her. Young girls are often attracted to the gothic subculture. They will be captivated by the black color and shiny fabrics made of velvet, velor and latex. There is even a certain gothic style of clothing for girls. With dark clothes and creepy makeup, they try to protect themselves from the cruelty and ridicule of others. Despite their terrifying appearance, Goths are very shy and vulnerable people at heart.
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Who would suit an extravagant look?
Gothic clothing style is actually quite versatile. You can even have a non-traditional wedding. The goth bride will amaze the guests and will remain in the memory for a long time. In normal life this would work:
- shocking and young girls;
- for an original photo shoot;
- for a friendly party or Halloween;
- lovers of black who began to consider it boring;
- those who want to radically change their image, but are lost in thought.
You don't have to change your entire wardrobe at once. Start small and gradually build up your look, or limit yourself to one or two sets.
Finishing touches
When it comes to footwear, Goths prefer platform boots, high heavy boots, and high-heeled shoes. As a rule, these are black shoes decorated with metal elements.
In addition to the wardrobe, specific makeup is required for Goths. The face should be whitened, the eyes should be heavily lined with black, and bright red or black and blue lipstick should be applied to the lips.
Thus, over the centuries, the Gothic style has undergone major changes, turning from aristocratic to youth. But despite this, it retains its dark charm.
Bright representatives of style
The most shocking of the famous goths is Lady Gaga. It is almost impossible to outshine and surpass her. But American Taylor Momsen can be a worthy opponent. This singer even appears on the red carpet in a gothic look. What can we say about stage costumes and ordinary life? The Olsen sisters also gravitate to this fashion trend to some extent.
If you admire these individuals, then there is someone to look up to. The images don’t evoke sympathy – what’s stopping you from creating your own unique wardrobe with a gothic twist? Go for it!
Gothic in images from films
The film industry clearly favors the gothic: only recently “The Crow” and “Frankenweenie” have been released, not to mention a dozen films and TV series about vampires. We do not rule out that fashion trends are influenced by cinema, and we recall images from classics and new films.
In Hunger, Catherine Deneuve and David Bowie play a pair of black-leather vampires, and gothic rockers Bauhaus make a musical guest appearance with Bela Lugosi's Dead.
Actually, this selection could only include films by Tim Burton. From “Edward Scissorhands” with gothic images of Johnny Depp in 1990 to “Dark Shadows” with, to be honest, also gothic images of Johnny Depp and Eva Green and Michelle Pfeiffer in luxurious dresses. Note that even the costumes of the heroes of the cartoon “Corpse Bride” deserve attention.
Sonnenfeld's The Addams Family with Anjelica Huston and Christina Ricci is a guide to going goth at home.
A road movie about two goth friends, Gypsy 83, will show how members of the subculture dressed at the very beginning of the 2000s.
Since the release of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo in 2011, Rooney Mara has become a style icon, and a number of brands, such as H&M, have released clothing collections inspired by the film. The hacker Lisbeth Salander's style also influenced design minds.
In Francis Ford Coppola's new horror film "Between," Elle Fanning plays one of the main roles, looking like a dead bride - she is pale, with red eye shadow and lipstick and in a Victorian dress with a leather corset.
