A Guide for Goths: The Dark Side of Fashion

Goth fashion is a big pile of heavy makeup and black clothing with different subsets of goth culture. This style has its own look, musical choices, personal tastes and special attention to classic literature. In this article, we will help you classify the different types of Gothic styles and guide you to the best solution.

1- Classical style / Deathrock

When people imagine gothic, they think of classical or deathrock. This style actually originated in the UK in the early 80s, when punk started to lose steam. The goth scene had dark hair in very punk styles like ripped fishnets, mohawks, and especially black clothing.

Both men and women tend to cover up more, while this style of goth attracts some of the more sexualized aspects of fashion like sexy corsets and bondage girdles . Women's style often consists of a long-sleeve mesh or net top, layered with a tank top and leather jacket . For men, the style is simple; usually, a pair of tight bondage style jeans and a banded shirt , layered with a dark coat.

2- Industrial Style/Rivet

Industrial or rivet gothic is a post-apocalyptic take on fashion. This style is reflected in predominantly black, sometimes silver, red and gray fabrics. Industrial scenes are where technology is hard to come by and life is hard.

For women, Gothic style is similar to Cyber, but the colors are usually all black and red. Men dress in a fashionable, aggressive look, with multi-pocket cargo pants showing off frequently.

3- Pastel/bright style

Other styles are often relegated to this category because they don't seem to fit in aesthetically. This style is a mix of kawaii and anime lolita fashion with the basics of classic gothic.

This style seems to be dominated by women. Clothing tends toward short dresses and doll-like corsets with hair extensions and colorful wigs. The outfit can be all shiny and black and can be mixed with pops of color. There's no reason not to try this style.

4- Victorian/vamp style

This gothic style takes inspiration from the late 1800s, favoring clothing worn during the mourning period after a person's death.

These clothes usually consist of long skirts and dresses for women who have some bustle, but black corsets are not uncommon. Hairstyle and makeup are generally simple, with pure lines favored. The Vamp subset uses these style points.

5- Steampunk style

Steampunk is relatively new to the gothic landscape, but it fits in perfectly. This style presents a different look and color palette than the usual gothic scene, with many outfits using brown, ivory, green, and bronze colors.

Men are seen with ties, waistcoats and trousers, although they sometimes wear jodhpurs. Women wear suspender skirts or pants , Victorian corsets, and button-down tops.