The History of the Goth Look: A Brief Guide to Fashion and Subculture Identification
The goth subculture began in the mid-1980s in the United Kingdom as a way for young people who were interested in punk and new wave music to dress in a sophisticated manner. Goths reinterpret traditional genres like rock and classical music and add a gothic twist to their appearance. In the early 2000s, goths began to appear in the U.S. and Europe and adopt the subculture. While the goth look has stayed the same, the various subcultures have developed their own unique fashion and social media aesthetics. The gothic style has evolved and split into several other subcultures. Read on to learn more about the gothic look and its various incarnations.
What is the Goth Look?
The gothic style is a fusion of various fashion and cultural elements, including death culture, alternative, and rock subcultures. The look is typically associated with darkness, melancholy, and even macabre humor. There is some variation in the look depending on who is wearing it, but the basic elements are usually black clothing, white t-shirts, black leather jackets, white sneakers, and dark makeup.
Goths often express themselves through music, which adds to the overall gothic aesthetic. The music that goths enjoy varies widely and is often influenced by various subcultures. Goths are known for being very selective about the music they listen to, often rejecting mainstream pop and rock music in favor of underground or obscure artists.
Gothic Fashion
The goth look is typically associated with black and dark colors, but there are many different variations on this theme. Some goths prefer to wear all white, while others prefer to wear earth tones or vibrant shades. Goths often wear makeup to enhance their natural beauty and create a more striking contrast with their dark clothing.
Most gothic outfits consist of a top and bottom, though some people prefer to wear a halter top or a crop top. The top should be plain and made of a tight-fitting material, while the bottom can be any type of pants or skirts. Heels and boots are also common, though many goths prefer to forgo wearing them in favor of more comfortable and utilitarian sneakers.
Gothic Makeup
Like their clothing, goths prefer dark makeup. They may use false eyelashes, dark eyeshadow, and red lipstick to create a more dramatic appearance. The look is often accompanied by heavy eyelid surgery, which creates large, swollen lids that are often outlined with black. Other styles of makeup are also common, including unnatural colors that often appear eerie under bright lights.
Many goth makeup tutorials exist on the internet, but the most effective way to create the look is to have a trusted makeup artist apply it for you.
Gothic Culture
Music is a key part of the goth subculture, but it is only one aspect of the larger culture that Goths have created. Goth culture encompasses a variety of interests and hobbies, many of which are related to death and the afterlife. These interests include the Gothic novel, cemeteries and gravestones, death metal, and even playing with the dead. The popularity of these hobbies has fluctuated over time, but they are still widely pursued by goths today.
Gothic Social Media Subcultures
Goths are well-known for their love of social media, particularly Facebook and Instagram. They often create pseudonymous accounts under assumed names and post a wide range of content that is often dark and upsetting. Some of the most popular tags in the gothic community are #goth, #gothic, #dark, #broken, and #insanity.
Conclusion
The gothic style has evolved over time and traveled from the United Kingdom to the United States and much of Europe. While the basic elements of the style remain the same, goths often mix and match them in an effort to create a unique and individual look. The gothic look has become synonymous with darkness and sadness, but it can also be a source of inspiration and creativity. Goths are often very involved in their preferred hobby and have created a subculture around themselves. They are known for being very selective about the music they listen to, often rejecting mainstream pop and rock music in favor of underground or obscure artists. Goths are also interested in death culture and often express themselves through music, which adds to the overall gothic aesthetic.