The Goth Guide 07: Fashion Statements

Goth Slang Word of the Day

• Cactus: A goth article of clothing that is embedded with a bunch of spikey studs in them.

Goth Band of the Day

• Killing Joke [formed in 1978, British]
  

This section, we are going to go over different fashions found in the goth society, how to pull off some of these looks, and how to build your own style. Now, obviously there are different types of looks, considering the Goth Subgenres that are alive and walking today throughout the world. Once you know what you lean towards the most, that's when you can really start your wardrobe.

Now, bear in mind that I am not telling you exactly how you should dress, what you should use, etc., I'm simply giving advice on how I and other goths have done styles and how you can do them too.

Make-up Tips

Black eye-liner, dark lipstick, eyeshadow that is smoked and gray, pale faces. All of these plus more have been the foundation of Goth make-up since the traditional decade. Though it is the common facial look to have a white face and black drizzling eye-liner, this is certainly not the case...unless you like that style.

Make-up in this subculture, though some may tell you differently, is like painting a canvas. There's nothing wrong with being creative about your styles of make-up you wish to have, though you must make sure you know what you are doing first. If this is your first time applying eyeliner, try to avoid giving yourself Egyptian lines at the end of your eyes and dots galore above your brow. You will also want to use a pencil before you use liquid. Pencil eyeliner is easier to work with, and liquid will get everywhere if you don't know what you are doing before-hand.

Other Tips:

• As stated before, don't apply greasy white foundation. You are goth, not a mime.
• Never try to force something upon your face that doesn't look right. If You don't have the face for black lipstick or black eyeliner, try something else. Find something that DOES work. (If you have Photoshop, you can actually take a front view picture of your face and experiment there for color. That's what I do.)
• Don't leave home without it! Women, you can obviously carry your make-up in your purse. Men, if you have a lady-friend who will be willing to hold your make-up bag in her purse, then good luck to you! However, if this is unobtainable for any reason, perhaps you could take up carrying a bag, whether it be a backpack, satchel, or even a suitcase! Whatever goes with your style. If you are going for the androgynous look, be bold and carry a purse of your own. You're goth...what do you care what others think? ^_^

For More Information on Goth makeup, click this link!!!

Hair Styles

Though all of the goth look and perfecting your preferred style is pretty complex itself, the hair, in my opinion, are the hardest to deal with. I'm constantly fighting with it because of it's tangle-prone behavior, and I have always had problems with hairspray and my clothing. If I put on all of my attire first, and try to work with my locks of frustration, I end up making myself flammable. When waiting to put my cloths on after my hair is finished, I mess it up every time.

If it's not one thing, it's another. A few tips for doing your hair is:

• A clean towel works wonders. When dealing with items that can get on your clothing, like your make-up, hairspray, an accident with the flat iron or the curler (Heheheh...), it's nice to have a towel cladden along your shoulders to conceal your shirt. It doesn't have to be thick, just something to keep your hair and clothing separate.
• Once again, know what you are doing! If you are unsure of how to tease your hair, don't try it out right before going out for the night. If you mess up, you are going to just have to live with it until you can get back to your mirror at home. Experiment and read up on how these things are done, and like I've said before, if you have the time and the talent, take a picture of yourself with your hair out of the way, and go on the internet and apply different cutouts of hairstyles to your picture on Photoshop. It's a bit silly, but it will help you see what you look good with.

For More Information on goth hair styles, click this link!!!

The Gothy Get-up

You don't have to be a fashionista, or in our case, a gothanista, to look the part and look good while doing it. It doesn't honestly have to be expensive either. However, building up your collection of gothy wear isn't going to be a cake-walk. Not only does it take time and the eyes of a hawk, you will also find something that you adore in places you would never originally think to look.

Though it is the most convenient to go find the nearest Hot Topic or "UG" in the mall, this does not mean that you are going to be dressing goth. I'm not saying to just over look these places, but I am stating that you shouldn't rely on trendstores to get your items. Same for online.

GoodGoth.com and The-Black-Angel.com are good sites to go to, but not only are they expensive, there are also thousands of others going on these sits and buying these clothes, meaning that your style that you think you are making original may not be so original after all.

You can find just as worth-while items at garage-sales, GoodWill, the Salvation Army, and other thrift stores as well as a few hand-me-downs. Take all offers and consider them. I've gotten lovely black lace shirts from garage sales that I later turned into gloves. My grandmother actually had a sister with a ton of vintage dresses and skirts as well as a very lovely translucent fishnet jacket that I wear to this day.

You never know what you will find, so always be on the look-out.

For More Information on Goth Clothing, Click this link!!!

Finishing Touches

Jewelry, piercings and tattoos (real or fake), gloves, belts, and any other accessory you can name is crucial to the final tones and touches of the goth look. Be sure that these all can accent your overall style in a complimentary fashion. If you have a shirt with spiderweb patterns on it, wear a little silver spider trinket about your neck. It's the little things that make your outfit look truly amazing.

For more information on Goth Finishing Touches, Click this link!!!

Tips and Tutorials

This part of the article are for those who wish to sew clothing and get in-depth tips on details and such. I personally love to sew, though I don't really think I'm that good at it. My grandmother made many a quilts in her days, and I was the lucky one to help, though I probably did more harm than good. :)

My point is, I've picked up a lot since then, whether or not I can actually do it, and I wish to express said information here. I will try to be as basic as I can, and slowly work my way up through even harder clothing manipulations and creations.

For more information on goth tips and tutorials, click this link!!!

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