Goth style is all about unleashing all the darkness that hides in the shadow that follows you. Come over to the dark side – it’s devilishly hot and stylish here. Although it’s no fashion secret that black is a perennial favourite of any fashion show or any trending collection, it is easily the best look on the shelf that calls you over to be taken home. Goth style has more to it than just styling black and sporting a charcoal black lip colour.

Knowing its wickedly-curious origins and learning how to let your shadows play the best of you on the dark-lit and smooth fashion ramp is your initiation to the cult of goth style. From sparkling vampire cults to the tattered and torn, the goth style is more diverse and popular than you think it is. Let’s take you on a ride through the bewitching alleyways of the goth style that will make you fall in love with everything spellbinding dark and black.

What is Goth style?

Goth style needs a little more context about this subculture fashion to explain some items that are undoubtedly Gothic fashion staples. The signature style of Goth fashion is distinguished by mystery and darkness that ranges from styling elegant to grunge wardrobe pieces and sometimes an artistic element of smoky makeup to highlight your features.

Don’t be surprised to know goth style is not all about fashioning shades of black. There is a world of darkness without the swirling black swathing you. Typical Goth styles fashions all things dark and brooding with dyed hair in a dark shade, dark painted fingernails, dark eyeliner that most often is thickly lined or smoky eye makeup paired with dark period-style clothing.

History of Goth style 

It is a popular belief that people who fashion goth style have a burning desire to stand out in a society that they consider too conformist and traditionalist that strives to show it is pure and perfect hiding all the darkness within. The 1970s was the punk era that set the tone for the goth subculture.

Although the direct founders of goth, though, were former punks Siouxsie and the Banshees, whose style began to take on a decidedly sinister tone toward the early 1980s, and Bauhaus, whose self-conscious emphasis upon funereal, macabre sounds and imagery was epitomized in the now legendary record “Bela Lugosi’s Dead.”

The present day, the goth style subculture gets the spotlight occasionally with metal bands sporting the same for concerts and celebrities dabbling now and then. Goth style is becoming an inspiration for other styles, which aren’t goth.

How to fashion Goth Style? 

Goth style beckons everyone irrespective of their gender. Both men and women can get swaddled in darkness to fashion the niche of goth style. The popular trend in the subculture of goth style is men or women is to style themselves in crimson or black clothes in their wardrobes, cloaks or studs, ankle boots, and combat boots, corsets, and bustier. Everything from the sturdy buckles, the imaginary lines, and the faux leather fabrics and beautiful satin also make an incredible combination of Gothic Style.

A goth can wear a crushed purple vest or velvet skirt, old-style high shoes, or black work boots along with ripped black T-shirts. Goths also accessorize the niche look with dark eye makeup, black nail polish, and black lipstick. As with the punks, tattoos and piercings are also common among goths, and many people choose ancient Celtic designs.

Goth elements 

Goth style often features fashion and fabric such as smooth velvet, furtive lace, bold leather, period-style clothing like corsets and gloves, to name a few. One alluring aspect of this mysterious style is that it has numerous substyles under the same Goth umbrella as long as it spells darkness.

Goth style has a devilish appreciation for jewellery with mystical symbolism like eternal life, death and the occult. The symbol of Ankh is especially popular because of its meaning, a symbol of life, which has a certain poetic translation to Goth’s philosophy of appreciating the light within darkness, so to speak.

How to start your dark journey?

The goth style can lure you into losing yourself into the dark folds of the goth world. If the fashion is perfected correctly, you will not feel outside your skin to sport a fashion so niche while only a chosen few brave the world of Goth.

Explore and experiment with the different elements of goth. Learn the real meaning of various symbols associated with goth culture. To begin with, start small. I suggest you start styling some goth accessories before you take a deep plunge into the velvety darkness of goth style. Find your comfort in the style and start experimenting. Most, importantly, have fun doing it.