Often associated with dark and melancholic aesthetics, including black clothing, heavy makeup, and elaborate hairstyles, Goth is a subculture that emerged in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Goth culture and fashion has always been about breaking free from societal norms and expressing oneself in an individual and unique way. Tomorrow.events foresees the alternative subculture’s popularity rising as people continue to turn to platforms such as social media for inspiration and community.
The Resurrection
In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in goth fashion. Firstly because the cultural context of goth fashion is expanding to include a wider range of social and political issues, such as body positivity, feminism, and LGBTQ+ rights. Secondly, In the modern post-COVID pandemic world individualization has become even more important because people are looking for ways to express themselves and stand out in a world that can often feel homogenous and conformist.
Tomorrow.events predicts that goth fashion and culture will become even more mainstream and accepted.
Goth Culture and Fashion – A Brief History
Goth Fashion and Architecture
From the 13th to 16th century, Gothic architecture became prevalent in Europe, giving us some of the world famous buildings such as Notre-Dame de Paris, Westminster Abbey, Milan Cathedral, Cologne Cathedral, and St. Vitus Cathedral. With its emphasis on intricate details, ornate patterns, dramatic shapes, and dark color palettes, Gothic architecture had a significant influence on fashion and literature.
Gothic Architecture on Runways
Many fashion designers have taken inspiration from Gothic architecture, and as a result incorporated its motifs into their collection. One example is the iconic ‘Plato’s Atlantis’ collection by Alexander McQueen, which featured intricate detailing and dramatic shapes.
Another example is Gareth Pugh’s Fall/Winter 2015 collection. He drew inspiration from the spires of Gothic cathedrals. The collection featured angular silhouettes, exaggerated shoulders, and metallic embellishments that resembled the intricate carvings and details found on the exterior of Gothic buildings.
Goth Fashion and Literature
Gothic architecture became an inspiration for a new genre of literature in the late 1700s, now known as Gothic Fiction. This genre of literature combines elements of horror, romanticism, and the supernatural. One of the earliest examples of goth fashion is the Victorian era. It was characterized by corsets, long dresses, and high collars.
Gothic Literature on the Runways
Gothic literature had a significant influence on gothic fashion, and some fashion designers have specifically attributed their collections to this genre. American fashion designer Rick Owens’ Fall/Winter 2017 collection, titled “Glitter,” drew inspiration from the gothic novel “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley.
Alexander McQueen’s Fall/Winter 2007 collection was inspired by Arthur Miller’s play “The Crucible,” which depicts the infamous witch trials that took place in Salem, Massachusetts in the late 17th century.
Goth Fashion and Music
Music has played a significant role in the uprise of goth fashion. Goth music emerged in the late 1970s and early 1980s as a sub-genre of post-punk. Its dark, atmospheric sound and lyrics spoke to the disillusionment and alienation of youth culture at the time.
The British band Bauhaus was one of the pioneers of the gothic music scene. Their dark, brooding sound and theatrical performances helped to establish the visual style of goth fashion. Their influence is evident in the use of black clothing, heavy eyeliner, and Gothic motifs in goth fashion.
The Cure, led by frontman Robert Smith, helped define the gothic sound of the 1980s. Additionally, Smith’s iconic look, which featured messy black hair, red lipstick, and smudged eyeliner, also had a significant impact on gothic fashion.
Singer and songwriter Marilyn Manson helped to bring gothic fashion into the mainstream in the 1990s.
The Sisters of Mercy helped to define the sound and look of gothic rock. Their look featured black leather, sunglasses, and elaborate hairstyles that influenced goth fashion for years to come.
Goth Fashion – From Streets to Runways
Street fashion has played a vital role in bringing these influences together and creating a distinct goth style that is recognized and appreciated around the world. The use of vintage clothing and accessories, which has been a staple of street fashion for decades, has also been a significant influence on goth fashion. Several fashion designers have taken influence from goth street fashion over the years, including Ann Demeulemeester. Her designs often feature elements of punk, goth, and grunge fashion, with a focus on black and white colors, asymmetrical silhouettes, and lace and leather textures.
French fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier is famous for his eclectic designs that blend different cultural influences, including elements of goth fashion.
Marc Jacobs, an American designer, is well-known for his eclectic designs that blend different influences, including elements of goth fashion.
Vivienne Westwood, a British fashion designer. is famous for her punk-inspired designs.
Goth Fashion in Retail
Besides the high-end fashion designers, several retail brands are popular for their goth fashion aesthetic. Tripp NYC, a popular streetwear brand that specializes in goth and punk fashion, often has collections featuring a range of edgy pieces, such as studded leather jackets, plaid pants, and skull-print t-shirts. H&M has several collections dedicated to this subculture as well. Dollskill, another global online fashion brand is quite popular for its street style goth apparel and accessories.
Killstar, a UK-based brand, specializes in goth and occult-inspired fashion. Their collections often feature dark, witchy pieces with a mix of lace, velvet, and leather textures.
Disturbia. another UK-based brand, specializes in goth and alternative fashion for both men and women with collections featuring dark, edgy pieces with a mix of graphic prints, distressed textures, and occult imagery.
Necessary Evil is a UK-based brand that specializes in goth and alternative fashion for both men and women.
BlackCraft Cult, a US-based brand, specializes in goth and occult-inspired fashion.
Role of Social Media
Social media has provided a space for goth fashion enthusiasts to connect, share their style, and find inspiration from others in the community, specially within Generation Z and Generation Alpha. Toxic Tears is a YouTube influencer and model who is famous for her goth fashion and makeup tutorials..
Venus Prototype is another model and influencer who is popular because of her goth and cybergoth fashion. She has worked with a variety of goth and alternative brands and has also launched her own line of clothing and accessories.
Drac Makens, a YouTube influencer and model, is known for her goth fashion and makeup tutorials.
Nu-goth
Lady Amaranth is a model and influencer who is known for her Nu-goth and alternative fashion. Nu-goth style started as a response to the resurgence of goth subculture among younger generations with a modern take on goth fashion, combining elements of streetwear, punk, and traditional goth style.
Cybergoth
Another modern style is Cybergoth. It blends gothic fashion with futuristic elements, featuring neon colors, platform boots, and cyberpunk accessories such as gas masks and goggles. Examples include the band KMFDM and the fashion brand Lip Service.
Goth Jewelry
No fashion look is complete without accessories. From iconic symbols like skulls and crosses to dark crystals and occult motifs, gothic elements have become a popular choice for those looking to add a touch of darkness and edge to their jewelry collections. German jewelry brand Thomas Sabo has a line of gothic-inspired jewelry featuring skulls, crosses, and dark crystals.
British jewelry brand The Great Frog has been making handmade gothic-inspired jewelry since the 1970s, with a focus on heavy silver rings featuring skulls, snakes, and other dark motifs.
UK-based brand Alchemy Gothic creates a wide range of gothic-inspired jewelry featuring skulls, crosses, and other dark symbols.
Gothic Makeup
MakeUp is an integral part of Goth fashion and culture. You can see a touc og goth is some of summer 2023 nail trends. There are several makeup brands that cater to the goth style and offer products to help achieve a bold and edgy look. Lime Crime is popular for its bold and unique makeup products, including their famous ‘Velvetines’ liquid lipsticks and their ‘Venus’ eyeshadow palettes.
Illamasqua, a UK-based brand is known for its bold and unconventional makeup products, with a range of dark and edgy shades perfect for goth style. Their “Antimatter” lipstick collection features a range of bold, high-pigment shades that are perfect for creating a gothic look.
Black Moon Cosmetics is an indie makeup brand. They offers a range of dark and bold makeup products, including lipsticks and eyeshadows in rich, moody shades. Their “Orb of Light” eyeshadow palette features a range of dark and metallic shades that are perfect for creating a bold, gothic-inspired look.
The tattoo artist and makeup mogul Kat Von D is known for her dark and edgy aesthetic, often incorporating gothic elements into her clothing and makeup.
Jeffree Star Cosmetics, founded by the famous makeup artist Jeffree Star, offers a range of bold and edgy makeup products, including a range of dark lipsticks and eyeshadows.
Gothic Footwear
Indeed, any look is incomplete without the right shoes to go with. As noted earlier, an important part of styling in this subcultural form is mix-and-match. In this case, the right shoes with the specific outfit to give it a whole look. From platform boots to combat boots, from Mary Janes to creepers, be it demonia shoes, laced or studded, knee-length or ankle length – just like clothes, accessories and makeup, Gothic fashion is extremely diverse and keeps evolving!
Night Life and Goth Clubs
With a subculture as diverse as Goth, it’s no surprise that there are several iconic goth themed clubs in the US. Consequently they not only provide a safe space for people to come together and express their individuality, but also play a significant role in the evolution of goth fashion.
The Lizard Lounge, located in Dallas, Texas, has been a go-to spot for goth and alternative music since the early 1990s. It’s famous for its dark, atmospheric decor and for hosting a variety of events, from live music shows to goth-themed dance parties.
The Castle – Located in Ybor City, a historic district of Tampa, Florida, is a goth club that has been around since the mid-1990s. It’s known for its medieval decor and for hosting a variety of goth, industrial, and electronic music events.
Goth Fashion on the Red Carpet
From the streets, to the fashion ramps – Gothic fashion has also found its way to the red carpet!
The lead singer of the popular rock band Evanescence, Amy Lee, is known for her gothic-inspired style. She often wears flowing black gowns and dramatic jewelry on stage.
Billie Eilish looked hauntingly gorgeous dressed in a Nick Owens ensemble at the 2022 Grammys.
Avril Lavigne revived her goth look from her 20 year old album ‘Let Go.’ She wore Versace cargo pants, corset and combat boots on 2022 MTV’s VMA red carpet.
A Sustainable Edge
Goth fashion has always been about mixing and matching different elements to create a unique look. This approach was influenced by street fashion, where people would mix high-end and low-end fashion, vintage and contemporary styles, and different cultural influences to create their own unique looks. This also makes this subcultural style more sustainable, and eco-friendly.
End Note
In conclusion, gothic fashion has evolved to reflect the changing attitudes and trends of modern society, while still maintaining its distinct and influential aesthetic.
It’s hard to say which trend will ‘ultimately’ be the most popular. However, Tomorrow.events envisions that gothic fashion will not only remain an important part of alternative subculture for the foreseeable future, but also gain more popularity within Generation Z and Generation Alpha.
