I've been Goth since the 80's. I've always shopped at thrift stores. Sometimes what I like doing is alter Halloween costumes to fit a specific look I want. It doesn't have to cost much money to dress cool. Take it from an "old school" Goth.
+Firestepher G Did Goth people start of being called New Romantics in the early 80's? (1980-81) and later in the decade, they started to be called Goth?
+Skye ID No during that time the "goth" style started in the late 70's in London. Back then they were referred to as "Punk" style. During the onset of the different genre of Heavy Metal, Glam metal, Punk metal, industrial, goth metal music. Throughout the 80's. Came the separation of styles. It just evolved from there.
Designer clothes are usually made overseas by slave labor. The actual cost of the material and make is cheap, but because it is designer, in retail they mark up the price, so you pay hundreds, to thousands of dollars. (This takes advantage of the people in sweat shops). Also, from an environmental sustainability point of view, thrift clothes are 'recycled' and is a better way to leave less of a footprint on the environment. Plus, I agree with you that post-punk was not about designer, but about thrift clothing and DIY, and still is!! =) And yes, thrift clothing is more unique because most of them are one-off-kind-of-finds.
Plague Doctor I am not talking about biodegradability. The harm to the environment is done well before then. The massive consumption the whole world is doing (that means buying things) means companies need to source the materials from somewhere and produce them in a factory. Consumption of anything from our natural environment is an issue, because to make products out of them takes energy. In this case, in the form of fossil fuels. Or electricity and etc for that matter. I was not talking about the biodegradable aspect of new clothes. Simply the environmental impact that massive consumption causes, to do with everything we buy and use. As for the sweat shops and slave labor while working in dangerous work places is also very harmful to people. Designer clothes can also be made out of animals (which means killing animals in order for companies to make a profit out of them, either for their fur, skin, or husks). Just remember, anything you buy is sourced from nature and modified into products that people consume, so the companies survive and make profits. The next time you buy petrol, eat vegetables or animal products or buy the latest i-phone, television etc, and buy new things every year because technology is constantly changing (which causes more consumption, in which the companies want in order to make a buck) think about how much damage it does to the Earth in various different ways. Also, buying from thrift stores actually donates part of the money to charities. So before you buy a totally new wardrobe and don't feel guilty about it, please reanalyze you priorities and values in life.
Charlotte Rose I never said anything about buying from merchandisers and not feeling guilty. I just didn't understand what you meant and thought you were just concerned about the clothing themselves. Geez..
I'm very much the quality over quantity girl. I prefer to get clothes for a little more money and make sure they last so I don't really have that many clothes but once I get bored of them I re-fashion them.
It's extremely difficult to thrift when you are aiming to achieve a sort of Victorian or Romantic fashion. In this case, it's a major exception to go for designer. Especially when it comes to mens clothing, gothic attire tends to become even more limited in this category. It really helps to be able to sew.
+Grayson Astaroth very true, though it depends where you live, if you're looking for Victorian goth, costume shops are a good place too find bloomers, petticoats, corsets and Victorian shoes, or jewelry. also 'tween' stores like claires, or ardenes sometimes have lace tights, really nice Halloween jewelry or Victorian jewelry for decent prices.
The most Victorian thing I've ever been able to find in thrift shops and such (and I live in Texas so it's especially tough) was this beautiful high collared frilly blouse in a cream color. Got that for about 6 bucks with some black skintight jeans with a gold brocade pattern on them.
To be fair, if you're a baby bat then it may be easier to buy designer goth stuff that's already made for you because you may not necessarily know what you're doing at first. I mean, take it from me. I'm not goth. But I am alternative. When I first started out, I went to Camden (MAJOR alternative town in London for all the goths, emos, punks, metalheads, ravers etc of the UK.) and bought anything from Hell Bunny to Banned (it was called Living Dead Souls back then) to Jawbreaker to Spiral. But now I have a better idea of what I'm doing, I'm learning to put outfits together on my own. I'm not quite thrifting yet but I don't wear that much name branded stuff anymore either. I tend to buy from "normal" shops and make it work for my style. I think using designer stuff as a starting point to get ideas about how the style works isn't a bad idea.
Easier maybe but more expensive and can make you look like you're trying way too hard. I never had "baby bat" years, I was always into 70s rock music and clothing (all that black hippie wonderful stuff with fringed leather skirts and uh, just beautiful stuff) as a young kid and slowly just replaced that stuff with more black, I DIYd stuff with zips and charms and whatever I could find...I've never bought a full priced branded piece of clothing. I own 2 Dark Star items (not labelled as branded on eBay), a pair of Banned trousers (gift) and a pair of...Punk Rave trousers (didn't fit a friend of my boyfriend's, she passed them to me) but I hate wearing them because they just look lazy...they look like I've gone to a store and picked them up with my Mum's money :') They look tacky... It's really not that hard especially for younger Goths to grab some paint, to grab some fabric dye, some cotton and needles (or just fabric glue...or safety pins), to grab some studs and upcycle a boring black jacket or a shirt or something.
The Wayward Fae I don’t think buying from brands make someone look like they’re trying too hard. When it comes to clothing and being a goth there is no such thing as trying to hard. You should wear whatever you like and people should mind there own business. I personally don’t enjoy DIY because it ends up looking tacky, I guess I just don’t have what it takes to make DIY. I’ve been goth since I was very young and I’m happy that as an adult I can afford goth brands. No one else has to like it or find it good, I do.
Goth on a budget is my thing, not just because I'm poor, but because I can find inexpensive things, then turn them into unique creations that I wouldn't find anywhere else. I go to Goodwill, eBay, I receive clothing donations from various sources, and find stuff on the streets--all of which sound grotesque to my anti-Goth mother, who never wears anything used. She just doesn't see potential in the so-called grotesque items the way I do! I chop sleeves off if I don't like them, paint band names on plain white t-shirts, turn cheap socks into finger-less gloves, strategically chop holes in just about any clothing item I own, and make accessories out of the leftover scraps of fabric that I chopped off of my modified clothing. I see Goth fashion as a one-of-a-kind thing. People ask me where I get my clothes, as if they could pick up something just like what I have on, however that is pretty much impossible! I'm sure designer Goth brands come in handy for people who want a certain Goth look, and don't or can't modify cheap stuff from charity shops.
i dont do lables but i have had many people call me goth or say im a poser because all my cloths arent name brandthey are very cheap i find it funny im 25 and am being called poser you never really leave high school i guess lol its really hard to buy goth cloths for me seeing as i cant work do to heath reasons and i am plus size i just mix and match my fashion its base off my emotions i just dont understand why i would pay 200-300 dollars for a dress if i can put together something like it for under 50 bucks
I think "designer goth" can´t be avoided because some people like the goth fashion but are not good/ don´t enjoy/ have no time etc. to make or modify their own clothes. The biggest problems I have with buying items from goth brands is they´re too expensive for me, they do not make exactly whan I want and sometimes the quality is still not that great. I sew for a very long time, so I sew a lot of things myself. My style (I´m a girl) is a crossover between victorian/ romantic goth and more of a metal style. A really cool thing to do is getting simple things like jeans or plain black shirts from places like h&m (there are no good thrift stores here) and modify them. I also like to buy things cheap because I buy a lot and then cut things up and transform them into new things (for example I turned an old top that was completely ripped at the side seams into arm warmers.)
DIY and thrifting is fun, and more creative and personal. When I was younger, designer goth clothes pissed me off, but now I'm just like whatever, I'll do what I like, and other people do what they want. I enjoyed your video, and I love your eyebrows and hair.
Health goth is actually a really interesting Goth Subculture. It didn't come about because companies pitched expensive work-out gear to goths. It started with people promoting living healthier lives, while being goth. One man created a facebook page for it, then later it got more and more support. Those who dress health goth don't like the trad-goth style or death rock, or Victorian goth look as much. They're more drawn to the skater and hip-hop fashion look and also like the dark side of things, so Health goth is perfect for them. Plaaastic is an instagramer and dancer and really promotes and depicts health goth really well. You should check her out. She's awesome.
The thing about the designer brands like Banned Apparel,Hellbunny etc that I like is that's it's good for people like me that literally don't have the time to do thrift shopping or just walk down the high street and spend the whole day browsing like I used to. I love charity shops but now working a full time job and in a long distance relationship I spend all my days off with my bf as I try and make the most of my time with him. Also I'm not artistic. I don't see the point in buying something plain and adding my design if I know when I do it that it'll look crap. I honestly can't paint or sew for shit. The most I can do is repair a hole if need be but I'm not talented in that way. I don't think buying clothes off of kates clothing or kinky angel makes me any less goth though. Just because I don't have the artistic abiity. I do look for good deals in mainstream shops like H&M once in a blue moon as they tend to stock really nice black lacy dresses once in a while though. I've spent so much time as a broke student now I'm working and earning I'm thinking sure why the hell not. Treat myself once in a while and reinvent my wardrobe. I mean for me the thing I'm drawn to as I mentioned is black lacy dresses, 50's rockability dresses. Casual black clothing that you can get anywhere and I also really like the trend that seems to have resurged with occult symbols on designer goth clothes. I feel like if I wear something with and ankh or a unicursal hexagram that I'm expressing another side of myself at the same time. At the end of the day it's just so easy to spend 5 mins purchasing something at the click of a button and have it delivered when it suits you.
I 100% agree that the thrift store/DIY variety better resembles the artistic spirit that the original culture in the UK was all about. As someone who's also obsessed with art and creativity, I could have it no other way, but to each their own.
For me personally, I do a mix, I guess. I like to thrift, but I also love high end online stores like Kinky Angel or Killstar. The mall isn't too bad either, like with H&M and even sometimes Hot Topic (cue agonizing screams). It's whatever makes you happy, I think.
Most of my clothes are charity shop because cheap means more clothes and they're generally good quality but I really can't do the whole modification thing lol. I do sometimes but most of the time I either have no time or just can't come up with ideas. Hence the reason I'm going down the mathsy route rather than the artsy route in life ;)
I totally agree, that why I get upset/ pretentious when people try to look all 90s and grunge, because it's like no you're missing the whole point. It's supposed to finding items at accessible places, not like a shirt for Urban Outfitters or something. I love DIY! I'm terrible at it, but I'm getting at. I want to get on your level of DIY aesthetic.
I'd say if rich kids want to spend their money on super expensive "grunge" clothes by gods let them - for the most part these are people breezing through a fashion statement. Thrift stores and charity stores aren't fucking for them. It's for families living paycheck to paycheck and for people who desperately need clothes. I remember as a kid my mom buying bundles of flannel for our winter clothes, because it was cheap and we were cold. However, by the time I was in high school, the mark up in goodwill and such was insane. If more companies create the type of clothes people are willing to pay more for, then by the power of Grey Skull let them
Ironically, its very difficult, or at least I find it difficult, to find nice gothic clothing in charity shops and second hand shops in the UK. I think most people end up buying stuff that's kind of those mass produced quasi Goth clothing that you might find in Hot topic in the US. Personally I tend to wear a mix of band shirts, branded stuff and military surplus stuff and kind of cheap work clothes in black.
It might just be my luck or where i am, but i actually find it easy to go charity shopping and come away with 10-15 items that are either gothic or can easily be modified to be more so without much skill. Funny how its different in different places!
Nox Aternum down in portsmouth. But then around here you literally have about 80 or more charity shops to choose from and thats not even an exaggeration i counted once. I agree it is definitely much easier for girls, but then any alternative clothing is easier for girls which is completely unfair. :/
Hazel King Well on the bright side, I'm currently living in a university town and a lot of the charity shops around here do have some interesting things in them.
Nearly everything I own is secondhand. if something breaks/wears out, I end up dismantling it for material or something, and making it into something else :P A lot of what I buy secondhand was never originally intended as something Goth (I own a lot of vintage/secondhand Marks & Spencers velvet stuff :P That was originally meant for upper-middle-class "classically" styled ladies :P ) but can be styled that way. I'm not particularly affluent, so having to buy from charity shops, eBay and secondhand sales pages is the only way I can afford nice things. The interesting thing about Goth and its oscillating popularity in the UK is that it's got to the point where I can find made-for-Goth stuff in UK charity shops! Plus, there's second-hand exchange pages for made-for-Goth clothes, too, everything from Velvet Garden to FaceBook groups that work as topic-specific sales listings, and then there's always eBay, which is where I snag all my best bargains. (Vintage '80s Victorian-styled tea-dress, all black, with nice lace for £10 inc. p&p? BARGAIN :P ) In terms of "designer Goth" as in high-end fashion that's Gothic looking, I get a bit twitchy about whether, with some, they're just appropriating the Goth look to be "edgy" for season. The same goes for when a mainstream store suddenly has a Goth phase. I know that the whole "witchy" look that is in right now will fade again, and suddenly the hipsters will go back to snide remarks instead of asking me where I got my shawl. It's a bit weird when there's made-for-Goth stuff out there that's really expensive, but looks as badly made as a cheap Halloween costume. There's a lot of Japanese brands of Goth clothes who are equally expensive, but are a lot better made, with decent lace and lined garments and stuff. If I had £75 to spend on a jacket, I would expect it to be at least warm, and have decent lace on the cuffs - but I've seen flimsy things with no warmth, cheap costume-grade satin, and the worst-looking plasticky, scratchy lace being sold for about that price!
I agree with you, and I also think that same thing can be applied to any kind of clothing, not just goth. Even though I do prefer trifted, diy-ed or handmade things, sometimes it's nice to have a good quality piece of clothing. btw, sorry for bad English xD
When I was young it was all thrift stores (we called them op or opportunity shops) and we converted what we found. A four button jacket would change into a six with a smaller collar etc. We had to take in our own pants as there were no skinny jeans and we dyed everything. My girlfriend had a huge pot on the stove for dying things black and we would experiment to see how different fabrics would react. I had a friend that used to go to the Priest supply shop to buy stuff. He got some pretty funny looks but they took his money. I had a beautiful black double breasted trench coat from the op shop I loved but it got wrecked by one of the girls in our share house. Yes we all borrowed each others clothes. You could buy off the rack "Goth" clothes but mainly they were rare overpriced and ugly. There was also a reverse snobbery in how cheap your outfit was.
Sometimes go to a tailor when I've some currency to burn (It's nice to occasionally get something completely new and for you). Usually shop in department stores for dress shirts (pique tuxedo shirts, spread collars, wing tips, etc.), or online for 19th century inspired dress shirts. Most of the shows I attend are full of punk rock DIY, so it's kind of nice to not have the same look and stuff as them.
I tend to like both, like its fun to DIY and ofc most stuff should be made or purchased at thrifts, which i think is ofc part of the scene historically etc. However I will say especially with regards to shoes I don't mind dishing out money for shoes I will have for years, same with certain coats. I think what it truly boils down to is that sort of romanticism that is brought up within the goth culture, like if you love it and it expresses a part of you then your gunna spend a 1 or 100 dollars easy because it is something that becomes an extension of you.
I agree. Not everyone can drop $200 on a pair of "goth-brand" shoes. I get my clothes and makeup wherever it's cheapest. And if I like it that's all that matters. Good video :)
So many of the "elder goths" I know actually did the DIY thing because they had no other choice. There was nowhere to buy the clothing they loved and wanted to wear to the Bat Cave. And I do both - some designer and some DIY. It all depends on where I'm wearing it. If it's to work, I will spend more on certain items for my work wardrobe (keeping it of the dark aesthetic of course) But if it's to be worn on the weekends or in the evenings during my personal time, it can be DIY. Enjoyed this video!
I'm sorta in the middle of designer and thrift, but more on the thrift side where I buy from thrift stores or just some store in my town. Literally, most of my 'name' stuff is Hot Topic (sue me I've always liked the store since I was a kid and think they're stuff is very pretty). I honestly just love buying what I can/what I like in random stores or online (like Amazon). I'm not good okay DIY, I literally have 1 shirt that I did diy to that I actually liked and didn't get rid of. I think just do whatever you want and rock what ya got ❤ On a side note though, if you so see this and/or decide to read it, I'd love to know what lipstick you're wearing because it's absolutely beautiful ❤ Btw you seem like a pretty cool girl c:
This is such a fabulous video and so true!! When I was a teen in the 90's thrift stores were our only option and I still shop at those places now. I hope they never ever die as I have got some of the best pieces from there. :D
I live at the thrift store because I can't afford expensive clothes from goth oriented stores, Killstar, Sourpuss, Dollskill, etc. I prefer used clothing because I can DIY them or because it's really easy to find a TON of black clothes for super cheap! I found a shirt by Too Fast for $4 at the thrift store. So I mean thrift stores < designer brands
Both are fine. Neither is better then the other. I thrift and I buy expensive goth clothes from brands such a dark in love, Punk Rave etc and I love it all. I can't DIY to save my life so modifying things just isn't for me. Doesn't make one better then the other or more legit.
I am into the cyber scene and my motto is champagne style lemonade budget lol. meaning I like expensive boots and leather goods for the cheapest price as humanly possible. x
This is very true. Unfortunately I live in a rural village in England and all the nearby charity/thrift shops are full of old people clothes, still, you find some good deals occasionally. I tend to shop in cheaper shops like primark or somewhere, and customise it with layering or jewellery and even poundland Halloween accessories, haha. My favourite jacket I bought from a vintage shop and bought patches from etsy and made a few myself.The only thing I would be willing to spend a lot of money on is shoes, right now I am eyeing up some winklepickers.. I am yet to find them secondhand
I know this pain, also in an English village with the only clothing shop being an occasion dress store, but we have 5 hairdressers... I like raiding high street stores around Halloween, got an awesome ribcage top from H&M last year, but lost it somewhere. :(
Haha yes, I think the best bet is online really, unfortunately. I do like H&M actually, they have some very nice clothes every so often. and yeah, Halloween is the best :D
I love thrifting, my mom would take my sisters and I to thrift shops all around our local area since we were children. I'm 20 now and I love thrifting cause you always find something different and affordable. I can't afford brand new 'designer' clothes.. So once in a long while I'll try to get 'designer' shoes lol I love DIY too.. My style, makeup, and hair looks goth, I love thrifting and DIY, I listen to Goth musicians, and I love everything that has to do with the 'original' goth subculture .. But I don't consider myself goth because I listen to whatever I like (mainly goth) lol and I like 'ungothy' things.. So I'm not goth lol People always make it seem that you have to be strictly into 'goth' things in order to be goth lol I'm not saying anything bad or that it's true.. But I'm just me haha I love you btw!
I can appreciate the Gothic inspiration designs by Rick Owens or Alexander McQueen. When I ponder the word Gothic... Mystical, Craftsmanship & Romanticism sometimes even eerie comes to mind. In my opinion I feel as though goth has been going through an uncanny mutation and now in 2015 it's become completely nonsensical.
I only buy shoes, and corsets mostly that are desginer. But I may spend 90 bucks on shoes or less which is not bad for me but I always try searching thrift shops a loot. Some of the dresses I have are really pretty and I got them from used clothing stores. Sometimes I see stunning shoes like. I found a new pair of barely used combat boots from a place. I always recommend doing that over spending 80 bucks on a shirt or something. But like you said it can be hard if you cant find a certain item.
i am happy you talked about grunge.. thank you we where making a statement that money didnt matter it was about being yourself and expressing yourself through music, art etc.. ya know the whole it doesnt matter attitude "WHATEVER
Love finding designer 'goth' at the thrift store - gotta go to the right neighbor hood - and/or dye it if its the wrong color - made that a mess? dye it black (: (esp something with light nylon stitching that'll show thru)
Haha Good point. I myself would like to design things for the Gothic subculture and other Alternative inspirations but most of my my clothes are from thrift stores and yard sales for less that $15 each. How Ironic.
i remember when the german h&m catalogue showed up with a "goth fashionstyle" which means they had black clothes... so it feels like the term "goth" gets more popular but "they" just don't get it - this goth spirit which is obviously not just one. there are so many goth styles around and some mixtures with other genres or subgenres of goth.
ive loved Goths since the New Romantic era in the early 80s.. In the Bay Area there doesnt seem to have as many Goths anymore or Mods. It seems like its starting to lack a Few Genres. With the exception of Macho Bikers. The one thing I have noticed is the surge of Buy Local Make local stuff. Upcycled clothes. etc. So it is easier to get some nice things now. I dont really see people hating on each others Genre or way of life as much anymore. ah well jus sayin
I know nothing about fashion so I have no idea what designer mean, are not all clothes designed by someone? Anyway for me I would love to be able to find clothing that fit my style in thrift stores, but here in Norway at least XL clothes are hard to come by and Gothic looking XL clothes even more so. I buy most of my clothes and I have found a few companies that sell Gothic clothes in my size, my favorite is dare to wear,price wise I would say they are pretty much the same as other clothes I see in the stores around here, it is not an extremely cheap brand but not a very expensive one either, a blouse from them are usually around oh 50 dollars or so, which at least by Norwegian standards are pretty much a normal price, I would love to find cheaper but it is not easy in my size.
To be honest, goth has unfortunately always been sold to the masses as chic fashion trend since it was named. "Haute Goth" and all the whole Hipster Goth trends haven't existed before the scene was named. Also the 80s were different times, especially in the UK. Most people then weren't "Goth" as the term didn't exist, they were mostly part of the Punk and New Wave scene. There were almost no stores selling their preferred clothes and getting winklepicker boots was an investment that cost a lot of money. I would thrift, but in my area thrift stores are rare. And they few we have are more like designer outlets and the pieces are still expensive. I personally have no problem with stores selling "gothy" items. Considering that a goth fashion trend wave has been happening once every decade since the 90s. Plus I can't sew for shit. I do still slit my shirts myself and do some customizing. I'd never buy designer stuff. Not only does it go against anything the original scene stood for-the designer stuff is often not so different from any clothing you get in any store for a few bucks, except that it got some designer's brand on it. But yeah, the modern times have made everything accessible and ready for consumption. My problem is more with the trend bandwagon hopping folks who declare wearing black automatically makes everything Goth-see the Health Goth nonsense you have mentioned. The problem is more that the "Goth is whatever you make it to be" mentality has caused Goth (a fabricated term itself, but once very useful in context of music history) to become meaningless. If everything can be Goth, then nothing is Goth. I don't care if people see it as elitism, that I am much more sceptical about Nu-Goths and any new modern "[insert word] Goth" style. There is a difference between people knowing their shit about a subculture and people who tag their adidas sport suit "Health Goth" on instagramm and act as if that makes them rebellious, trendy and cool.
Comments seem to be answered, so what do you use to dye your hair? Everything I've used, expensive or not, all washes out reallllly quickly (despite saying PERMANENT).
I want to be your best friend, can I be your best friend? Haha you made very interesting points in this video and you pointed out things I've never thought about before which I thank you for.
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I've been Goth since the 80's. I've always shopped at thrift stores. Sometimes what I like doing is alter Halloween costumes to fit a specific look I want. It doesn't have to cost much money to dress cool. Take it from an "old school" Goth.
+Firestepher G Did Goth people start of being called New Romantics in the early 80's? (1980-81) and later in the decade, they started to be called Goth?
+Skye ID No during that time the "goth" style started in the late 70's in London. Back then they were referred to as "Punk" style. During the onset of the different genre of Heavy Metal, Glam metal, Punk metal, industrial, goth metal music. Throughout the 80's. Came the separation of styles. It just evolved from there.
Im an old Goth too, there were no Goth stores back in the day. Part of being Goth is being unique not following the fashion. I still buy second hand.
Designer clothes are usually made overseas by slave labor. The actual cost of the material and make is cheap, but because it is designer, in retail they mark up the price, so you pay hundreds, to thousands of dollars. (This takes advantage of the people in sweat shops). Also, from an environmental sustainability point of view, thrift clothes are 'recycled' and is a better way to leave less of a footprint on the environment. Plus, I agree with you that post-punk was not about designer, but about thrift clothing and DIY, and still is!! =) And yes, thrift clothing is more unique because most of them are one-off-kind-of-finds.
It depends on what some of the clothes are made out of. Most clothes would deteriorate and not harm the environment that much.
Plague Doctor
I am not talking about biodegradability. The harm to the environment is done well before then. The massive consumption the whole world is doing (that means buying things) means companies need to source the materials from somewhere and produce them in a factory. Consumption of anything from our natural environment is an issue, because to make products out of them takes energy. In this case, in the form of fossil fuels. Or electricity and etc for that matter. I was not talking about the biodegradable aspect of new clothes. Simply the environmental impact that massive consumption causes, to do with everything we buy and use. As for the sweat shops and slave labor while working in dangerous work places is also very harmful to people. Designer clothes can also be made out of animals (which means killing animals in order for companies to make a profit out of them, either for their fur, skin, or husks). Just remember, anything you buy is sourced from nature and modified into products that people consume, so the companies survive and make profits. The next time you buy petrol, eat vegetables or animal products or buy the latest i-phone, television etc, and buy new things every year because technology is constantly changing (which causes more consumption, in which the companies want in order to make a buck) think about how much damage it does to the Earth in various different ways. Also, buying from thrift stores actually donates part of the money to charities. So before you buy a totally new wardrobe and don't feel guilty about it, please reanalyze you priorities and values in life.
Charlotte Rose I never said anything about buying from merchandisers and not feeling guilty. I just didn't understand what you meant and thought you were just concerned about the clothing themselves. Geez..
I'm very much the quality over quantity girl. I prefer to get clothes for a little more money and make sure they last so I don't really have that many clothes but once I get bored of them I re-fashion them.
It's extremely difficult to thrift when you are aiming to achieve a sort of Victorian or Romantic fashion. In this case, it's a major exception to go for designer. Especially when it comes to mens clothing, gothic attire tends to become even more limited in this category. It really helps to be able to sew.
+Grayson Astaroth very true, though it depends where you live, if you're looking for Victorian goth, costume shops are a good place too find bloomers, petticoats, corsets and Victorian shoes, or jewelry. also 'tween' stores like claires, or ardenes sometimes have lace tights, really nice Halloween jewelry or Victorian jewelry for decent prices.
The most Victorian thing I've ever been able to find in thrift shops and such (and I live in Texas so it's especially tough) was this beautiful high collared frilly blouse in a cream color. Got that for about 6 bucks with some black skintight jeans with a gold brocade pattern on them.
To be fair, if you're a baby bat then it may be easier to buy designer goth stuff that's already made for you because you may not necessarily know what you're doing at first. I mean, take it from me. I'm not goth. But I am alternative. When I first started out, I went to Camden (MAJOR alternative town in London for all the goths, emos, punks, metalheads, ravers etc of the UK.) and bought anything from Hell Bunny to Banned (it was called Living Dead Souls back then) to Jawbreaker to Spiral. But now I have a better idea of what I'm doing, I'm learning to put outfits together on my own. I'm not quite thrifting yet but I don't wear that much name branded stuff anymore either. I tend to buy from "normal" shops and make it work for my style. I think using designer stuff as a starting point to get ideas about how the style works isn't a bad idea.
Easier maybe but more expensive and can make you look like you're trying way too hard. I never had "baby bat" years, I was always into 70s rock music and clothing (all that black hippie wonderful stuff with fringed leather skirts and uh, just beautiful stuff) as a young kid and slowly just replaced that stuff with more black, I DIYd stuff with zips and charms and whatever I could find...I've never bought a full priced branded piece of clothing. I own 2 Dark Star items (not labelled as branded on eBay), a pair of Banned trousers (gift) and a pair of...Punk Rave trousers (didn't fit a friend of my boyfriend's, she passed them to me) but I hate wearing them because they just look lazy...they look like I've gone to a store and picked them up with my Mum's money :') They look tacky...
It's really not that hard especially for younger Goths to grab some paint, to grab some fabric dye, some cotton and needles (or just fabric glue...or safety pins), to grab some studs and upcycle a boring black jacket or a shirt or something.
The Wayward Fae I don’t think buying from brands make someone look like they’re trying too hard. When it comes to clothing and being a goth there is no such thing as trying to hard. You should wear whatever you like and people should mind there own business. I personally don’t enjoy DIY because it ends up looking tacky, I guess I just don’t have what it takes to make DIY. I’ve been goth since I was very young and I’m happy that as an adult I can afford goth brands. No one else has to like it or find it good, I do.
Goth on a budget is my thing, not just because I'm poor, but because I can find inexpensive things, then turn them into unique creations that I wouldn't find anywhere else. I go to Goodwill, eBay, I receive clothing donations from various sources, and find stuff on the streets--all of which sound grotesque to my anti-Goth mother, who never wears anything used. She just doesn't see potential in the so-called grotesque items the way I do! I chop sleeves off if I don't like them, paint band names on plain white t-shirts, turn cheap socks into finger-less gloves, strategically chop holes in just about any clothing item I own, and make accessories out of the leftover scraps of fabric that I chopped off of my modified clothing. I see Goth fashion as a one-of-a-kind thing. People ask me where I get my clothes, as if they could pick up something just like what I have on, however that is pretty much impossible! I'm sure designer Goth brands come in handy for people who want a certain Goth look, and don't or can't modify cheap stuff from charity shops.
i dont do lables but i have had many people call me goth or say im a poser because all my cloths arent name brandthey are very cheap
i find it funny im 25 and am being called poser you never really leave high school i guess lol its really hard to buy goth cloths for me seeing as i cant work do to heath reasons and i am plus size i just mix and match my fashion its base off my emotions
i just dont understand why i would pay 200-300 dollars for a dress if i can put together something like it for under 50 bucks
I think "designer goth" can´t be avoided because some people like the goth fashion but are not good/ don´t enjoy/ have no time etc. to make or modify their own clothes. The biggest problems I have with buying items from goth brands is they´re too expensive for me, they do not make exactly whan I want and sometimes the quality is still not that great.
I sew for a very long time, so I sew a lot of things myself. My style (I´m a girl) is a crossover between victorian/ romantic goth and more of a metal style. A really cool thing to do is getting simple things like jeans or plain black shirts from places like h&m (there are no good thrift stores here) and modify them.
I also like to buy things cheap because I buy a lot and then cut things up and transform them into new things (for example I turned an old top that was completely ripped at the side seams into arm warmers.)
Ravn Winter it can be avoided if you're poor lmao.
Damn straight
DIY and thrifting is fun, and more creative and personal. When I was younger, designer goth clothes pissed me off, but now I'm just like whatever, I'll do what I like, and other people do what they want. I enjoyed your video, and I love your eyebrows and hair.
I completely agree with you! Fashion should not break the bank!
Then it would be called high-fashion or haute couture
Health goth is actually a really interesting Goth Subculture. It didn't come about because companies pitched expensive work-out gear to goths. It started with people promoting living healthier lives, while being goth. One man created a facebook page for it, then later it got more and more support.
Those who dress health goth don't like the trad-goth style or death rock, or Victorian goth look as much. They're more drawn to the skater and hip-hop fashion look and also like the dark side of things, so Health goth is perfect for them. Plaaastic is an instagramer and dancer and really promotes and depicts health goth really well. You should check her out. She's awesome.
I completely agree! And especially the Wednesday dresses !!! An the Peter pan collar!
The thing about the designer brands like Banned Apparel,Hellbunny etc that I like is that's it's good for people like me that literally don't have the time to do thrift shopping or just walk down the high street and spend the whole day browsing like I used to. I love charity shops but now working a full time job and in a long distance relationship I spend all my days off with my bf as I try and make the most of my time with him. Also I'm not artistic. I don't see the point in buying something plain and adding my design if I know when I do it that it'll look crap. I honestly can't paint or sew for shit. The most I can do is repair a hole if need be but I'm not talented in that way. I don't think buying clothes off of kates clothing or kinky angel makes me any less goth though. Just because I don't have the artistic abiity. I do look for good deals in mainstream shops like H&M once in a blue moon as they tend to stock really nice black lacy dresses once in a while though. I've spent so much time as a broke student now I'm working and earning I'm thinking sure why the hell not. Treat myself once in a while and reinvent my wardrobe. I mean for me the thing I'm drawn to as I mentioned is black lacy dresses, 50's rockability dresses. Casual black clothing that you can get anywhere and I also really like the trend that seems to have resurged with occult symbols on designer goth clothes. I feel like if I wear something with and ankh or a unicursal hexagram that I'm expressing another side of myself at the same time. At the end of the day it's just so easy to spend 5 mins purchasing something at the click of a button and have it delivered when it suits you.
I 100% agree that the thrift store/DIY variety better resembles the artistic spirit that the original culture in the UK was all about.
As someone who's also obsessed with art and creativity, I could have it no other way, but to each their own.
For me personally, I do a mix, I guess. I like to thrift, but I also love high end online stores like Kinky Angel or Killstar. The mall isn't too bad either, like with H&M and even sometimes Hot Topic (cue agonizing screams). It's whatever makes you happy, I think.
Most of my clothes are charity shop because cheap means more clothes and they're generally good quality but I really can't do the whole modification thing lol. I do sometimes but most of the time I either have no time or just can't come up with ideas. Hence the reason I'm going down the mathsy route rather than the artsy route in life ;)
Charity shops all the way!!! Killstar and Banned are way too expensive for you get.
I totally agree, that why I get upset/ pretentious when people try to look all 90s and grunge, because it's like no you're missing the whole point. It's supposed to finding items at accessible places, not like a shirt for Urban Outfitters or something. I love DIY! I'm terrible at it, but I'm getting at. I want to get on your level of DIY aesthetic.
SaverofAnchors It's an unbelievable amount of practice, and trial & error.
it's pre cosplay kinda. :D
I'd say if rich kids want to spend their money on super expensive "grunge" clothes by gods let them - for the most part these are people breezing through a fashion statement. Thrift stores and charity stores aren't fucking for them. It's for families living paycheck to paycheck and for people who desperately need clothes. I remember as a kid my mom buying bundles of flannel for our winter clothes, because it was cheap and we were cold. However, by the time I was in high school, the mark up in goodwill and such was insane. If more companies create the type of clothes people are willing to pay more for, then by the power of Grey Skull let them
Ironically, its very difficult, or at least I find it difficult, to find nice gothic clothing in charity shops and second hand shops in the UK. I think most people end up buying stuff that's kind of those mass produced quasi Goth clothing that you might find in Hot topic in the US. Personally I tend to wear a mix of band shirts, branded stuff and military surplus stuff and kind of cheap work clothes in black.
It might just be my luck or where i am, but i actually find it easy to go charity shopping and come away with 10-15 items that are either gothic or can easily be modified to be more so without much skill. Funny how its different in different places!
Hazel King In the UK? Where? Around me for the most part it seems to be mostly old people stuff, I think its probably easier for girls.
Nox Aternum down in portsmouth. But then around here you literally have about 80 or more charity shops to choose from and thats not even an exaggeration i counted once. I agree it is definitely much easier for girls, but then any alternative clothing is easier for girls which is completely unfair. :/
Hazel King Well on the bright side, I'm currently living in a university town and a lot of the charity shops around here do have some interesting things in them.
I go on eBay and just search buy it now , low - high and UK only and have found some awesome deals x
Nearly everything I own is secondhand. if something breaks/wears out, I end up dismantling it for material or something, and making it into something else :P A lot of what I buy secondhand was never originally intended as something Goth (I own a lot of vintage/secondhand Marks & Spencers velvet stuff :P That was originally meant for upper-middle-class "classically" styled ladies :P ) but can be styled that way. I'm not particularly affluent, so having to buy from charity shops, eBay and secondhand sales pages is the only way I can afford nice things. The interesting thing about Goth and its oscillating popularity in the UK is that it's got to the point where I can find made-for-Goth stuff in UK charity shops! Plus, there's second-hand exchange pages for made-for-Goth clothes, too, everything from Velvet Garden to FaceBook groups that work as topic-specific sales listings, and then there's always eBay, which is where I snag all my best bargains. (Vintage '80s Victorian-styled tea-dress, all black, with nice lace for £10 inc. p&p? BARGAIN :P )
In terms of "designer Goth" as in high-end fashion that's Gothic looking, I get a bit twitchy about whether, with some, they're just appropriating the Goth look to be "edgy" for season. The same goes for when a mainstream store suddenly has a Goth phase. I know that the whole "witchy" look that is in right now will fade again, and suddenly the hipsters will go back to snide remarks instead of asking me where I got my shawl.
It's a bit weird when there's made-for-Goth stuff out there that's really expensive, but looks as badly made as a cheap Halloween costume. There's a lot of Japanese brands of Goth clothes who are equally expensive, but are a lot better made, with decent lace and lined garments and stuff. If I had £75 to spend on a jacket, I would expect it to be at least warm, and have decent lace on the cuffs - but I've seen flimsy things with no warmth, cheap costume-grade satin, and the worst-looking plasticky, scratchy lace being sold for about that price!
I agree with a lot of what you say, however flannel shirts and wool sweaters of grunge also came from rainy, cold seattle weather.
It's crossed over into hip hop culture too in terms of fashion , I too can vibe with biggie small and Christian death
I agree with you, and I also think that same thing can be applied to any kind of clothing, not just goth.
Even though I do prefer trifted, diy-ed or handmade things, sometimes it's nice to have a good quality piece of clothing.
btw, sorry for bad English xD
When I was young it was all thrift stores (we called them op or opportunity shops) and we converted what we found. A four button jacket would change into a six with a smaller collar etc. We had to take in our own pants as there were no skinny jeans and we dyed everything. My girlfriend had a huge pot on the stove for dying things black and we would experiment to see how different fabrics would react. I had a friend that used to go to the Priest supply shop to buy stuff. He got some pretty funny looks but they took his money. I had a beautiful black double breasted trench coat from the op shop I loved but it got wrecked by one of the girls in our share house. Yes we all borrowed each others clothes. You could buy off the rack "Goth" clothes but mainly they were rare overpriced and ugly. There was also a reverse snobbery in how cheap your outfit was.
Sometimes go to a tailor when I've some currency to burn (It's nice to occasionally get something completely new and for you). Usually shop in department stores for dress shirts (pique tuxedo shirts, spread collars, wing tips, etc.), or online for 19th century inspired dress shirts. Most of the shows I attend are full of punk rock DIY, so it's kind of nice to not have the same look and stuff as them.
I would love to send you a picture of my prom dress.Its a very Gothic Victorian dress that i bought only for 10 bucks at good will.
I tend to like both, like its fun to DIY and ofc most stuff should be made or purchased at thrifts, which i think is ofc part of the scene historically etc. However I will say especially with regards to shoes I don't mind dishing out money for shoes I will have for years, same with certain coats. I think what it truly boils down to is that sort of romanticism that is brought up within the goth culture, like if you love it and it expresses a part of you then your gunna spend a 1 or 100 dollars easy because it is something that becomes an extension of you.
I agree. Not everyone can drop $200 on a pair of "goth-brand" shoes. I get my clothes and makeup wherever it's cheapest. And if I like it that's all that matters. Good video :)
So many of the "elder goths" I know actually did the DIY thing because they had no other choice. There was nowhere to buy the clothing they loved and wanted to wear to the Bat Cave.
And I do both - some designer and some DIY. It all depends on where I'm wearing it. If it's to work, I will spend more on certain items for my work wardrobe (keeping it of the dark aesthetic of course) But if it's to be worn on the weekends or in the evenings during my personal time, it can be DIY.
Enjoyed this video!
Hi Alice
I think the creativity will never die :) Actually, I came to goth trough art and design ^_^
I'm sorta in the middle of designer and thrift, but more on the thrift side where I buy from thrift stores or just some store in my town. Literally, most of my 'name' stuff is Hot Topic (sue me I've always liked the store since I was a kid and think they're stuff is very pretty). I honestly just love buying what I can/what I like in random stores or online (like Amazon). I'm not good okay DIY, I literally have 1 shirt that I did diy to that I actually liked and didn't get rid of. I think just do whatever you want and rock what ya got ❤
On a side note though, if you so see this and/or decide to read it, I'd love to know what lipstick you're wearing because it's absolutely beautiful ❤ Btw you seem like a pretty cool girl c:
This is such a fabulous video and so true!! When I was a teen in the 90's thrift stores were our only option and I still shop at those places now. I hope they never ever die as I have got some of the best pieces from there. :D
I live at the thrift store because I can't afford expensive clothes from goth oriented stores, Killstar, Sourpuss, Dollskill, etc. I prefer used clothing because I can DIY them or because it's really easy to find a TON of black clothes for super cheap! I found a shirt by Too Fast for $4 at the thrift store. So I mean thrift stores < designer brands
omfg this legit helped with writing my essay on gothic subculture
Both are fine. Neither is better then the other. I thrift and I buy expensive goth clothes from brands such a dark in love, Punk Rave etc and I love it all. I can't DIY to save my life so modifying things just isn't for me. Doesn't make one better then the other or more legit.
I am into the cyber scene and my motto is champagne style lemonade budget lol. meaning I like expensive boots and leather goods for the cheapest price as humanly possible. x
Can I steal that motto? That's awesome
+Taylor Rogers go for it lol :) x
This is very true. Unfortunately I live in a rural village in England and all the nearby charity/thrift shops are full of old people clothes, still, you find some good deals occasionally. I tend to shop in cheaper shops like primark or somewhere, and customise it with layering or jewellery and even poundland Halloween accessories, haha. My favourite jacket I bought from a vintage shop and bought patches from etsy and made a few myself.The only thing I would be willing to spend a lot of money on is shoes, right now I am eyeing up some winklepickers.. I am yet to find them secondhand
I know this pain, also in an English village with the only clothing shop being an occasion dress store, but we have 5 hairdressers...
I like raiding high street stores around Halloween, got an awesome ribcage top from H&M last year, but lost it somewhere. :(
Haha yes, I think the best bet is online really, unfortunately. I do like H&M actually, they have some very nice clothes every so often. and yeah, Halloween is the best :D
amen to that I live in Hertfordshire and do not find many Goth finds in charity shops around here x
i love your style i love your hat and your tattoo
It was all black or a resurgence of Victorian. The latest resurgence was Marie Antoinette.
i ended up in flannel in the 90's cuz all my shit was dirty and i was grabbing shirts out of my dads closet!
finding cheap clothes that fit me is difficult where i live. in my case, i dont really have much of a choice in the matter.
No shame is a mad thrift game
I love thrifting, my mom would take my sisters and I to thrift shops all around our local area since we were children. I'm 20 now and I love thrifting cause you always find something different and affordable. I can't afford brand new 'designer' clothes.. So once in a long while I'll try to get 'designer' shoes lol I love DIY too.. My style, makeup, and hair looks goth, I love thrifting and DIY, I listen to Goth musicians, and I love everything that has to do with the 'original' goth subculture .. But I don't consider myself goth because I listen to whatever I like (mainly goth) lol and I like 'ungothy' things.. So I'm not goth lol People always make it seem that you have to be strictly into 'goth' things in order to be goth lol I'm not saying anything bad or that it's true.. But I'm just me haha I love you btw!
I can appreciate the Gothic inspiration designs by Rick Owens or Alexander McQueen. When I ponder the word Gothic... Mystical, Craftsmanship & Romanticism sometimes even eerie comes to mind. In my opinion I feel as though goth has been going through an uncanny mutation and now in 2015 it's become completely nonsensical.
I only buy shoes, and corsets mostly that are desginer. But I may spend 90 bucks on shoes or less which is not bad for me but I always try searching thrift shops a loot. Some of the dresses I have are really pretty and I got them from used clothing stores. Sometimes I see stunning shoes like. I found a new pair of barely used combat boots from a place. I always recommend doing that over spending 80 bucks on a shirt or something. But like you said it can be hard if you cant find a certain item.
I don't get the modern grunge people you mentioned either. I get all my clothes from the thrift shop
I love that hat you have on.
i am happy you talked about grunge.. thank you we where making a statement that money didnt matter it was about being yourself and expressing yourself through music, art etc.. ya know the whole it doesnt matter attitude "WHATEVER
Love finding designer 'goth' at the thrift store - gotta go to the right neighbor hood - and/or dye it if its the wrong color - made that a mess? dye it black (: (esp something with light nylon stitching that'll show thru)
I love your hat. Where'd you get it? :3
Could you do a "punk/goth summer clothes idea" video? That would be super awesome and helpful ^_^
I'll need to get around to doing one, but I'm going to wait until the weather gets a bit warmer where I am first :)
I can't wait! :)
Haha Good point. I myself would like to design things for the Gothic subculture and other Alternative inspirations but most of my my clothes are from thrift stores and yard sales for less that $15 each. How Ironic.
i remember when the german h&m catalogue showed up with a "goth fashionstyle" which means they had black clothes... so it feels like the term "goth" gets more popular but "they" just don't get it - this goth spirit which is obviously not just one. there are so many goth styles around and some mixtures with other genres or subgenres of goth.
ive loved Goths since the New Romantic era in the early 80s.. In the Bay Area there doesnt seem to have as many Goths anymore or Mods. It seems like its starting to lack a Few Genres. With the exception of Macho Bikers. The one thing I have noticed is the surge of Buy Local Make local stuff. Upcycled clothes. etc. So it is easier to get some nice things now. I dont really see people hating on each others Genre or way of life as much anymore. ah well jus sayin
For me, I tend to get in to steampunk and regular goth, though I still like skateboarding so black DC Shoes are a must for me lol
So stunning!!
I totally agree. I like grunge and i feel like those expensive stores that sell grunge clothing ruined the idea of it
I know nothing about fashion so I have no idea what designer mean, are not all clothes designed by someone? Anyway for me I would love to be able to find clothing that fit my style in thrift stores, but here in Norway at least XL clothes are hard to come by and Gothic looking XL clothes even more so. I buy most of my clothes and I have found a few companies that sell Gothic clothes in my size, my favorite is dare to wear,price wise I would say they are pretty much the same as other clothes I see in the stores around here, it is not an extremely cheap brand but not a very expensive one either, a blouse from them are usually around oh 50 dollars or so, which at least by Norwegian standards are pretty much a normal price, I would love to find cheaper but it is not easy in my size.
Im a Hair Metal Goth Vamp/Post Wave Punk Vamp
l love looking in charity shop, you can find some interesting items.
Preach it!!
It's upsetting to not be able to fun anything good that fits v.v
To be honest, goth has unfortunately always been sold to the masses as chic fashion trend since it was named. "Haute Goth" and all the whole Hipster Goth trends haven't existed before the scene was named. Also the 80s were different times, especially in the UK. Most people then weren't "Goth" as the term didn't exist, they were mostly part of the Punk and New Wave scene. There were almost no stores selling their preferred clothes and getting winklepicker boots was an investment that cost a lot of money.
I would thrift, but in my area thrift stores are rare. And they few we have are more like designer outlets and the pieces are still expensive. I personally have no problem with stores selling "gothy" items. Considering that a goth fashion trend wave has been happening once every decade since the 90s. Plus I can't sew for shit. I do still slit my shirts myself and do some customizing. I'd never buy designer stuff. Not only does it go against anything the original scene stood for-the designer stuff is often not so different from any clothing you get in any store for a few bucks, except that it got some designer's brand on it.
But yeah, the modern times have made everything accessible and ready for consumption. My problem is more with the trend bandwagon hopping folks who declare wearing black automatically makes everything Goth-see the Health Goth nonsense you have mentioned. The problem is more that the "Goth is whatever you make it to be" mentality has caused Goth (a fabricated term itself, but once very useful in context of music history) to become meaningless. If everything can be Goth, then nothing is Goth. I don't care if people see it as elitism, that I am much more sceptical about Nu-Goths and any new modern "[insert word] Goth" style. There is a difference between people knowing their shit about a subculture and people who tag their adidas sport suit "Health Goth" on instagramm and act as if that makes them rebellious, trendy and cool.
Comments seem to be answered, so what do you use to dye your hair? Everything I've used, expensive or not, all washes out reallllly quickly (despite saying PERMANENT).
I have a FAQ video because of this question.
I apparently didn't click along long enough; I'll return to that. Thank you
agreed
I love you
Funny seeing people talk about goth decades after goth
don't hate me, but i absolutely hate winklepickers. a lot. I'm a rivethead, i like my combat boots lol
Amen to this whole video 🙌🏻
I diy sometimes and just constantly carry coupons..
nice video
do you like marilyn manson at all or the movie the lost boys
FUCKING PREACH
Trends change.. No need to be stuck in the past.
I LOVE YOU!
I can't DIY :(
I want to be your best friend, can I be your best friend? Haha you made very interesting points in this video and you pointed out things I've never thought about before which I thank you for.
20,000th subbie
Lol, it sounds very stupid.. Thank you! That made me laugh
people can dress how they want~ lol goth is a mix of everything when it wants to be..🕷🕷🕷
Wow you have the same name as mine. It's so rare :)