Posted By Amarantha Mortis on Aug 18, 2012 | 2 comments

Get The Goth Look On A Budget

Lots of black, coupled with creativity and ingenuity and a flare for the extraordinary is all one really needs to achieve a Goth look on a budget. This column is aimed at helping our DarkestGoth readers build a gothic style wardrobe affordably (largely via mainstream stores that are both easily accessible and far less costly than custom gothic boutiques).

While there are a growing number of clothing and makeup manufacturers that fully embrace the gothic culture and are dedicated to serving it exclusively, these companies also serve up exclusive prices. While it is becoming more common than in previous years to see custom gothic boutiques in urban areas or highly populous cities (such as Armed and Dangerous, in my home town of Philadelphia), they are typically the only subculture clothing stores within a 100 mile radius (or even, depending on where you live, the entire state), and much of their merchandise is simply too far out of the financial reach of most of their would-be customers. Similarly, while Urban Decay and other comparable makeup lines may be geared toward the Goth culture, they are typically exclusively sold in high-priced makeup stores such as Ulta, Sephora or department stores like Macy’s. While these manufacturers are clamoring for crumpled cash in the fists of angsty, black-haired teens and aiming to pilfer the bonus checks of corporate Goths all across America (and even the pensions of Elder Goths), the truth is that local mainstream clothing and drug stores are all any Goth needs to build and maintain their stylistic arsenal. By nature Goths tend to be resourceful, creative, and intuitive creatures that have an unyielding need to project their artistic and theatrical tendencies through various outward manifestations. It won’t be easy, but this is an occasion for us to rise up to this challenge and use our gothic sensibilities to create the magnificent from the mundane!

Let us refrain from laying the blame on any particular brands or companies (after all, there’s no use crying over spilled blood), but the truth is that due to the laws of supply and demand in the fashion industry, most of us mere mortals cannot afford Goth couture or simply don’t have access to it within our local communities. Therefore (tepid Goth sigh), many of us are forced to find more creative and resourceful means of achieving a Goth look. Fortunately, while it may take a bit more time and effort than we’d hoped, we can still achieve über-gothiness even when limited by our funds or location.

The key is to have a plan, and a keenly trained eye, when working towards filling our coffers. First try to find items that meet your immediate needs in terms of color, size, and texture. Then try to find items that can be slightly modified or used in different ways (other than their original intended purpose, if necessary) in order to both enhance and vary your wardrobe. Then look for items that are ideal for mixing/matching or layering on top of or under other pieces. All of these approaches in combination will allow you to maximize your return on investment and ensure that your wardrobe has a decidedly gothic flare.

Here are some helpful tips to achieve a truly gothic style on a budget:
Tip #1: Go dark.
When walking into a large, mainstream clothing establishment (such as Kohl’s, Target or any store in the mall) be prepared – you WILL be assaulted by all sorts of heinous colors and textures. Clearly, gravitating toward black and other darker colors will help you reach your goal toward gothdom far more quickly than choosing the lighter colors (unless you are pairing the lighter colors against black for dramatic effect, in which case lighter colors are perfectly permissible).

Satin Lace and Leather - oh my!

Tip #2: The types of materials and textures you choose are very important to projecting a gothic style.
Mainstream clothing lines sometimes feature pieces with materials that are decidedly gothic such as: pieces with metal trimmings (buckles zippers, rivets/snaps and metal chains) or corset-style lacing; materials with romantic or renaissance patterns like flocking and jacquard; luxuriously sinful materials such as feathers, fur, lace, satin, and velvet; tough-girl or guy materials like leather, PVC, or burlap; and gauzy materials such as chiffon, netting, and tulle. Pairing different types of materials can further enhance your particular style.

Tip #3: Bored with black? Turn up the contrast.
Contrasting bright, vibrantly colored accent pieces with basic black pieces can really make a drab outfit pop. Common color combinations are: red and black, safety/hazard green and black, bright pink and black, violet and black, etc. Starting to see a pattern here?

Tip #4: Think outside the coffin (box).
Try to look beyond the piece as it looks on the rack; instead look at it’s potential and it’s ability to fit your vision for your wardrobe. Can it be modified to fit your style? I have, on more than one occasion, glued, sewn, or in some such other way fastened various materials (feathers, fur, chains, etc) or clothing articles together to create something new and unexpected resulting in an article of clothing that was uniquely my own style.

Tip #5: Anything goes!
Gothic fashion is known for its dramatic and unapologetic approach. As the poet Arthur O’Shaughnessy once said, ”We are the music makers. We are the dreamers of the dreams.” Do not be afraid to experiment with layering or mixing and matching to create a unique outfit that both inspires and awes the general public. When you dress to express, you will feel good no matter what.

Tip #6: Know your brands.
Some mainstream brands (such as Vera Wang, Milani, etc.) have what we like to call “gothic tendencies”. These brands are more inclined to feature clothing and makeup that are considered in, or close to, gothic styling. Doing a bit of research on brands that are commonly carried by your local stores, and patronizing the stores that are known to carry those particular brands, will guarantee a much higher ‘hit rate’ for finding clothing that fits your own vision and style.

Tip #7: Always accessorize.

Be a Fan of Accessories!

Accessories (jewelry, hats, scarves, gloves, etc) can really pull an ensemble together. Choosing accessories that are made with the materials noted in Tip #2 can help ensure cohesion of your wardrobe.

While we can agree to subscribe to this method for finding gothic style clothing locally, inevitably you will find that there may be an article or two of clothing (for example, a Victorian style fascinator or a long black trench coat), or a lovely shade of pale violet lipstick that you simply cannot find anywhere in your area. Trust me when I say I hear you and sympathize. In this case, you may find that you need to supplement your arsenal with a few choice items from the world wide spider web (otherwise known as the internet) or finally succumb to the beckoning of your local gothic boutique. But before you consider the latter it is important to note that gothic fashion has exploded online in the last five years and therefore the internet can offer a large variety of gothic fashions for less when you know where and how to look.

Future Frugal Goth articles will guide you through the fantastic and wonderful world of online shopping – until then, stay spooky!