Fashion Question: Am I A Goth?

Fashion is one of those things that people take personally. Don't you dare tell a girl her nail polish is out of style, you might get cut, after all many of us spend a lot of time developing our look. But how do you know what you are? I mean, are you a prep? Are you one of those what are they called, *gasp*, Goths? Labels are very tricky things now. And to be honest, labels are something that most people assume are left behind as we leave school. But there is room to argue that some fields are never outgrown.

Goth by definition is not a fashion statement. That's the first thing I was told by someone who was having issues with the idea of having to classify themselves as anything. They were barbarian invaders to Rome. But we all know time changes all things, and Goth is now considered to be a alternative fashion type. Alternative? Yeah, even though they're more accepted they still aren't accepted wholeheartedly by everyone.

But it isn't really difficult to be a goth in everyday life, and stay under the radar. Why? Because most people aren't looking for us. This gives us our personal space, and our time to evolve. Every Goth is different.

But the Goth staple is black as far as society is concerned. I doubt that there's a goth that hasn't worn black head to toe at least once. And when it comes to stereotypes this is what society generally sees us as. But this isn't necessarily true. Though it would make it easier to identify our like minded compatriots, it's not that easy. The generalizations help most people to be comfortable with the group though, and that's partly why it is longstanding.

But we hate to burst the bubble, we do like color too. Some of us like Green, some of us like red, heck name a color of the rainbow, or the whole thing, and there's a goth that dabbles in it. Each one is different, and while we do have some similarities, we are not the same. I happen to like greys and blues.

You don't have to be perfect. Accepting who you are and what you like is really what makes being a Goth enjoyable. If you're not happy, it's not who you are. You should be comfortable in your skin. What you wear, doesn't make you, but it does help others to decide how to react to you and what to expect from you. If you're in your work uniform, they can still tell.

And, yes. I think I'm a goth, sometimes at least. It's one of the few fashion styles I can agree with.  I don't wear a lot of makeup, I don't wear a lot of wild and outrageous clothes or accessories either(at least in my opinion I don't). So don't think that you need to. As far as I believe; If you think you are something, you are, if that's what you want to be.  There is no such thing as a Goth card, so go ahead and be happy.

Steampunk Shopping (1)

When it comes to shopping for your steampunk accessories, it can be difficult if you want to be unique. Ideally many steampunkers make their own accessories. But I know at times that can be difficult, and not everyone is a leather or metal worker (and that is ok. You don't have to be.) Which means shopping might be in the near future. You have a few options.

Thrift stores are a great place to find things to create a base look. While you may not be the best seamstress, or even a tailor, generally speaking, modifying something that's pre-made can be simple. Not only that there are often a number of vintage pieces to choose from, at reasonable prices. I recommend looking for pinstripes and corduroy. Also look for interesting patterns, these can be good for adding detail or just as inspiration for your look. Of course, these are just recommendations for things to look at. You may decide to go in a whole different direction.

Corduroy, Pinstripes, Ticking, Stripes, and Damask Samples

The internet is a great marketplace to find accessories to help you build your look. But try to be discerning. Not every plastic doodad with a gear glued or painted on to it is steampunk, no matter what the description says. You want to pick pieces that will be sturdy enough for wear, as well as activity. You never know who or what might happen after all. You never know when there might be a pirate invasion, or a plague of boggles.

Steampunk Pearl Ear Cuff by Etsy shop Meowchee

Accessories come in a variety of styles and purposes. Meowchee on Etsy offers some handmade pieces that are charming. They're earcuffs, which don't require your ears to be pierced(so can be worn by men or women.) Things like this add deeper detail as people get closer to you, making the look seem more than just an outer layer. You want to have some layering, as it gives you a more cohesive feel. But don't just wear things because it 'looks' steampunk. Picke pieces that you feel express you, or the character that you're developing.

Hummingbird Pendant by Desert Rubble

Of course, you can look at bracelets and necklaces. Today I'm  also going to recommend Desert Rubble, an online shop that offers a variety of sculpted pendants and accessories.  If you look through them you'll note that each one has a variety of detail, from the metallic shading, to the sculpted textures. If you have a character you've decided on, necklaces and bracelets(or Bracers or...well the list goes on) can be used to illustrate who and what you are, as well as the types of things that you're interested in.

Well, today we'll stop there, we don't want to turn this into a shopping list after all. Just want to get you thinking about the types of things that can express this style. Not sure where or how to start? Stay tuned, Friday we'll be discussing some basic ideas.