How to become Gothic?

What is the Gothic style? How do you become Gothic? What does it mean to be Gothic? What clothes and accessories characterize a true Goth?

Whether you’re already into gothic style or you’d like to adopt it, welcome to our online store! Specializing in skull and crossbones products, we help gothic enthusiasts live their passion to the full with our blog.

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In this article, you will discover, among other things:

What it means to be gothic
How to dress to be gothic?
What hairstyles and makeup to adopt as a goth?
How to live life to the full as a follower of the gothic movement?

Once you’ve read this ultimate guide, nothing about the gothic world will be foreign to you. You’ll know the difference between a true goth and an impostor, as well as the right clothes and accessories to become a goth in your own right.
Let’s get started 😈

Dressing like a goth

First of all, let’s take a look at how to dress when you want to adopt the Gothic style.

A) Fill your wardrobe with black clothes

Black will be the basic color of your wardrobe. Choose different styles and cuts of clothing, all in black, such as t-shirts, long-sleeved shirts, tank tops, jeans, leggings, pants, skirts or dresses.
You can also pair other dark colors with black clothing, like dark burgundy instead of pastel pink, or navy instead of sky blue.

2) Opt for leather and lace items

Leather and lace are emblematic elements of Gothic style. Opt for tailored leather pants, lace tops or dresses, leather vests or jackets, lace stockings, even leather bags.

You can choose black leather and lace, or other dark colors such as dark green, plum or charcoal gray.

3) Choose clothes with gothic motifs

You don’t have to wear all-black outfits every day. You can also opt for clothes with colorful motifs such as skulls, crosses, ravens, roses and angel wings.

It’s sometimes possible to find clothing featuring a ouija board. Clothing featuring gothic icons such as Edward Scissorhands, The Cult, Marilyn Manson, the Misfits, Elvira, Killing Joke or the Addams Family are also good choices.
For example, you could try wearing black pants with a red skull-and-crossbones shirt, or purple leggings with a top adorned with angels.

4) Add gothic accessories

Belts, studded or spiked bracelets, jewelry adorned with skulls or crossbones, and black hats are all great options. Chains and finger-cut gloves are also popular for creating a pronounced gothic look. Victorian-style jewelry such as earrings or choker necklaces are also good choices.

5) Opt for black shoes

Opt for military boots (a staple of gothic style), high-heeled boots, lace-up boots or any other style of boot you like and feel comfortable in.

If you prefer shoes, choose black sneakers, flats, thick-soled shoes, pumps, moccasins or even sandals. Make sure you have a few pairs of comfortable, hard-wearing shoes so you can adapt them to your different outfits.

6) Add some gothic touches to your outfit

If your school requires you to wear an appropriate outfit, you can still adopt a gothic touch by adding small details such as rose-patterned tights or jewelry depicting skulls or crosses. Use gothic pins to decorate your hair or attach a skull pin to your school bag.

You can also apply black nail varnish to complete your look. When it comes to accessories, combat boots and a black trench coat are appropriate choices for adding a gothic touch to your outfit.

Remember to respect the dress code imposed by your school and avoid adding inappropriate words or images to your uniform.

Adopting a gothic make-up and hairstyle

Now let’s take a look at how to achieve a gothic makeup and hairstyle.

1) Choose a pale foundation

The gothic look is characterized by pale skin and black eye make-up. Choose a foundation that’s slightly lighter than your natural skin tone. Apply it to your face and neck, blending well with clean fingers. Use a brush or sponge for an even finish.

If you’re not allowed to wear make-up, or if your skin is too dark to use a light foundation, don’t worry! You can always create a gothic look through your clothes and accessories. If you really want to achieve pale skin, even with a darker complexion, try dyeing your hair as dark as possible. Even if the contrast isn’t great, it will draw attention away from your less pale skin.

2) Go for dramatic eye makeup

Choose a dark eyeshadow such as black, gray or purple. You can use a pencil or liquid eyeliner to create a cat-eye effect, or simply underline your eyes with a black pencil. Apply several coats of black mascara or opt for mascara in fun colors like pink, blue or purple.

If you have to limit the amount of makeup at school, choose something iconic to the gothic style, like black lipstick or black eyeliner, and leave the rest of your face natural.

3) Choose a dark lip color

A dark lipstick, like black, offers a striking contrast with pale skin. You can also opt for a classic red, a dark red or experiment with shades of plum, magenta or navy. Choose a color you like to wear every day, or select the shade to match your outfit or mood.

4) Choose the hairstyle that suits you

You don’t have to have long, dark hair to go gothic. Simply choose the haircut and style you like best, or leave your hair natural. Anything goes, whether it’s a shaved head, an Iroquois crest or straight hair like chopsticks.

5) Color your hair, if you like

If you feel like it, you can choose a dark hair color like deep blue-black, or dare bolder shades like cherry red. Purple, green and blue are also popular colors among gothic style fans. You can dye your hair all over, add colored highlights, create an ombré effect or simply color the ends.

Choose a color and style that make you feel good, but make sure you get your parents’ permission first.

6) Add some gothic hair accessories

To complete your gothic look, add the right hair accessories. You can opt for barrettes, clips or hairpins adorned with gothic motifs such as skulls, crosses or ravens. Headbands or black headbands are also elegant choices to complete your gothic hairstyle.

Now that you’ve got all the keys to adopting a gothic look, have fun exploring and expressing your personal style!

Bandanas, headbands, chopsticks, barrettes and clips can be used to keep your hair away from your face and add a touch of interest to your style. Opt for lace or leather accessories, plain black or with patterns such as roses or skulls.

Adopt a Gothic Lifestyle

Once you’ve created your gothic look, take it to the next level by adopting a gothic lifestyle.

1) Deepen your knowledge of Gothic history and culture

If you really want to be gothic, it’s important to learn about gothic history and subculture. Do some research online or go to the library to check out books on the subject, such as Nancy Kilpatrick’s “The Gothic Bible”. Learn about gothic icons, including musicians and film characters such as Alice Cooper, David Vanian and Theda Bara.

The gothic subculture emerged in the UK in the 1980s and was influenced by both the punk rock movement and 19th-century gothic literature. Get inspired by the gothic characters you can find in TV series and films, such as Lydia Deetz, John Blaylock, Lily Munster, Donnie Darko and Wednesday Addams.

2) Listen to gothic music

There are many gothic musical genres, including gothic rock, deathrock, EBM, darkwave and new wave. Gothic artists include Siouxsie and the Banshees, Bauhaus, The Sisters of Mercy and The Cure. Choose music you like to listen to and can identify with. Don’t hesitate to listen to bands that aren’t necessarily gothic; the important thing is to follow your musical preferences.

Music is a central element for many goths. You don’t have to listen exclusively to gothic music, but it’s important to take an interest. Start with Bauhaus’ classic “Bela Lugosi’s Dead”, considered one of the founding pieces of the gothic genre.

3) Read gothic books

Go to your local library and search with keywords such as “gothic” to get started. Books such as Cécile Guillot’s “The Tribulations of a Gothic Girl in Love”, Dodie Smith’s “Cassandra’s Castle” or Susan Hill’s “The Hand of Night” might be good choices. You can also turn to books about vampires, the undead and those exploring themes such as mortality and darkness.

Classical and Romantic literature is also very popular in Gothic culture. Works such as Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein”, Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” and Robert Louis Stevenson’s “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” are among the classics of the Gothic genre.

4) Express your creativity through Gothic art

Goths are often creative people with intense emotions. Express those emotions through art, whether it’s drawing, journaling, singing, painting or dancing. A guide is even available to teach you how to draw a skull and crossbones with ease. You can also write poetry, stories or songs. Use your creativity to improve your wardrobe, create new make-up styles or hairstyles.

5) Don’t go with the flow

Young goths aren’t followers, they don’t conform to prevailing trends or ideas. They’re independent thinkers who form their own opinions. Never force yourself to do something just because other people are doing it, even if they’re your goth friends.

Make your own decisions based on your personal preferences and values.

6) Attend gothic events

Join groups on social networks dedicated to gothic teens to find out about different gothic events. You can also search online for gothic festivals and clubs in your area. This will allow you to meet other gothic teens, learn more about the gothic subculture and get ideas for your hair, make-up, wardrobe and lifestyle. Even if you can’t find any gothic events in your area, you can always connect with other gothic teens through online forums and groups.

By following these tips, you’ll have everything you need to become your own true gothic version, free from the constraints and pressures of the society we live in. Here’s a summary of the important points to remember about becoming a goth: