The Goth Way Of Self Expression
By Catherine Harvey
One of the great things about today’s society is that we are not all hemmed into feeling like we have to follow one trend. There is room for self expression and pretty much anything goes. In fact, the more you can make yourself look different the more widely you will be admired. This is in total contrast to the experience of many young people while I was growing up.
You don’t have to go far back when looking at fashions and trends to get to a time when literally everybody in particular age groups looked identical. They all wore the same style of clothing and they all thought that anyone that didn’t was odd. They would be ridiculed and made to feel odd, which was always unfair if your parents couldn’t afford the height of fashion.
Of course, there were always the fringe elements of society that would indulge in some way out stuff but they were few and far between and were seen as something of a social outcast. That has all changed now. There are kids in tracksuits, kids in goth clothing, punks, emos and those who like to follow your average high street fashion. However, all are accepted as normal forms of expression.
The goth clothing scene in particular has really taken a hold in the last few years. It is by no means new though. As far back as 1910 it can be said that a certain actress by the name of Theda Bara had her own sense of style and was a forerunner in goth clothing styles. Famous for her dark eye make-up and smouldering on screen appearance, she pretty much epitomises everything that Goths now stand for.
Although considered quite controversial at that time with her slightly vampire looking ways, Goths today have taken the goth clothing fashion to the next level. They have embraced the Victorian look that oozed sex appeal with the tight corsets for women and both sexes have a penchant for the contrast of harsh leather and spikes with the softer, more sensual aspects of lace, velvet and silks.
These elements bring a slightly romantic touch to goth clothing and shows that the image of Goths having some sort of death wish are undeserved. Many of them do have a fascination for the darker side of life. They often experience feelings of alienation from general society but the goth scene is a heady mix of eroticism, vampires, other worldliness, sexuality and alienation.
For those who feel this way, there is now an outlet and this exact outlet also brings with it a sense of belonging. They now have a much broader group of people with similar feelings and who express this in a similar way and as such, this brings that sense of belonging.
The goth culture has room for different types of self expressionism but a typical goth can be seen often with pale faces, either natural or made up and wearing black as a base. The hair is dyed in the extreme - either black of luminous pinks, reds or greens. They also favour extreme black make up and black nail polish.
Clothing that accentuates such as corsets or tight trousers are commonplace as are fabrics such as leather and lace. Attention is often drawn to themselves with piercings that look like spikes and frequently from the less than usual orifice!
Whatever the choice that a person makes in their fashion statement it is a good move that anything goes.
About The Author
Fashion expert Catherine Harvey looks at how some people use goth clothing as a sense of expression.