Okay, so I’ve been seeing “gothic chic” all over my Pinterest and TikTok lately, and I really wanted to give it a shot. I’m not naturally, like, goth, but I do love a bit of drama in my outfits. So, this is my attempt at making it work for me, a regular person.
Phase 1: The Inspiration Dig
First, I scrolled through a TON of pictures. I mean, hours. I wanted to figure out what “gothic chic” even means. It’s not just, like, black clothes, right? There’s a vibe. I noticed a lot of:
- Lace: Especially black lace, on tops, dresses, even gloves.
- Velvet: Crushed velvet, mostly. It just screams “fancy goth.”
- Dark Colors: Okay, duh, black. But also deep reds, purples, even dark greens.
- Statement Jewelry: Chunky rings, layered necklaces, crosses (of course).
- Boots: Combat boots, platform boots… anything chunky and a bit aggressive.
Phase 2: The Closet Raid
Next, I dug through my own closet. I was surprised by how much stuff I already had that could kinda work. I found:
- A black lace top I bought ages ago and forgot about.
- A plain black skater skirt.
- My trusty black combat boots.
- A couple of silver rings that are a bit… extra.
Not a bad start, but definitely missing some key pieces.
Phase 3: The Strategic Shopping Trip
I didn’t want to spend a fortune, so I hit up a few of my usual, affordable stores. I was specifically looking for:
- Something velvet. I ended up finding a dark red velvet skirt – score!
- A statement necklace. Something with a bit of a gothic cross vibe, but not too costumey.
Phase 4: Putting It All Together
This was the fun part! I tried a bunch of different combinations. I wanted to avoid looking like I was going to a Halloween party. My first few attempts were… not great. Too much black, too much lace, it just felt overwhelming.
Finally, I landed on something I liked:
- The dark red velvet skirt.
- The black lace top (tucked in).
- My black combat boots.
- The new gothic-ish necklace.
- A couple of my chunky silver rings.
I also added a dark, berry-colored lipstick and did my eye makeup a little heavier than usual – smoky eye, but not too intense.
Phase 5: The Verdict
I actually felt pretty good! It was definitely a bolder look than I usually go for, but it felt… me. It wasn’t too over-the-top, but it had that dark, romantic vibe I was going for. I even wore it out to grab coffee, and I didn’t feel like I was in costume. Success!
I think the key is to take elements of the gothic chic aesthetic and blend them with your own style. You don’t have to go full-on goth to make it work. Just a few key pieces and a bit of confidence can go a long way!
