Okay, so I’ve been seeing “trad goth” all over my Pinterest and TikTok lately, and I finally decided to give it a shot. I mean, I’ve always loved the darker aesthetic, but I wasn’t sure if I could pull off the whole “traditional goth” thing. Turns out, it’s more about attitude and key pieces than you’d think!
Digging Through My Closet (and Maybe My Mom’s…)
First, I raided my own closet. I already had a few black things – a flowy skirt, a couple of band tees (The Cure, obviously), and some ripped fishnets I’d forgotten about. Score!
I do not have much of black clothing, so I try to find something that my mom can provide.
Thrift Store Treasure Hunting
Next, I hit up the local thrift stores. This is where the real magic happened. I was looking for anything velvet, lace, or with a slightly Victorian vibe.

- I found a long, black velvet skirt for like, five bucks! It was a little big, but nothing a belt couldn’t fix.
- I also snagged a lacy top that looked like it came straight out of the 80s – perfect!
- I found some old boots.
Putting It All Together
I started experimenting with different combinations.
The ripped fishnets went under the skirt. I added a chunky silver cross necklace I already owned, plus some black eyeliner and dark lipstick. The band tee was a little too casual, so I swapped it out for the lacy top. It look so awesome!

The Final Touches
The boots were a bit boring on their own, I put the fishnets and it worked!
It is amazing!
Feeling Goth AF
Honestly, I was surprised by how much I loved the final look. It wasn’t about looking “perfectly” goth, but more about capturing that dark, romantic vibe. I felt confident, a little mysterious, and totally ready for a night out (or, you know, just hanging out in my room listening to Siouxsie and the Banshees). I think, I finally find the way of how to trad goth clothing, it is excited!