Okay, so I got really into this whole 80s trad goth thing lately. It’s been a rabbit hole, man!
Digging Through the Past
First, I started by just watching a ton of old music videos. You know, the classics – The Cure, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Bauhaus, all that stuff. I spent hours just soaking it all in, trying to figure out what made that “look” so iconic.
Then I moved on to reading. I found some old interviews and articles about the scene back then. Lots of grainy photos and firsthand accounts. That’s where I really started to understand the DIY aspect of it all. It wasn’t about buying a “goth” costume; it was about creating something yourself.
The Clothing Experiment
So, I hit the thrift stores. Seriously, I spent like three weekends just digging through racks of old clothes. I was looking for anything black, obviously, but also things with interesting textures – velvet, lace, fishnet, whatever. I even found this old, ripped-up black dress shirt that I knew I could do something with.
- Ripped and teared some more fabric. Purposefully, of course!
- Added some safety pins. Lots of safety pins.
- Layered everything. Like, a fishnet top under a ripped shirt, under a velvet jacket.
- Found some old boots. A bit scuffed, but that just added to the look.
Hair and Makeup Mayhem
The hair was… a challenge. I have pretty straight hair, so getting that big, teased-out look took some work. I watched some tutorials, bought a can of super-hold hairspray, and basically went to town. It was messy, but hey, that’s kind of the point, right?
Makeup-wise, I kept it pretty simple. Pale foundation, heavy black eyeliner, and dark lipstick. I tried to do the whole Siouxsie Sioux eye thing, but… let’s just say it needs some practice. I’m going working at it, so be on the look out for more attempts.
The Final Result (For Now!)
It’s definitely a work in progress, but I’m pretty happy with how it’s coming along. It’s not perfect, and it’s not supposed to be. It’s about expressing myself and having fun with it. And, you know, maybe freaking out some squares along the way. Which is always a bonus.
This whole process made me think a lot more about what is considered stylish, and how to make that work for the look.
