1.6 I'm just getting into gothic fashion. How do I start?

This question comes up a lot on the newsgroup. The quick-and-dirty answer is -- read the faq. There are plenty of stores listed here that will sell you goth clothes, accessories, and makeup, plus lots of tips on how to make your own clothes and accessories and how to find gothable stuff in unlikely places.

Basic goth clothes are really, really easy to find -- most every clothing store from Nordstroms to WalMart sells black jeans, t-shirts, leggings, and simple skirts. That's enough to get any guy or gal started dressing somewhat gothy. What you add to those basics is *entirely* dependent upon your own personal style and creativity. Other people may be able to give you suggestions, but whatever they say is usually based on what *they* would enjoy wearing. You need to ask yourself what *you* enjoy wearing.

When creating your own gothic look, your personality and preferences should be foremost. Other things to take into consideration are: your budget (you may need to sew more things instead of buying expensive stuff), the weather (if you live in a very hot climate, you might not want to wear leather all day long), your body type (emphasize your most attractive features), your age (if you're under 18 and living at home with your parents, they do have a say in your wardrobe), your job (corporate culture sometimes demands plain suits, tho' black is almost always appropriate), etc., etc.

Forming your own goth style can take a long time and can be an ever-evolving thing. When experimenting, you may want to start small -- changing accessories or makeup or other things that aren't terribly expensive. Then, as you become more confident in your choices, you can purchase or make larger items that you would wear more often.

The one thing that most people on a.g.f. seem to recommend you avoid is copying someone else's look. Whether it's Marylin Manson or that funky chick you saw at a club last night, please don't try to be a photocopy of another person's style. Sure, we are all *inspired* by seeing someone else's fabulous outfit or hair or makeup. But please take that inspiration and make it into something uniquely you. Combine it with other things you love or change it around to fit your own style. Just don't try to be something you're not.

One of the main reasons Mansonites (typically teenagers who adore Marylin Manson) are so reviled is that they look and act like little goth clones. They wear the same outfits the same way. They show little imagination or originality. In many ways, they're the same as the mainstream trendy kids. There are a few in the gothic subculture who actually believe that all goths must look the same and act the same, but there are many others who can see that that attitude is as bad as the mainstream society goths are supposedly different from. And in the few years of a.g.f.'s existence, it seems that the latter opinion has been much more predominant here.

From: Sande
my suggestion as to a burgeoning fashion sense... if you already go to goth clubs, listen to goth music, etc., take a look at what other people are WEARing -- if you see something you like, admire it. The purpose is not to steal someone's style but if you like it, decide what it is you like about it and personalize it, make it your own. Find your own individual style. If you're not too shy, go up to the person and compliment her/him, ask how to do this, etc... If the person's not an aloof snob, s/he might be pleased to help out a babygoff...

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