I figure this is my blog and if I wanna go OT I can! The other day a question got asked at the Aromaleigh forums about goth/vampy clothing and it got me thinking. How many others are out there, interested in the style of dress, but with no clue where to start? OK maybe not that many but if there's even one, this post (and I'm sure future posts) will hopefully help them.
The first thing to remember is just because it's a store like Macy's or Penney's doesn't mean they won't have clothing you can wear. Every goth girlie needs staples. Black skirts in various lengths, black pants, etc. Stores like Target often get shoes and boots with goth flair to them. The "look" can come from the accessories you choose. Which I'll get to in a bit.
One thing I would suggest, learn to do some rudimentary sewing, then pick up scrap cloth when you can. Lace, Brocades and ribbon go a long way to turning the mundane into something extraordinary. Don't discount goodwills and Salvation army type stores either. They can be a treasure trove of gothy goodness.
So now you've got your basics, you've become a thrift store Goddess but you want more. You've drooled over the goth clothing sites on the 'net and you're ready to make the leap. Remember, dressing this way is about being YOU. Love the Elegance and Romanticism of Vampires? Then find sites that cater to lace, velvets and brocades. Are you more edgy? Then find the ones that cater to vinyls and leathers. Are you a bit of both? Then you can do both!
What if you've found that one to-die-for piece of clothing but it's out of your price range? You can do a couple of things. The first is to save up for it. In a world that's used to instant gratification it can be difficult, in the end it is worth it though. Waiting for it to go on seasonal clearance would be your best bet. The one really good thing us goth lovers have going for us...trends mean very little. So what if you have to pack it away for 6-8 months, it won't be out of style when you finally can wear it! Ebay is another good way to get the specific pieces you want at a fraction of the cost.
Goth is not all about wearing black clothes, having a pale white face with dark eyes and lips. My closet consists of lots of black, no doubt, but there's a lot of jewel tones in there too. My dresses are black and red, black and sapphire and black and amethyst among other colors. My makeup is even more varied. Yes I have blacks, reds, purples but I also have pinks, yellows, blues and even aqua. If you're pale skinned then accentuate it. In this day and age of skin cancer and sun damage that causes aging loving your skin is the best thing you can do. Find a foundation that blends with your skin and don't try to make your skin a color that it isn't. Later in this post I'll list some makeup companies that love us pale skinned beauties :)
Once you have the clothes, accessories are a necessity. Jewelry is easy to find. Companies abound such as
Alchemy Gothic.
Raveneve has beautiful Victorian chokers there are also other sites that specialize in this style of jewelry. Check Etsy and Ebay as well, the prices are generally a bit better, but the sellers tends to have more one of a kind pieces.
Shoes are easily found. Doing a search for Demonia will turn up dozens of sites that carry the brand. There's also the old standby favorite Doc Martens. If stockings and armwarmers are something you'd like to add to your wardrobe, head on over to
Sock Dreams. They also have lingerie bags, mild detergents and even footcare to help you get the most from your new, oh so cool, stockings.
Do you want to add some funky colors into your hair but you're afraid the look won't be for you? Try clip-in extensions, ponyfalls or even a wig. Clip-ins and ponyfalls will give you a better idea of how the colors will look with your skin tone and existing hair color. Should you decide to dye it Manic Panic is the easiest to obtain. It doesn't last long though. If you want a more long term solution Pravana is worth checking into.
I could go on, but this should give some thoughts and direction to go in. Below are a few cosmetic companies worth checking into.
Aromaleigh is the first. Lots of pale foundation shades in 2 different formulas. With the sample option you can find your shade without spending a small fortune. Over 400 eyeshadows guarantee you can find colors that work for you and a host of finishing powders to give that flawless coverage.
Another worth looking into is
Meow Cosmetics Admittedly I've only tried the shadows and liners but with a sample program you can try a few items and see what suits you!
This last one,
Archetype, I haven't ordered from yet. Shipping is slow but Phyrra has tried their pigments and loves them. I will be ordering eventually and at .25/shadow sample it might pay off.
For amazing scents there are two places I recommend. The first is Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab or
bpal. The other is
Velvet Moon Bathery which carries soaps and such as well.
In parting, remember there are no set rules. Be you and find a style that says so!
Morgana
