Standardising the Look 24/7

The transition from jeans and a hoodie to trench coats and chainy trousers is easy to do but hard to become constant. Sometimes if all one wants is to get a pint of milk them you would just grab the closest thing you could find and go. Goth is about making the effort. Like a girl not going out in makeup. There is always time to do it!

Creating the image is only the first step. Gathering together looks and styles as well as ideas on what will and wont work is only the beginning. Once you have done this, the image ought to be maintained. You have after all went through all that effort to get all this stuff together and formulate an image. You might as well flaunt your mind on your body.

I am not saying you must never wear joggers again! Sometimes its just a guy thing. However the establishment of an image takes time to formulate. It is not about what others think. It is about your own mindset. The changing mindset of thinking about wearing your black chainy stuff as opposed to simply doing it without thought. It is that mindset which is the goal.

Doing something through habit is the development of a standardised and constant image. From this we can make it casual or extreme. (depending on our mood or the weather). A lazy day would be boots, jeans, tee and go. A more effort induced day may include more chains, straps and dangly things. A layered top half with tee and arm warmers. A jacket with scarf and headphones with the wire hidden.

Casual day?

More intricate look?

Extreme Style?

This or That? Breaching the label

There are many subcultures, styles and modus operandi within the gothic scene. From Punk to Vampiric goth, Steampunk to Cyberpunk. This simply represents the diverse nature of the community as a whole. Each one comes with its own style of dress, music and accessories.  

However, I argue that one can be a combination of all things. The truest nature of goth is the nature of individuality and uniqueness. It does not always have to be black on black. It is all about choice. It is the ability to do what you want.

The world is confined by labels. It is determined and governed by labels. They are generated by society to define and categorise, mainly for its own understanding. It therefore warps the general population and forces them to comply with these norms and values, expected and dictated by these commonly understood labels.

Goth is a breach of these labels and so labelling within the gothic community is surely a self-defeating goal. Whilst labels do provide understanding and structure, they allow control and contain by creating walls around limitless creativity.

Therefore being unique and unpredictable is the true essence of the scene. Never loose yourself to a label, even a gothic one!

Why?

Why start this blog? I am a student in my final year, 21 and ready to go out into the real world. So why am I so concerned with something like this now? Being a goth, an emo, a skater or any other social trend is often a choice reserved for the first few years of secondary school. They eventually 'grow out of it' and become 'normal' like the rest of us. All I can say is, how boring! Why can't we be who we want to be, act how we want to act and of course dress how we want to dress?

I am not a 'normal' guy by any stretch of the imagination but I am not a stand out, life and soul of the party kind of person. I have a very happy and strong relationship with my girlfriend so this is not some win girls or friends strategy or attention seeking farce. I just want to be who I always have been. I do not hate the world or life. I smile alot, laugh and am a genuinely happy guy.

So why goth? Goth as an aesthetic is very attractive to me, as an image. The ideals and philosophy behind the movement seem an appealing lifestyle. So this blog is going to attempt to document this journey to the dark side, per se. I do own some gothy-esque clothing and looks but the whole idea is the adaptation of the lifestyle into mine. A 100% goth and not just a weekend/ when-I-can-be-bothered goth.