How to Dress Like a Goth? The Complete Guide

Are you wondering how to dress like a goth? Are you looking for detailed advice to know step by step how to do it? Or maybe you're a middle or high school student, and you'd like to try some gothic clothes ?

You're in the right place. Our team is closely interested in this topic. We have a large catalog of over 200 products on gothic fashion, and we will be happy to answer your question. 😊

Indeed, every year thousands of women seek to know how to do it.

Dressing like a goth requires first choosing your style carefully, and then finding the dark clothes that truly suit you. The basic outfits for women are: black and romantic gothic dresses, platform gothic shoes, and gothic jewelry.

In this article, you will discover:

• The prerequisites for having a true gothic clothing style
• The different gothic styles
• A complete guide for women that will show you step by step how to dress in gothic style

After reading, you will have all the keys in hand to create a truly custom gothic style.

Let's start now!

Before delving deeply into the subject, it is necessary to question the most common reasons that drive people to convert to gothic fashion. This will help you choose the best style that suits you.

Why do goths have this style? What you need to know

To begin with, it is important to understand that followers of the gothic movement have a different worldview that is unique to them. Indeed, they often live in a unique way. The richness of goth culture makes them fundamentally different from the masses. And this is what justifies their style.

Goths often opt for black clothing, with a romantic, Victorian aesthetic, cyber goth, etc, because it allows them to express themselves as they truly are inside.

Death, sadness, and darkness are important themes that should not be hidden. It is also about seeing beauty in everything, even in the dark aspects of life.

Thus, goths have this style because it allows them to express what they are inside through their gothic clothing.

The different families of gothic styles

We have seen why some people adopt a gothic clothing style. Now you will discover the different branches of gothic fashion. There are many. Maybe one of them will appeal to you! Here are the 6 most well-known categories.

1.Batcave

Originally, Batcave was a nightclub located in London. It was the gathering place for the first goths to listen to rock. Batcave is also a musical genre of the same name. 🦇

It is considered the first gothic style that existed. It is characterized by a gothic look that predominantly adopts the color black. Here are some characteristics of this style:

• Extravagant hairstyles (crests, colored dyes)
• A lot of makeup for both genders
• Loose, torn, damaged clothes
• Tight pants
• A lot of piercings and tattoos

2.Romantic Gothic

The romantic gothic style is inspired by the 19th-century romanticism and the fashion of that era. Romantic goths often wear black clothes in a Victorian style. Here are the most common outfits:

• Long black lace dress
• Clothes adorned with many aesthetic patterns
• Hats
• Umbrellas
• Lace corsets
• Elegant hairstyles inspired by Aristocracy

On this note, if gothic dresses interest you, discover this model that will perfectly give you a romantic style. 🌹

3.Medieval Gothic

Medieval goths adopt clothes and jewelry that are imitations of the Middle Ages. There is sometimes a pagan influence that creates a very original style. One can often see the presence of:

• Medieval gothic dresses
• Large hoods
• Medieval ornaments
• Jewelry from ancient times

4.Cyber Gothic

The cybergoth movement is a particular style. Indeed, it straddles many styles and its categorization is subject to debate. What can be said is that it is inspired by cyberpunk, raver and goths. Thus, cyber goths often enjoy techno and other music of this kind. The clothes aim to create a futuristic effect. Here is what is often found among cyber goths:

• Colorful clothes
• Colorful and atypical hairstyles (synthetic dreadlocks)
• Androgyny (little visual difference between men and women)
• Accessories inspired by science fiction
• Fluorescent materials and accessories

5.Metalhead Gothic

Here too, it's subject to debate. Be careful not to confuse metalheads and goths. Nevertheless, among goths, there are metal enthusiasts who draw inspiration from it for their clothing. It's a rare style, but it exists. Thus, metalhead goths can draw inspiration from the makeup of metalheads and their accessories.

6.Lolita Gothic

The lolita gothic style is a way of dressing inspired by Japan and manga. Often adopted by women, it was a common style in the streets of Tokyo that later spread worldwide.
In truth, the lolita gothic style is a branch of the lolita style. Nevertheless, here is what is most often found among Lolita goths:

• Puffy dresses and skirts
• Petticoats
• Headdress (headpiece)
• Mini petticoats
• Artificial flowers
• Umbrella

How to find your gothic style: the basics for a goth woman

Now, you know the different currents of gothic fashion. This will be useful for adopting the female gothic style that suits you best. Of course, your choice will depend on your tastes. It is therefore important to have an idea of how to build a gothic style. Here you will discover the basics to better understand what it means to be gothic.

1.Interest yourself in the gothic culture

The first step is the most important. If you are not yet part of the gothic movement, you need to learn more. And for that, there is no other way. Gothic culture is very rich in nuances and surprises. Discover the films, music, and literature specific to the gothic universe.

2.Take your time

Before choosing your style, it is necessary to take your time. It is important that you choose the style that suits you best.

If you do not identify with the values and gothic dress code of one of the different gothic styles given, you can invent your own by drawing inspiration from what you like most.

Dress in gothic style progressively, it's the best way to be sure in the long term.

3.Choose your style

As we have seen previously, gothic fashion encompasses many distinct categories. So try to know if you are more lolita or batcave ? or maybe cyber gothic? Of course, you are not obliged to restrict yourself to a particular style. But try to know your desires as best as possible to better choose your clothes later on.

How to dress in gothic when you are a woman? : The complete guide

We are now getting to the heart of the matter. We have just seen the basics for entering gothic fashion. Let's now focus on concrete cases that will show you step by step how to dress like a goth. What clothes to wear ? Should there be specific jewelry? You will see that it is not difficult. This is what we will see below.

1.Wear a black gothic dress or skirt

A. Find yourself a dark dress

When a woman wants to become gothic, the dress is probably the most important element. It's a large garment that covers a large part of the body, which is perfect for winter and cool weather. It will be the base of your style. There are many styles of dresses in different colors, lolita, romantic, medieval and many others. It's a garment that will be the perfect expression of your personality, and it's mainly thanks to it that people will know if you are gothic or not, as each dress is out of the ordinary.

Of course, if you are not a fan of dresses, you can opt for gothic pants.

B. Choose a skirt that suits you

Is it hot and you don't want to wear a dress? Know that gothic skirts are a very good substitute for dresses. There are many models of gothic skirts, which will give a lot of personality and commitment to your style. Whether they are black gothic skirts, plaid or asymmetrical, they give you a wide choice to dress in gothic style. Because each style has its own meaning.

If you like skirts, discover the black gothic skirt that will give you a gothic look worthy of the name.

2.Wear shoes that suit you

To continue to dress like a gothic, it is important to have gothic shoes. Indeed, shoes are something we wear every day. To complete your style, it's best to have platform shoes, boots, or gothic heels that create harmony with all the clothes ! It is important to choose a model with which you feel comfortable.

3.Jewelry: the detail that changes everything

Now that you have an idea of which clothes to choose to dress like a goth, it's time to think about jewelry. It is unique in its kind and adds a touch of beauty that does not leave indifferent. Whether it's skull rings, choker necklaces, earrings, and piercings, they complete the outfit and add more subtlety to your style. Choose the gothic jewelry that suits you 100%. Think about adorning your fingers, ears, neck, and other parts of your body with care.

4.Get a gothic hairstyle

To do this, we recommend first looking for examples of gothic hairstyles on the Internet. You will find many photos that can help you make your choice. Select the ones you like the most and get inspired. However, each person is different, a hairstyle will look perfect on one and less so on another. That's why it's important to clearly specify to your hairdresser what you want and how to adapt it to you. In this way, you will get the perfect gothic style hairstyle.

5.Makeup: what makes all the difference

Using makeup is what will allow you to give a tone to your face. There are many subtleties of gothic makeup, but here are the main ones. So what are the basics of gothic makeup?
First, apply white foundation to give you a paler effect. Then, you can also apply cherry or black lipstick on your lips, it will contrast with the whiteness of your skin. After that, get an eyeliner to create a deeper and more mysterious look.

Gothic makeup can also be associated with nail polish.

6.Accessories to add a touch of elegance

And here is the final touch! Now that you know how to dress like a goth from A to Z, you can extend your style to accessories. Thus, plush toys, bags, pins, or wallets will be ideal for you to have a goth style in all everyday situations.

The essential accessory to dress 100% like a goth

In this article, we have covered many topics. We started by introducing our topic. You discovered why goths have this style and what the different gothic fashions are. Then, you understood the prerequisites of a gothic style and how to dress this way step by step. Now this topic holds no secrets for you!

The next time you look for a garment to add to your wardrobe, you will have much less difficulty choosing it and you will have deep reasons to dress this way.

Whether it's dresses, skirts, jewelry, etc. You now know that the gothic world offers you a wide choice to create an ideal dress code.

If you are still reading these lines, it means you are probably interested in the world of gothic clothing for women. This is what we offer in our 100% dedicated gothic fashion store.

On this note, this black gothic dress is one of our favorites, take a look to discover it and visit the rest of the store. 🌹