Gothic Dress

 

A Detailed Overview of Gothic Dress and Fashion

The right Gothic outfit can complete any woman’s wardrobe. Dark, seductive, and distinctive, Goth dress is as creative as it is beautiful. Over the last several years, this somber fashion has bloomed into a popular alternative to mainstream clothing.

Looking to find out more about Gothic outfits and what makes them stand out? You came to the right place! This guide will provide a detailed overview of Gothic dress and fashion.

Let’s start with the dress below:

What do you notice? That’s right. This dress makes use of several Gothic archetypes: dark colors, vintage style (Victorian-era corset), and a collar. The antiquated style, thin bodice, and largely homogenous use of dark colors make this a distinctively Gothic girls’ frock. A goth dress such as this one is perfect for any Gothic-themed parties or Halloween events!

While this may represent a traditional goth dress, incredible variety exists in the Gothic outfit market. Take this dress, for example, which is representative of the popular Gothic Lolita style:

Unlike the skirt above, this girls’ frock combines vintage style with brighter colors. The thin, nearly corset-like bodice, blooming, layered skirt, and frilly hems are characteristic of the Gothic style, as are the suggestive lace sleeves that have become a trademark of goth dress.

This type of goth clothing is perfect for conventions and Halloween-season events. The brighter colors of this piece make it more appropriate for other settings, as well, including costume parties or general wear—if that’s your thing.

What Makes a Dress Gothic

You may still have some questions. Namely, what makes a dress “Gothic”? There are a number of factors that make Gothic clothing unique and separate from ordinary dresses. In fact, it’s likely you can recognize them even if you can’t put a name to them. Let’s take a look to see just what the difference is between Gothic dress and ordinary fashion styles:

·        Color Scheme

A majority of Gothic outfits follow a basic color scheme, making use of blacks and reds of various shades, burgundies, purples, browns, and even golds. These colors grow out of the archetypically dark Gothic mindset, which is rooted in the ideals expressed by the Gothic Movement of the 18^th century and which rejects the cheery expression of most mainstream styles.

This lace hem corset dress shows a popular Gothic color scheme, with dark blacks being offset by a deep, brooding red. While some Gothic outfits vary in color like the dress above, others feature largely homogenous color palettes intended to express a dark mood.

·        · Patterns

Goth dress also makes use of a variety of patterns, which can vary by style. While it’s easy to visualize Gothic clothing as a single style, the truth of the matter is that several subsets exist within the broader Gothic domain, including Victorian and Lolita.

These different styles make use of different patterns (with bits of overlap, of course). Popular goth patterns include lace designs, button designs, and dark floral patterns. Individually, these patterns can express seductiveness, liberation, and a more traditional miring in vintage moors.

 ·        Material

Leather is a trademark material of goth dress, though Gothic outfits are typically fashioned out of a variety of materials, including cotton, polyester, nylon, and spandex. The above lace sling dress consists of polyester and spandex chiffon fabric for texture variety and comfort. Often, you can expect an outfit to consist of multiple components, particularly if you’re donning leather or metal accessories. 

·        Accessories

Goth dress also comes complete with a wide variety of accessories that can truly make or break an outfit. Some of the most popular accessories include collars, ankle bracelets, necklaces, rings, bags, and more. These accessories are key components to many Gothic outfits, include wedding dresses. Take a look at the ankle bracelet below:

Vintage, stylish, and complete with a distinctive Gothic chain, this wedding bracelet is representative of the goth style and shows its applicability to a variety of social settings. Whether you’re looking to go goth for the first time or are simply wanting to enhance your existing outfits, the right accessories can help you go the extra mile.

As you can see, goth dress makes use of a number of components not found in ordinary dress. For some, this may limit the wearability of goth clothes—though others choose to don this unique fashion year-round. This hits on one undeniable difference between the two clothing styles: there’s an unmistakable allure to goth fashion.

This unique charm speaks to the social liberation and freedom of expression of the wearer. More than just a dark mindset, goth styles also express a desire to buck conformity and celebrate individuality. For women, revealing goth outfits and lace designs also speak to female empowerment and gender equality.

The Bottom Line

Does the goth style seem attractive to you? At Magic Wardrobes, we make going goth better than ever before. With a complete line of goth, steampunk, lolita, medieval, and Victorian style clothing for both men and women, we have everything you need to make your transformation happen. Our top-of-the-line products are offered at affordable prices so that you can get both the goth dress and the accessories you want.

Join thousands of other non-conformists by shopping the ultimate in goth clothing! Take part in any one of our incredible sales to get your next goth outfit at an even greater value. With worldwide shipping, Magic Wardrobes makes it easier than ever to just do you.

Dark yet seductive, mysterious yet alluring, goth dress continues to make waves in the fashion community. No longer limited to a small subculture, this fashion style influences and incorporates a variety of other dress, including Victorian, steampunk, and lolita.

In this guide, we covered the various characteristics of goth dress, from dark color schemes to antiquated styles and patterns that work to express the somber vision of the Gothic movement. If you’re looking for the ultimate in goth fashion, make sure to visit our website to try out the latest in goth dress!