Oh So Gothic

The word 'Gothic' is ancient, and originates from the Renaissance era to signify the art style of the middle ages.

Today, ‘Goth’ remains a lively subculture in most major cities around the world. With a variety of musical styles, spiritual beliefs and a strong focus on literature, art, architecture, and of course fashion, there's no escaping this beautifully dark lifestyle trend.

What I personally love about gothic culture is that there is so much diversity, although many people are often ‘confined’ or ‘labelled’ as a result of this. In reality, the gothic style has been copied to death, but there is always someone who will re-invent the look and push the boundaries. This is particularly seen on the catwalks and on the streets.

So, which factors influence gothic? The Post-Punk movement is most definitely the root of gothic fashion as ‘Goth’ was originally a sub classification of punk. However, in the early to mid 80's, it emerged as a recognizable and individual subculture.

Fashion is dictated by the people who wear it, and in the ‘alternative’ subculture, to be individual is to be extreme....

Note: All images not taken by me.