Top 10 Types of Goth Style
Believe it or not, there are many types of goth styles. But first, let me tell you a few things about goths.The goth subculture is a contemporary group of people who adopt fashion elements such as black clothes, dyed black hair, dark eyeliner, and black nail polish. However, not all goths adopt these fashion elements.
The goth subculture is also associated with a distinct taste in music, aesthetics, and fashion.
The styles of dressing within the subculture range from deathrock, punk, and Victorian styles, or combinations of these. Most often, the attire is dark (often black, of course), with pale face makeup. That said, not all goths need to have pale skin, in my opinion. Black hair is also a common feature.
The goth scene continues to draw interest from audiences decades after its emergence.
Trad is short for "traditional." They are the first type of goth that was created (that's why they are number one). Trad goths started in the 80s.
A typical trad goth loves their big black hair, pale skin, dark makeup, ripped fishnets, leather, and boots.
Their clothing is from the 80s, with all that spooky stuff, and trad goths are inspired by punks.
STILL the best type of goth in my opinion, and the music is great (Siouxsie and the Banshees, Joy Division, Bauhaus, The Cure).
Cybergoth is a subculture that derives from the elements of goth, raver, and rivethead fashion.
Common fashion elements of a cybergoth are neon dreads, gas masks, or goggles. These goths love neon colors as well as black or other colors. Purple, pink, red, blue, orange, and green are the typical colors seen in this type of goth.
A more extravagant makeup style is also common for this type of goth. Cybergoths may draw patterns with eyeliner or apply more detailed eyeliner to their eyes, but this is not always done by cybergoths.
Romantic goths are focused on the dark, sensual, and mysterious world of gothic themes created by Victorian literature.
Identifying features of romantic goths include velvet and lace, flowy crowns, and a love of poetry and literature.
Romantic goths are typically emotional, creative, dreamy, and passionate. They love the drama of romance and sorrow.
I love mixing this with witchy, dreamy, and Lolita styles.
This sounds pretty cool.
Goth and Steampunk? Cool!
Nu goth is sometimes called "hipster goth" or "hipsters wearing black." For me, Nu goth is a simple goth style.
Some goths don't like this style because it's just about wearing all black, not like other goths that have more defined styles.
Nu goths wear all black and use symbols that are common in the goth community, like the pentagram.
Gothabilly (sometimes called hellabilly) is an offshoot of psychobilly influenced by the goth style.
The name of this goth style combines gothic and rockabilly.
Common fashion elements in this goth style are fringe bangs, long tresses with victory curls or regular curls, and pencil skirts or dresses with colors other than black. For girls, garters, fishnets, and heels are also common. For boys, common elements include ripped jeans, leather jackets, tattoos, and black denim for a more badass look.
In my opinion, this goth style is sexy and classy.
The Gothic Lolita (or J-goth) is a combination of Goth and Lolita. Lolita is a Japanese street style, along with Goth. The Gothic Lolita is scary but still cute. It's not like Pastel Goth, as Gothic Lolitas wear black and scary clothing combined with the cute Lolita style.
Gothic Lolitas wear black high knee socks, black platform shoes, black Lolita dresses, and Gothic and Lolita accessories mixed together.
If you love Japan, you would probably love this style.
Gothic Lolita is my #1 favorite goth fashion. It has been for a few years now.
Is that synonymous or similar to the Welwitschia Goth aesthetic by any chance? Welwitschia Goth looks like it has elements of Pop Surrealism and Lowbrow art too.
A mix of emo and goth.
Goths were around a long time before the 80s. Then it was Victorian goth. Edgar Allan Poe, for example.
Goths have existed for centuries before the 80s. It's goth music that made its appearance in the 80s.
P.S. Geek Goth should be on the list.
The Newcomers
Even though they don't listen to subgenres under the goth rock umbrella, it still looks interesting.
Who knows, maybe these days some do, so there must be mall goths who really are goths.
I am a 15-year-old vampire goth. I wear black, red, navy, and dark purple. I also love to wear vampire fangs. Vampire goths love vampire movies and shows, bats, coffins, and other things to do with vampires.
No matter what kind of goth you are, you are beautiful just the way you are. You will struggle when it comes to being accepted, but don't let that affect you. Be proud that you are a goth! God loves everyone.
Vampire goths are often called "romantic goths with fangs." They are inspired by vampires, dressing and acting like vampires (probably without biting anyone). Most of them have very pale skin, wear Gothic vampire-like outfits, and use fake vampire fangs.
Vampire goths are goths who are fans of vampires. They love things associated with vampires, such as coffins, the night, graveyards, bats, and all things vampire-related.
Pastel goth is the mixture of creepy, dark, gothic elements and cute, childish, kawaii themes.
Some goths don't consider this goth because it's too cute for them to consider gothic (not hating - this is why I don't rank it higher).
Pastel goths mix pastel colors and black. They often have pastel hair (pink, blue, green, purple pastels) and wear black lipstick, creepy yet cute accessories, and outfits that combine pastel and Gothic styles.
The most unique goth in my humble opinion. Allows you to be hardcore yet soft at the same time. Being goth is also not caring what others think, so I couldn't care less if a fellow goth tried to say I'm not a "real goth." They can die mad about it and be laid to rest in a pretty pink coffin.
Japanese Goth.
More like a nature-worshiping goth that just loves to spread love but also loves black.
Has more to do with people who are into sado-masochism. Girls usually have Bettie Page bangs, leather or latex clothes, etc., but they don't all listen to "goth" music. It has more to do with their sexual preferences.
Fetish goths are the "sexual goths" (I don't mean that they like to be molested).
Fetish goths wear latex, revealing gothic clothes, and similar styles.
Fetish goths are often kinky and sexual. They like to embrace their sexuality openly.
Casual Goths are basically people who are generally depressed, usually dress in casual clothes in the colors black and red, and accessorize in "edgy" stuff like fingerless gloves and skulls. These goths are like the tween/teen kids in middle school and high school who can't afford or don't really like the fancy stuff.
Bubble goth is the newest goth style. This goth style was created by an Estonian singer named Kerli Koiv. She aimed to create something that makes the beautiful creepy and the creepy beautiful - essentially taking the light and the dark and blending them. She was called goth when her album Love Is Dead was released.
This goth style is similar to cybergoth, but it includes light or pastel colors. Items associated with this style include masks, light-colored dreads, light-colored or black corsets, and so on.
I think this style is just a combination of cybergoth and pastel goth (not being rude).
I feel like e-girl, much like its e-boy counterpart, is very focused on Asian fashion culture (specifically K-pop and a little bit of J-fashion). They mix a lot of elements together, focusing on punk and goth.
Even if you dislike e-girls/e-boys in general, you can't deny that the fashion is rather cool and interesting. The makeup style is great too.
Dark goth is all about the dark side.
In terms of style, it's probably most like romantic goth, with a lot of outfits boasting flowing sleeves and often incorporating rich black velvets for a mystical flair.
Magic goth styles tend to be mixed with more contemporary goth aesthetics to reflect the wearer's practice of modern witchcraft. Pentagram, mother, maiden, crone, or crystal jewelry is often worn. The color palette is usually solid black. However, I have seen some witchy-goth styles also add hints of purple, which, to most pagan practitioners, represents the spirit, adding a more mystical touch.