Celebrating uniqueness and expressing your individuality are core values associated with alternative fashion. However, when it comes to gothic clothing and accessories, there’s always been one colour that has been at the forefront of trends.
Black is synonymous with alternative subculture and has a long-standing affair with gothic style. But what if we told you that the gothic landscape is far more colourful than you first imagined?
At Attitude Clothing, we want to show you that gothic fashion is diverse and not just limited to one colour. We’ll explore how alternative colour choices reshape the alt scene, allowing people to celebrate the essence of personal style within the gothic community.
If you want to challenge the stereotype by infusing vibrant, daring and colourful elements into your wardrobe and home decor, we’ll show you how to do just that. Don’t worry; you’ll remain true to your gothic roots.
We’re here to showcase colourful gothic style inspiration by telling you the secrets of how to embrace colour in alternative fashion.
Table of Contents
- Why is black associated with the gothic subculture?
- The significance of colour in self-expression
- Emerging gothic colour trends within the alternative subculture
- Tips for adding colour to your alternative aesthetic
- Will I still be considered goth if I wear bright colours?
- How to incorporate colour into your gothic wardrobe without feeling overwhelmed
Why is black associated with the gothic subculture?
The colour black runs deep within gothic and alternative subcultures for various reasons. Black is a powerful canvas, relating to many emotions, beliefs and artistic expressions associated with the community.
Black embodies the subculture’s connection with morality and is often associated with death and fear. Overall, it serves as a visual representation of the community’s fascination with themes of death, including iconic figures such as The Grim Reaper or The Angel of Death.
What’s more, the gothic subculture thrives from the shadows. Black mirrors the night’s darkness, aligning with the community’s tendency to be captivated by mystery and the supernatural.
Gothic music, art and literature also heavily feature black within their aesthetics. It helps to set the mood, creating dramatic tension and adding depth.
The significance of colour in self-expression
Gothic fashion is all about expressing your individuality and style preferences. Adding colour to your wardrobe or home interior is a great way to express your unique identity and distinguish yourself from others. There are various reasons why the use of colour in gothic fashion is important, such as:
- Standing out from the crowd: There is often a strong desire to defy social conventions within alternative subcultures. Although black will always play a crucial role in gothic fashion, introducing colour allows you to break away from standard expectations and demonstrate non-conformity.
- Personal style preferences: Colours are a great way to express emotions and explore artistic expressions within fashion. Goths often use colour to create an aesthetically striking look that is personal to them.
- Being diverse and versatile: Incorporating alternative colour palettes into your aesthetic lets you expand your fashion versatility. By not restricting yourself to one colour, you can create different outfits and express yourself more. This also means that gothic fashion becomes more inclusive and doesn’t exclude anyone from the community.
Emerging gothic colour trends within the alternative subculture
With any fashion trend, it’s important to remember that every choice you make is a personal style preference. There may be some colours you’re drawn to and others you want to avoid; the decision is yours.
We’ve outlined some alternative colours commonly embraced in gothic fashion.
- Red: Can be used as a bold burst of colour within clothing and accessories to add a vibrant look to an outfit. Red represents passion and love, symbolising romanticism.
- Purple: Associated with mystery and spirituality, purple often conveys a sense of depth. In most gothic items, the purple will be a dark or plum shade, evoking elegance.
- Green: Reminiscent of forests, representing growth, renewal and a connection to the earth. Adding dark green to your outfit adds a nature-inspired mysticism to your look.
- Blue: A midnight blue reflects the night sky in fashion whilst embodying mystery. Deep shades of blue can be used to maintain a dark aesthetic whilst stepping out of the black comfort zone.
- Metallic tones: Silver, gold and copper can add allure to gothic fashion without being too overwhelming. Metallic accents symbolise a connection between the mystical and the ethereal.
Tips for adding colour to your alternative aesthetic
Colour helps to create a rich and diverse style within gothic fashion, allowing you to experiment with clothes, accessories and homeware.
Colourful gothic clothing
There are various ways you can incorporate alternative colours into your wardrobe. Whether you want to add subtle hints of colour or want to be more daring with your choices, here are a few ideas:
- Be bold with your footwear: Keeping your outfit primarily black but adding colour to your feet is a great way to add a unique touch to your look.
- Accessories are key: A colourful piece of jewellery lets you make a style statement without being too out there.
- Bags of colour: You may also wish to add colour to your outfit with a cute bag that allows you to carry your essentials!
- A full fit: If you’re more daring, add various colours to your outfit by opting for something rainbow or tye die.
Bright hair and makeup
Despite gothic fashion traditionally emphasising dark tones, incorporating brightly coloured hair and makeup is a great way to add a unique touch to your look. Vibrant hair dyes, specifically from Lunar Tides, combined with gothic makeup, help to create a vivid and eye-catching appearance.
- Bold hairstyles: Choosing a semi-permanent hair dye allows you to mix up your look and create different vibes.
- Metallic makeup: Opting for an unconventional lip colour can add a different dimension to your aesthetic.
- Coloured eye palettes: A bright eyeshadow palette should be a part of every goth’s makeup collection as it allows you to create various standout looks.
Coloured home accessories
As well as you’re wardrobe, you may be interested in adding colour to your home’s interior. Using different colours can create distinct atmospheres, and you may choose a different colour scheme for each room in your home. One of the easiest ways to add colour to your home is with accessories and soft furnishings.
- Artistic prints: Whether you’re a traditional goth, romantic goth or NU goth, adding pops of colour to your walls with art is great for uplifting the overall mood.
- Funky homeware: Tea and coffee can be much more fun with a funky cup. Little pieces of homeware like this are an easy way to add colour to your home, especially if you buy more than one!
Will I still be considered goth if I wear bright colours?
Being goth or alternative is about self-expression. If you’re thinking of stepping out of the realms of darkness by increasing your use of colour, you can still consider yourself a member of the gothic community. Alternative subculture is more than just wearing black; there are no rigid rules, and it is all about being creative.
How to incorporate colour into your gothic wardrobe without feeling overwhelmed
When wanting to diversify your style while keeping your aesthetics in line with traditional gothic subcultures, opting to start small is a great place. Adding too much colour can be overwhelming, so choosing smaller accessories is a subtle way to change your look whilst maintaining a dark and alternative vibe.
We also recommend focusing on one colour at a time and building your outfit around that. You can experiment with different shades and tones to create a cohesive and stylish look whilst mixing and matching these with black or neutral pieces for balance.
Once comfortable, you can gradually introduce more pieces or more colours. You don’t have to rush your wardrobe overhaul; slowly but surely, introducing colour will give you more confidence when trying new styles.
There’s no right or wrong way to add colour to your gothic wardrobe. But keep your eye on our other blog posts for more fashion-related inspiration.
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The post Beyond Black: How to Embrace Colour in Gothic Fashion first appeared on Attitude Clothing Blog.