"You need me to nip to the shop for you? Sure, let me just get ready. I'll only be an hour and a half..."

*lights-candle-action - get it? Sigh*

The 'corner' is a little bit cluttered today as have GOTH CLOTHES to show you. Except I can't actually show them to you what with this being the written word and all.  I shall use my descriptive skills to the max. And maybe a few website links if you're very, very good.

Yes, Goth Clothes.  Now, I'm not here to judge anyone - I'd rather dispense with the arrogant, bitchy and downright wankerish approach to goth thank you very much.  But hey, wake up and smell the absinthe, this is a goth blog so I will say this:  you can't really pull on a pair of black tight jeans, an appropriate band t shirt and boots and expect to be labelled a goth.  Sorry, it takes a little more than that. The royal 'we' will sniff you out and before long you will be crying over your Katy Perry CD once more wearing your blue jeans, white trainers and your polo shirt. 

As we are dealing with the external appearance of The Gothic in this here blog, I will say that being a goth takes commitment.  You've got to want to put on the 'uniform', even if it's just to go to G clubs in.  But it's not a case of feeling like you have to wear it or 'they won't call me a goth anymore' - it's a genuine want to wear it, to express yourself, to feel 'normal'. Don't get me wrong, you don't need to wear your New Rocks to do the washing up.  Unless you really want to of course.

So, what do you wear?  Well, that's tricky - there isn't really a set uniform as such and everyone is different.  You may want to go Victorian, Industrial/Cyber or choose a more Deathrock aesthetic.  I'm a sucker for boots, so have a fair few pairs of New Rocks and Mad Fish with a pair of Docs as back up.  You may not be able to eat for a few months after buying some but it's worth it.  I also own an obscene amount of Christian Death T Shirts. It's an addiction, but I can control it.  So yeah, quite partial to a band t shirt or 50.  

Black drainpipe/skinny jeans are reliable, but there's some great jeans and trousers out there - both for men and women (see my list of shops below). It's amazing what you can find on the high street though. Two of my favourite items of clothing were bought from River Island - although you would never guess if you saw them.  Skinny jeans can also be picked up from places like Top Man or H &M - you don't need to scour Camden Market searching for this stuff. 

 

My favourite thing at the moment is to hunt down military jackets and customise them.  You can pick these jackets up at army surplus stores - although you may have to settle for a very dark blue one.  I won't tell if you don't :)

Also, you can wear something quite plain, but 'goth it up' with jewellery.  And you don't need tonnes of piercings either.  If you have your ears pierced, there are some great stud earrings that look like you've had something far more elaborate - and painful - done to your body.  My fav is a snake which curls round the top of your ear, and the lower part of the tail is the stud part.  So it looks like a snake has crawled through your ear lobe and has wrapped itself around your ear.  Looks elaborate but is simple and effective.  Try searching for it.

Richard & Judy hated being recognised at Whitby Gothic Weekend

You could trawl Camden Market, or the Oasis complex in Birmingham but there are some great online stores, namely:

http://www.katesclothing.co.uk/

http://nightmoth.co.uk/

http://www.queen-of-darkness.com/

http://www.futurstate.com/article.cfm?mode=1

http://www.decarabia.co.uk/

For the kiddies:

http://m.babygothknits.com

http://www.gothlings.co.uk/

Only in Whitby...

Unfortunately these stores come and go, so these are correct at time of writing.  I'm sure other people out there have more recommendations...

So, you've spent a fortune on clothes and you're on the way to the bus stop when someone calls you an Emo. How dare they! You look down at yourself and you're not wearing gingham trainers.  Nor are you wearing a cap.  You know for a fact that your black hair has not been blow dried and gelled to your face like a photo negative of Justin Bieber.  You rush home and check yourself in the mirror. Sure you're wearing your drainpipes, your New Rocks, your trusty Christian Death t shirt (1 of 15) and a crushed velvet jacket. Also, you double check your birth certificate just to make sure that you're not 15.  Unfortunately a few music genres have adopted some elements of the G look.  Metal fans have a habit of dressing slightly goth-like. Slightly. Although the sweat bands are a giveaway.  To the untrained eye Goths, Emos and Metalheads look mostly the same.  Don't worry though, Mr or Mrs Untrained Eye will no doubt be blasting Jessie J from their 'lowered' Vauxhall Nova; shallower than a bird bath...

I've never had anyone shout anything at me while I've been out and about. If they ever did, I wouldn't give a Robert Smith - it would just make me smile inside - at least I'm not a chav...  Apart from anything else, it must be a right bats arse getting your hair to look 'wet' all the time :)

So, this blog has been written by someone who is proud to wear what they like, who doesn't give a dead vampire what other people think and who loves it when he spots a goth out and about who has made an effort........................................................................................................................................

"Is it this way to the beach?"

Until next time...

*blows out candle*