OOTD 2: Robert Smith joins the Army

I can post pictures of what I wear every day now, so I can post that when I'm not filled with inspiration.

So, I have one full length mirror in my dark room. The lighting in my bathroom is much better, but my mirror is only waist up. I apologize. I was also making a weird face, so it's smudged out.
I am wearingggg

• Paramore Misguided Ghosts t-shirt- Hot Topic
• Secondhand camouflage military jacket with patches- it's not actual military gear, my stepdad made it in the 80s, when he was 14.
• Secondhand black super skinny jeans- from my mother
• Black Creepers- eBay

 Here's a close-up of my top half and my necklaces.

• Extra long weathered cross pendant- Claire's
• Black ankh necklace- cheapo flea market

 This is my...left? wrist.

• Knotted skull bracelet- Claire's
• Leather ball studded cuff- Independent leatherworker

This is my other wrist. Obviously.

• Two ponytail bands
• Skull bead bracelets- Claire's
• Cross bead bracelet- Claire's
• Secondhand silver bangle thing- Mother

 My stepdad has recently discovered The Cure's frontman's hair, so today he said I looked like Robert Smith in the Army. He also wanted his jacket back, but that isn't happening.

I'll be posting these  alot now, so yeah.

More on the Evils of Hipsters Invading Goth and Grunge

That title is completely facetious. There is nothing wrong with Hipsters, nor their interest in Grunge and Goth. The post that still has more views than the rest of my posts combined (Pastel Goth, Nu Goth, and Hipster Goth) still holds a lot left unsaid. I just described their differences, how they could be considered Goth, and a vague little 'be nice to them'.

Look at this outfit. Is it that bad, if you get past the label of 'Nu Goth'? I don't think so. Could it be Goth?
Well, look here.
There's the big question.
Could it be Goth?
Who's to say what is and is not Goth? Why, it's the person wearing it! If they know the basics of Goth and consider yourself one, no one can tell you any different. These Basics of Goth are something lots of people have disagreed with me on. I think it would be very, very helpful if you knew the minimum, the most basic smidgen of knowledge:

• The History- No, not as far back as the Visigoths, silly goose. I mean the modern movement with big hair and ripped pantyhose pulled over heads. My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult was the first band where the followers were called "goths" in an interview in 76-78 (this entire sentence was taken from a Facebook conversation with another blogger). Then, Bela Lugosi's Dead came up and the sound was called Goth. The rest is history. 

If Ashley Joncas (the Nu Goth pictured) identified, she could be a Goth. She could have a skewed idea of it, but she could still be one. She wouldn't need to know the history; there are no requirements because we are all accepting. Well, we are supposed to be.
I'm being sidetracked.

 I don't know anything about the original Grunge movement, but I'm sure it had little to do with pastels. BUT (you knew there would be a but, didn't you? You are all VERY smart) the adjectives 'soft' and 'pastel' are used. An adjective is 'a word or phrase naming an attribute, added to or grammatically related to a noun to modify or describe it'. Notice the modify. The style, as far as I can tell, is somewhat influenced by grunge fashion.

If you have a tumblr account, you'll know about the 'geeks girl' controversy. Male geeks will approach females wearing comic book related clothing or buying comic books will be harassed about knowing everything about these books, or games, or cards. You don't need to know everything about Goth or grunge. It would certainly be helpful, but it's very near impossible to know everything. In my opinion, you should know some very basic things and you should definitely have an interest in your subculture (if you don't, you need to rethink your motives).

 In short, hipsters being interested in Goth and grunge isn't a bad thing, whether they identify as part of the subculture or influenced by it. This is society becoming more accepting of us black-clad spooksters; accept it. 

If you have any questions, comments, or flame wars in the making, please send them to me here. 

-HRH LittleGothCat

Things BabyBats Should Be Instructed About

It's been over a month since I've written anything. I could give all sorts of excuses, but I really just haven't had inspiration. I do now.
     Let's start of with the basics of Goth. First off, I believe someone needs a basic understanding and respect for Goth culture. Everyone should know the Batcave, Joy Division, big hair, Robert Smith, winklepickers, Siouxsie Sioux and how they inspired this strange mutated creature we call Goth. Then consider yourself a Goth. You needn't tell anyone else if it makes you feel unsafe or uncomfortable. Of course, that sentence does not apply to the original forefathers and foremothers; they have reached a level of Goth that is now unattainable.
     When someone starts out in this subculture, they slowly start to integrate whatever vaguely Gothy items they can into their wardrobe. It doesn't always turn out well. I would like to bring up a personal example. There is a group at my school self-titled as The Black Cloud. They wear those baggy, chained Tripp pants, Slipknot shirts, and thrift store leather jackets with odd patterns. The clog up the middle of the second floor's main hallway and the teachers are always yelling at them to disperse. I was in English a week ago and the word "gothic" was brought up. My teacher asked "Do you even use that word to describe people anymore?"
     The word gothic used as a label for people aside, I would like to point out that someone can wear ankhs and stompy boots and have teased up black hair and go to Goth clubs and listen to The Dresden Dolls and Siouxsie Sioux, but if they don't want to be labelled Goth, they aren't. No one can label anyone else.
     Then, surprise of all surprises, a football player raises his hand and says "Yeah, we use it on the Black Cloud". The Black Cloud is half emo kids and half BabyBats who aren't interested in learning about the culture whatsoever. I've asked some of them; they do not give a damn.

     Some garments you should avoid under certain circumstances. They CAN be made Goth, but you would be hard-pressed and it wouldn't always look as good as you think.

• Trilbies- These hats are marketed towards a 'Goth' market, with skull emblems, pinstripes, and morose colors. However, they are usually mislabeled as fedoras. They aren't. However, they should be worn with the same things. Hoodies aren't very complimentary. Maybe a classic button-down, tie, and skinny jeans a la My Chemical Romance?
• Phat Pants- I dislike Tripp pants. I think it takes a very special person to pull off enormous pants with an inordinate amount of chains, like LeahMouse. They're almost always on BabyBats and they're seen as immature. 
• Blue Jeans- There is nothing particularly Goth about grungy old blue jeans that don't fit. I don't think they're attractive on anyone, but some people really don't have anything else. Patches, Otter wax, artful shredding and stitching, painting, and laces can be interesting on any pants, blue or otherwise.
• Halloween Accessories- The Black Cloud has a penchant for wearing fishnet gloves and plastic vampire fangs. It takes a very special outfit to pull of fishnet gloves. I prefer the pantyhose with the ripped out crotch look myself, but if no one will give you any, wear them with something that matches. Plastic vampire fangs aren't really acceptable unless it is Halloween.
• Leather Jackets- Leather (or PVC or vegan-friendly material) jackets are an amazing addition to anyone's wardrobe. They are very expensive and very hard to find in good quality on ebay or a thrift store. If they come cheap, they most likely are cheap. It's hard to be a spooky creature of the night with quilted fake leather. If you insist on wearing a trench coat length jacket, MAKE SURE YOUR SHOES MATCH. There is a part of the Black Cloud that wears one with white Reeboks. They don't match.

Things to Wear Very Carefully

• Armwarmers- Match them with your outfit. Band shirts and lace-up lace do not mix. AVOID PLASTIC. There was another Black Cloud member who wear plastic Batman gauntlets over the sleeves of his jacket. Plastic is just not comfortable, practical, and really not attractive. I never thought I would have to say that.
• Knit Fingerless Gloves- If it is too hot to wear a knit sweater, it is too hot to wear knit gloves. 
• Extensions- Extensions are best as expensive, glue ins or wefts. Clip-ins are cheaper and much easier to find, so they're a fine option. Make sure to hide the clip under your hair.

     Please understand- it is fine if you'd like to wear these things, any of them. Think about the image some of these things send out and think about if you would like to portray yourself as such. If you do, wear it. If you don't try something else. Make yourself happy and forget what everyone else thinks. Yeah, empowerment.