Depressive, dark and deathly was the new revolt that emerged from the shadows of the colourful fashions in the late 1970′s and throughout the 1980′s. Borrowed from the Punks, Victorians and Elizabethans, this shocking and not-so-saintly style was re-born.
Who would have thought that those pale-faced and unnourished Victorian’s and their cult dress of mourning would be the origin of contemporary Goth style today? Yes, so we’ve all done it; worn all-black ensembles because it makes you appear thinner and it being the most dominant hue in our wardrobe. Apart from being fashion’s fail-safe, black, apart from being the colour of authority and power can make the wearer seem aloof or downright evil. Stark black clothing, dark make-up, hair and pale skin became the key accessories to the Goth subculture, making the style their own. They were seen as different and weird, social outcasts and not to be mixed with.
Goth fashion in its ripe old age is now vampishly sexy with celebrities and designers embracing the dark, skinny tailoring with gusto. It is compelling and mysterious, seductive, edgy and cool with designers such as Alexander McQueen, John Galliano, Rodarte, Gareth Pugh, Karl Lagerfield, Hussein Chalayan, Riccardo Tisci for Givenchy and Yohji Yamamoto all bringing elements back into fashion. It has been recreated and injected with new life with mixings of leather and lace textures and fabrics, slashings of zips and patent stilettos.
Where glamour had not been, it is now sought-after. With celebrities such as Eva Green, Angelina Jolie and Helena Bonham-Carter showing us that horror-film inspired style is sexy and alluring, it looks about the right time to get that Little Black Dress out.
Complete opposites. Absolutely nothing in common. That is normally how Iain – my boyfriend of four years (pictured centre), and I try to comprehend our lengthy relationship together despite being best friends since our childhood days. It is also our method of settling disputes and arguments and the easiest way to reconcile. But unbeknownst to me, as I discovered whilst interviewing him for this assignment, is that our styling is closer to each other’s than we initially thought.
