Living a Gothic Lifestyle

A beginner’s guide to becoming a Goth and embracing a Gothic Lifestyle.

I call myself Goth because it is the best description for who and what I stand for, however I feel that the Genre that is Gothic is so infinite that it more than capable of welcoming anyone who regards them self as a misfit in the mundane everyday life of mainstream culture. Giving them the freedom of portraying their distinctiveness and individuality.

When you look around Goth really has become a permanent fixture in mainstream culture, but there are a lot of misconceptions about the people who choose to embrace the lifestyle, which is fuelled by the endless stream of stereotyped images you see in film and TV.

I discovered this great little book "Gothic Charm School" is the ultimate, fully-illustrated handbook for day-to-day Gothic living and an 'insider's look' at the subculture for people who are curious about, but not necessarily part of the subculture. I agree that being a Black-Clad-Freak doesn’t have to mean being depressed and snarly. (Witty, sarcastic, and possibly a touch cynical, yes. Mean-spirited, sullen, and rude, no.) being Goth and being polite is much, much more subversive than just wearing black t-shirts with 'edgy' sayings on them.

The Gothic lifestyle is a way of life not just a way of dressing, We follow our own set of values and attitudes. A distinct culture, which includes architecture, literature, style, art and music. In Gothic fashion Black is the colour that most people associate with Goths. However, other dark colours like blood red, purple, dark green and blue are also popular. I myself love red and purple.

Gothic makeup is distinguished with a pale base and dark eye and lips, although black lipstick is a must for any self respecting Goth it is hard to pull off, I tend to apply blood red as a base and then accentuate my lips with a bold black liner. Gothic hairstyle, Many prefer their hair to be straight and pitch black. However, I am proud to be a Blonde Goth.

If you are a Goth already, or are looking for a way to express your true self, you already know that dressing up like a Goth doesn’t make you one. Being a Goth is more about the attitude that a person has. People choose this lifestyle because they feel detached from the mainstream culture. A Gothic lifestyle gives them a sense of independence, where they can, not only express their emotions and feelings, but also live life in a way that is quite often not acceptable in conventional society.

If you’re just starting out on your journey into the Gothic lifestyle you may want to subscribe to a Goth Magazine one of my favorites is Gothic Beauty. Follow the link below to their site.

Gothic Beauty Magazine

You can also find a lot of back issues of Gothic Beauty and other great reads on ebay too.