Best products from r/GothStyle

Elegant, timeless, and classy, but with a dark edge?

That is basically my MO, too (though I am a similarly aged female).

My suggestion - find a fashion icon of sorts. Mine happens to be Daphne Guinness - she's regal, weird, and beautiful. Elegance without being cliche.

Some examples for men: Blixa Bargeld, Karl Lagerfeld, Marilyn Manson (when he is a little less shock rocky and more refined), etc. Also - I am living for the clothing/wardrobe decisions of the Meth's on Altered Carbon (just imagine this in black).

This is how I handle my wardrobe:

• Everything is black, gray, or olive drab (besides the aesthetic quality - this means that all of my clothes go together and can be partnered in endless variation).
  
• Purge things that don't fit well, or rather, you don't feel great in. Slowly replace the cheaper, ill-fitting items, with up-scale items.
  
• Don't be afraid of getting a higher end item tailored to fit you well. Pay the money, keep it forever.
  
• Buy what you like - but try to keep it to clean lines and no logos or prints. Suit jackets and winter jackets should be full length or hit mid-thigh for that upscale cyberpunk feel. Example 1, Example 2
  
• Trash any and all cheap jewerly or accessories. Skip spikes and chains (unless they are understated and minimal), and avoid shock value. Find items that are weird, morbid, whatever, but have them subtle - something that people from 30 feet away wouldn't look twice at, but up close they realize there is something more there.
  
• Purchase a handful of nice quality, simple/elegant accessories, a nice but unique watch, rings, or necklace or two. Again, it can be weird, or morbid, but try to avoid tacky, cheap, or colorful.
  
• Shoes - I recommend three pairs to start with: Nice pair of "dress" shoes - something you'd wear on a date or to a wedding: Example 1, Example 2, Example 3. A pair of athletic shoes - find some black trainers: Example 1, Example 2 (but even converse or vans would work), and something for the summer: Example 1, Example 2, Example 3.
  
• If you find something you really like (shirt, pants, whatever) - buy two or three of it. Buy it in Black, Gray, and Drab, if they have it, or just buy two in black. Stock up when you find "IT".
  
• You can still have some weird flare - sunglasses for instance. Example 1, Example 2
  
  Once you've mastered some of the above items - you can start adding items in. Be okay with a small curated wardrobe and build from there.
  
  Here are some links to some ideas:
  Clothing - POWHA
  
  Clothing - Zolnar
  
  Clothing - Jean Kutzarov
  
  Accessory - Scarf
  
  Jewelry - Raven Ranch
  
  Jewlery - Martha Rotten
  
  Jewelry - MRD
  
  Exquisite Corpse Boutique - custom timepieces, Jewelry, etc. This is a friend of mine. He makes custom pieces that are to die for (and affordable!). He made my wedding plugs.
  
  More inspiration - Juha Arvid Helminen
  
  Let me know if you need more examples, have questions, or need clarification. :)
  
  Edit: Just realized I didn't talk hair.
  Find a salon near you (not sure where you are - but look for quirky and younger - NOT a chain place if you can help it). It won't be cheap - but a nice haircut is worth it. I recommend going all black, except for a swath of platinum blonde (it isn't cheap to maintain) - but you can use this as your "party piece". Leaving it blond is great, but if you want to get crazy, you can occasionally shock it with some color (which bleeds out quickly).
  
  Something like this or this coupled with a stripe like this.
  
  If none of these are your hair type - describe it and I will try to find some better suggestions.

Hey- real life vampire here. Here's my vampire makeup advice, modified for a beginner.

The main thing you wanna focus on here is red, white and black. Make your hair darker, your skin more pale (contour(define)) your cheekbones and put red under your eyes.

Before you start, gather these things:

1. Clown White
   
2. Liquid foundation of some kind (match for your skin or not, doesn't really matter)
   
3. Eyeshadow (with red and black and white) or oil face paints (same colors)
   
4. Possibly a brown/black eyeliner pencil for your eyebrows
   
5. An ashy contour colour (just a brown, greyish color)
   > 6. A contour brush. Some people will insist that you need more brushes but honestly you can probably get away with using your hands.
   
   Tutorial:
   
   
6. Put on some Joy Division. Mix together some of the clown white and foundation and apply it to make your face seem more pale. Try to make it even, and the consistency shouldn't be too thick. If it is, add more foundation. Also, put this over your lips so that they look super pale.
   
7. Put white eyeshadow on your eyelid. Then, take just a bit of black eyeshadow and try to blend them to make grey. The eyeshadow should get darker towards the outer corners.
   
8. Take some of the red eyeshadow (on the tip of your finger) and dab it on the lower lash line (not your waterline. don't try to stick your finger in your eye!!!). Smear that downwards so that it blends in with the foundation you have on. Try to make it look natural, like your eyes are really red. After all, you are a vampire.
   
9. Use the ashy contour colour and the contour brush to make your cheeks look gaunt. This will help you look more dead. Also, contour your temples. Blend it in to the white so that the lines aren't harsh (you don't need to use that much product, and start in the hairline and work out.)
   
10. If you don't have a widow's peak, make one with your eyeshadow and contour. Use the brush for this, and just try to be subtle with it, moving in a swooping heart shape out from the point in the centre. You might need to pack more product in at the hairline.
    
11. If your eyebrows need to be defined, define them. You can make them look more evil/intense by adding a dark line along the bottom and then angling in like this. You don't have to do this though, and you could even white out your eyebrows (not all vamps have them after all.)
    
12. If you want to, do lines of black eyeliner on your eyelids. You can smudge this if you want, and I suggest only doing the top so that on the bottom the main focus is the red.
    
    If you want any more help/explanations don't hesitate to ask, I could send you more pictures if you want. Here is a picture of drag queen Aquaria with a vampy look: she might be a bit too shiny for what we're going for here, but the eye makeup is a good example (and the expression.)
    
    
    

https://www.amazon.com/DecorRack-Double-Sided-Reusable-Remover-Remove/dp/B07Y2DZ56F/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?keywords=lint+brush&qid=1575140975&sprefix=lint+&sr=8-5
These lint paddles work great on all kinds of fabric, even on overcoats (because cats love to lay on overcoats!).

Honestly calling myself emo at this point has become a meme, Its the fashion that's followed me and I'm looking to transition out of it and into something new.
A typical outfit of mine would be long sleeved white or black shirts, as well as white or black skinny jeans/slacks and some vans.
I'd definitely love to get clothing with straps/zippers/spikes/studs etc
I was looking at these boots, https://www.amazon.com/Martin-Motorcycle-Combat-Gothic-Military/dp/B07CQWH1ZK/ref=pd_ybh_a_8?_encoding=UTF8&refRID=GV0NDCG0BHSTVPDAFCS7
not sure what they would be categorized as
I thought this was a cool shirt https://www.amazon.com/Gothic-Costumes-Double-Irregular-T-shirt/dp/B073XYM65L/ref=pd_ybh_a_1?_encoding=UTF8&refRID=GV0NDCG0BHSTVPDAFCS7

These pants are cool but awful reviews https://www.amazon.com/Idopy-Men%60s-Black-Leather-Biker/dp/B01ALS90J2/ref=pd_ybh_a_2?_encoding=UTF8&refRID=GV0NDCG0BHSTVPDAFCS7


Does that help give you an idea? I should have done more research before posting but I'm already learning some helpful things so thank you.
I'm not trying to be someone I'm not, and I'm also not wanting to be insensitive to those who are part of these subcultures. Just trying something new

You can get pretty good and quick once you come up with a mnemonic, herringbone is a standard for a reason.

However, this will make your life easier: https://www.amazon.ca/Rothco-Zipper-Boot-Laces-Black/dp/B0045ITYDM

Hi there! I got them from Amazon. The bats really won me over, couldn't resist...

Here it is. Aaaaaand there's an easier way of strapping it on in comparison to how i've been doing it, too =p

Well I think the generic term for this type of hat is "10 Gallon Hat". That one looks exaggerated and with waist belts around it instead of rope.

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B019RMNY9A/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_dp_T1_Jixtzb2PC0AYH

this article might be of interest since you are probably looking for more stylistic versions of it rather than authentic cowboy hats:

http://www.vogue.com/article/how-to-wear-cowboy-hat-western-style

This one is called “New Romance” and it got it on Amazon.

Alchemy of England New Romance... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CSJ17QP?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Of course! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XOK1ZLG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_wp51Bb44RRNHY

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HN1PYLI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_9p51Bb11JES2T

https://subculturecorsets.com

The Mountain Electric Dragon T-Shirt

The hat is my dads I borrowed it but here is the skirt: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00YU5B1RW?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title