16. Geek Goth
Essentially, all Goths are Geeks. After all, how can one devote so much time into dressing up, reading old literature, and collecting obscure music without being somewhat Geeky? You will hence find typical Geek traits in all Goths, but some will be more Geeky than others. The typical Geek Goth tends to place less emphasis on Goth as a fashion, and more on its overtones of dark fantasy. So, while they may not look as spectacularly Gothic as other Goth Types, their knowledge of the symbolism, and artistic influences behind Goth is very often superior. They are more inclined than most to indulge in role play, read sci-fi, fantasy, novels, watch TV shows and films with Gothic appeal. Geek Goths are also more likely to be into computer games and anime than other Goths. You are likely to find them in Forbidden Planet. Geek Goths are some of the most intelligent, creative and open-minded Goths you’ll meet. Fittingly, they frequently have diverse and eclectic taste in music, although they may be more attracted to bands who regularly sing about Lord of the Rings or other subjects with a high Geek interest.
17. Gothabilly
What do you get if you mix Elvis Presley, a bunch of old movies, and a splash of lounge? Bizarrely, you get Gothabilly - a rare and exotic breed of Goth with rather eclectic tastes in both music and wardrobe. With styles originating from “Rockabilly” (American 1950s rock n roll) and “Psychobilly” (1980s punk with a heavy rockbilly influence), Gothabilly is visually and musically a play on retro, kitsch aesthetics - but with a dark twist. Like Deathrock, which often shows many overlapping traits with Gothabilly, the music and imagery is frequently tongue-in-cheek and deliberately cheesy. As such, many Gothabilly bands sport such creative names. Gothabilly’s tend to be some of the brighter Goths out there, with their vivid tattoos, cherry accessories and, ubiquitous polka dot clothes.
18. Steampunk
The antiquated, refined elegance of Victorian Goth and the rough, edgy futurism of Rivetheads may seem a completely incompatible combination. But, thanks to a particular genre of fantasy, the two have been successfully wedded to create the Steampunk Goth. Steampunk is, in essence, science fiction that takes place the low-tech setting of the past (very often the Victorian era). In Steampunk, you may find steam-powered robots, clockwork computers, and complex contraptions made from wood, brass and wheels. The merging of Victorian imagery with quirky technology is doubtlessly of huge appeal to many Goths, but perhaps the most important links between Steampunk and Goth culture are the Victorian writers who inspired the genre. Steampunk Goth fashion is highly creative, incorporating elements that evoke Victorian technology such as clocks, keys and cogs.
19. Faerie Goth
There are Goths who are drawn to the mysterious world of the faerie. Blending elements of Romantic and Hippy goth together with a dusting of New Romantic, the Faerie Goth style conjures images of fantasy and folktale. Just add wings and glitter for a final touch. Music that has been most closely associated with Faerie Goth is the ethereal genre - the slow, atmospheric melodies. Faerie goths can be found in frolicking in forests, moonlit meadows or, failing that, deeply engrossed in a book of magical tales of old.
Guy
Girl
19. Pastel Goth
A new style that emerged only a few years ago, pastel is absolutely dripping with irony. On one hand, it incorporates dark imagery also used in metal and deathrock scenes, such as spikes and studs. On the other hand, everything is colored in lovely shades of baby pink, lavender, and mint green-hence the “pastel” label. This means that pastel is simultaneously sickly sweet rather disturbing, leading to the other name of the scene, “creepy-cute”. Most features of pastel goth probably originate from Japan- in fact, it does seem to be a mixture of Lolita with deathrock. It also borrows much from current fashions trends, including leggings, vest tops, and cropped shorts. Despite being a very modern trend, pastel goths show an appreciation for retro and so many are fans of the original 80’s goth bands. Some musicians have mixed cute and pastel colored imagery with the dark and creepy.
20. Dark Mori
This style actually has little connection with the original goth scene. It originates from the Japanese style of “Mori Kei” (Woodland style), which aims to create a feeling of rustic, innocent prettiness through the use of loose-fitting layered clothes in natural materials and simple, vintagesque styles. Classic Mori Kei usually incorporates a light, muted color scheme, but darken down the palette and get “Dark Mori”, also known as “Black Forest Mori”. Dark Mori is evocative of fairytales and folktales (especially those featuring people living in huts in the woods), giving it a strong appeal among goth, particularly those with Hippie leanings. As the type originates from Japanese fashion trends rather than a music scene, there are currently no bands strongly associated with Dark Mori although there are still artists that have used similar imagery.
21. Carnival Goth
More than one goth has had the unpleasant experience of having to word “FREAK!” shouted at them on the street. For this type of goth however, looking like a circus freak is actually the point, so they have the last laugh. With its love of the bizarre and the theatrical, its outrageous costumes and its Victorian overtones, the world of the carnival is naturally appealing to the goths. The idea of a carnival or circus occurs frequently in literature. Quite a few bands have adopted dark carnival imagery into their looks and music often collaborating it with steampunk. Common motifs include black and white strips, and top hats.
22. White Goth
The notion of a goth that’s an opposite of the traditional goth- wearing all white instead of black- is surprising common. Which one might expect from a subculture that loves subversion. You can see examples of White goths all over the place from film (Switch in the Matrix, for example) to bands. And really it’s not all that strange- white is the color of many things goth like bones, cobwebs, symbolizes death in many cultures, etc. White version of all other goth types are possible, but the look is most prevalent among Romantic (for that bride look), medieval/faerie (for that ethereal look), and cyber goths (for the iLook). The final reason for wearing white rather than black is that it looks amazing under UV lights.
Guy
Girl
Essentially, all Goths are Geeks. After all, how can one devote so much time into dressing up, reading old literature, and collecting obscure music without being somewhat Geeky? You will hence find typical Geek traits in all Goths, but some will be more Geeky than others. The typical Geek Goth tends to place less emphasis on Goth as a fashion, and more on its overtones of dark fantasy. So, while they may not look as spectacularly Gothic as other Goth Types, their knowledge of the symbolism, and artistic influences behind Goth is very often superior. They are more inclined than most to indulge in role play, read sci-fi, fantasy, novels, watch TV shows and films with Gothic appeal. Geek Goths are also more likely to be into computer games and anime than other Goths. You are likely to find them in Forbidden Planet. Geek Goths are some of the most intelligent, creative and open-minded Goths you’ll meet. Fittingly, they frequently have diverse and eclectic taste in music, although they may be more attracted to bands who regularly sing about Lord of the Rings or other subjects with a high Geek interest.
17. Gothabilly
What do you get if you mix Elvis Presley, a bunch of old movies, and a splash of lounge? Bizarrely, you get Gothabilly - a rare and exotic breed of Goth with rather eclectic tastes in both music and wardrobe. With styles originating from “Rockabilly” (American 1950s rock n roll) and “Psychobilly” (1980s punk with a heavy rockbilly influence), Gothabilly is visually and musically a play on retro, kitsch aesthetics - but with a dark twist. Like Deathrock, which often shows many overlapping traits with Gothabilly, the music and imagery is frequently tongue-in-cheek and deliberately cheesy. As such, many Gothabilly bands sport such creative names. Gothabilly’s tend to be some of the brighter Goths out there, with their vivid tattoos, cherry accessories and, ubiquitous polka dot clothes.
18. Steampunk
The antiquated, refined elegance of Victorian Goth and the rough, edgy futurism of Rivetheads may seem a completely incompatible combination. But, thanks to a particular genre of fantasy, the two have been successfully wedded to create the Steampunk Goth. Steampunk is, in essence, science fiction that takes place the low-tech setting of the past (very often the Victorian era). In Steampunk, you may find steam-powered robots, clockwork computers, and complex contraptions made from wood, brass and wheels. The merging of Victorian imagery with quirky technology is doubtlessly of huge appeal to many Goths, but perhaps the most important links between Steampunk and Goth culture are the Victorian writers who inspired the genre. Steampunk Goth fashion is highly creative, incorporating elements that evoke Victorian technology such as clocks, keys and cogs.
19. Faerie Goth
There are Goths who are drawn to the mysterious world of the faerie. Blending elements of Romantic and Hippy goth together with a dusting of New Romantic, the Faerie Goth style conjures images of fantasy and folktale. Just add wings and glitter for a final touch. Music that has been most closely associated with Faerie Goth is the ethereal genre - the slow, atmospheric melodies. Faerie goths can be found in frolicking in forests, moonlit meadows or, failing that, deeply engrossed in a book of magical tales of old.
Guy
Girl
19. Pastel Goth
A new style that emerged only a few years ago, pastel is absolutely dripping with irony. On one hand, it incorporates dark imagery also used in metal and deathrock scenes, such as spikes and studs. On the other hand, everything is colored in lovely shades of baby pink, lavender, and mint green-hence the “pastel” label. This means that pastel is simultaneously sickly sweet rather disturbing, leading to the other name of the scene, “creepy-cute”. Most features of pastel goth probably originate from Japan- in fact, it does seem to be a mixture of Lolita with deathrock. It also borrows much from current fashions trends, including leggings, vest tops, and cropped shorts. Despite being a very modern trend, pastel goths show an appreciation for retro and so many are fans of the original 80’s goth bands. Some musicians have mixed cute and pastel colored imagery with the dark and creepy.
20. Dark Mori
This style actually has little connection with the original goth scene. It originates from the Japanese style of “Mori Kei” (Woodland style), which aims to create a feeling of rustic, innocent prettiness through the use of loose-fitting layered clothes in natural materials and simple, vintagesque styles. Classic Mori Kei usually incorporates a light, muted color scheme, but darken down the palette and get “Dark Mori”, also known as “Black Forest Mori”. Dark Mori is evocative of fairytales and folktales (especially those featuring people living in huts in the woods), giving it a strong appeal among goth, particularly those with Hippie leanings. As the type originates from Japanese fashion trends rather than a music scene, there are currently no bands strongly associated with Dark Mori although there are still artists that have used similar imagery.
21. Carnival Goth
More than one goth has had the unpleasant experience of having to word “FREAK!” shouted at them on the street. For this type of goth however, looking like a circus freak is actually the point, so they have the last laugh. With its love of the bizarre and the theatrical, its outrageous costumes and its Victorian overtones, the world of the carnival is naturally appealing to the goths. The idea of a carnival or circus occurs frequently in literature. Quite a few bands have adopted dark carnival imagery into their looks and music often collaborating it with steampunk. Common motifs include black and white strips, and top hats.
22. White Goth
The notion of a goth that’s an opposite of the traditional goth- wearing all white instead of black- is surprising common. Which one might expect from a subculture that loves subversion. You can see examples of White goths all over the place from film (Switch in the Matrix, for example) to bands. And really it’s not all that strange- white is the color of many things goth like bones, cobwebs, symbolizes death in many cultures, etc. White version of all other goth types are possible, but the look is most prevalent among Romantic (for that bride look), medieval/faerie (for that ethereal look), and cyber goths (for the iLook). The final reason for wearing white rather than black is that it looks amazing under UV lights.
Guy
Girl
