So, back around Christmas time…

I went to a party, and I looked like this:

 

Gothica Incognita

So, a Goth walks into a bar.  Or, not a bar in this case … a new alternative shop in town.  And not a Goth as you imagine per se, but a “gothically inclined” individual who has just gotten off work at her 9 to 5 office job.  You might note her rather monochromatic attire in shades of gray, but then again you might dismiss it as typical, conservative style.  You might notice the streak of dark purple in her bangs, but then again perhaps not, since indoor lighting makes it blend in more with her naturally dark brown hair.  You might think she doesn’t understand the type of place she’s in as her eyes sweep across the sparsely laid out floor space and you direct her to the nearest rack of sales items.  A twinge of self-consciousness might even spur you to state, “We sell mostly gothic-y type stuff,” as she gently pulls a garment into better view.  And you might be surprised when she answers with a big smile,

“Oh, I know.  I like the gothic-y type stuff.  That’s why I came here.”

You’re surprised, but still not sure if she’s someone who genuinely likes Goth stuff, or someone who just fancies herself as someone who likes it.  You point out the t-shirts.  “I don’t know if you’re into the punk side of things,” you say handling a shirt with a girl’s image.  She saw the Deathrocker shirt from across the room and loves it, she tells you.  Then, deciding to give you a frame of reference outside her present appearance, she says,

“You gave me your card a couple of months ago during Artwalk when you stopped my girlfriends and I to ask for a picture.  We were all wearing colorful wigs.”

You had no memory of this woman until she mentioned the wigs.  Then it was instant recognition, not of her, but of the moment.

                                                                                              

Those wigs were a show stopper.  I’ll have to tell you about it sometime, but not now.  This is about a typical day in my life in which I am Gothica Incognita.  I walk into a Goth shop; they don’t recognize me.  Earlier that morning, feeling that I looked pretty snazzy, I took a couple of snapshots thinking I’d share them with the Ladies in Black Facebook group since the lovely group-mistress, Miss Bethezda of Bethezda’s Preoccupations, had entreated for more outfit-of-the-day pics.  I thought of it as a corp goth contribution, but the images fell short.  Hardly worthy of an outfit-of-the-day on everyone’s computer screens, especially when that particular “Everyone” are people connecting over gothic-y type stuff.  The shop owner confirmed this for me.  We still managed to connect over a long chat, though.  Gothiness does that.  It has its way of creeeeeeping out.  Hehehe.

But still, I did look pretty nice.  And so comfy, too!

Why, yes. Standing on a chair in the restroom seems perfectly natural to me.

On another note, I have an outfit post or two to catch up on, but after that I should be able to get back in full swing with picture related posts in a way I’ve been unable for months.  I finally replaced my digital camera!  Huzzah!  and Glory Hallelujah!  I’ve been relying almost exclusively on my camera phone for still shots, which doesn’t work well for taking pictures from more than arms length away.  My brief experiment with using still frames from video just didn’t pan out.  Too grainy.  I’m so glad to have a real camera again, and just in time for the holiday season.  Now I need to go play with creating some FUN outfits so I’ll have an excuse to give the camera a spin.  Wheee!!

Finally, some quality pics to come!

Easing Into Alternative Fashion

The following video is something I stumbled upon while browsing YouTube recently.  The creator’s channel is devoted primarily to her interest in Gothic Lolita, a very finely-tuned style if there ever was one.  Personally, while the complete look isn’t for me, I do enjoy the Lolita aesthetic of frills and femininity.   I found this little video clever and helpful in demonstrating how to gradually incorporate Lolita elements into one’s existing wardrobe.

A struggle for anyone dabbling in alternative fashion is the period of transition.  It is daunting, both incorporating new elements which don’t quite fit into one’s existing wardrobe and venturing out with a new aesthetic that feels incomplete.  During this period it’s quite easy to feel like a poseur to people of any aesthetic.  What I found refreshing about this little video is that a person, like myself, gets something of an objective glimpse at our own efforts in this foundling state and a little reassurance in addition to the advice.

Have You Hugged Your Elder-Goth Today?

I’ve spoken here about the wonderfully diverse community modern gothdom is, which I stand by wholeheartedly, but ever wonder what it was like back when the subculture was first forming?  (Assuming most of you weren’t there.)  Back when being goth was something truly original and different?

A few days ago I came across a delightful video from 1984 showcasing the Xclusiv club and its unique clientele in Batley, West Yorkshire, England. (“Batley” . . . Heh.  Get it?  So appropriate.)  Anyhoo, despite the 2-hour length (excruciating for web video) and a rough beginning (the source is a salvaged, slightly damaged VHS cassette), it’s a refreshing and inspiring look into goth in its infancy.  It could do with more editing, honestly; On the other hand, I’m happy it isn’t over-edited.  We get a pretty thorough glimpse into the goth/alt scene of the early, mid-80’s.  While I found it fascinating and rather easy to watch stretched out over a couple of days, what I’m going to do for you is hit upon key points so you can skip ahead.  First, here’s the video:

According to the uploader’s description, club owners Anne and Pete Swallow commissioned the video to document a typical night at their club for sharing with friends, family, and regular patrons. They set up a private party for the video-taping, inviting all those who made the club atmosphere lively and unique.  The first 3 minutes of footage suffers frustrating distortion, but I recommend watching through it to get a nice sense of place and scene.  Maybe close your eyes and just listen if it gets to be too much.

Highlights:

00:02:26 – Exterior architectural features of arched doors and windows with statuary of  birds and gargoyles, and interior design replete in black and deep, dark reds, including  plush, velvet upholstered seating, hanging vines, and a lighted dance floor make a perfect setting for the darkly inclined.

0:04:49 – A cozy little interview with the club owners, leading into another with the DJ, giving a nice feel for the world into which we’re stepping.   Doesn’t Anne look quite gothic herself?  And I love how the DJ throws the interviewer a curve when describing his playlist includes Glenn Miller.

00:08:56 – A costume parade of sorts as the patrons file in, showing their aesthetic diversity.  It’s a really good chance to get a look at the outfits one-by-one.

0:10:42 – The age discrepancy between the ladies tending bar and their customers amuses me.  I frequently hear gothy types tell how older generations seem more likely to show appreciation of their eccentric style than their peers.  Has it always been this way?

I’m also pretty jealous of all the wacky, alternative hairstyles showcased in this bit.  I never had the nerve to delve into anything like it back in the day.  Ah, heck, hairstyle-wise I’ve always been more of a romantic type, anyway.  It’s also interesting how the camera will zoom in on the multiple earrings of an individual.  I remember this being tremendously edgy back then.  Now, not-so-much.  Heck, where I came from, a boy getting his ear pierced at all was controversial.

0:14:05 – Let the dancing begin!  This is the part that could have been edited down more and still have provided an excellent display of the fashion and dance styles prevalent in the group.  It’s on the dance floor, though, that I get the biggest kick out of the disparity in fashion between those dressed in more conservative 80’s fashion and the alternative ones, all dancing together to the same music.

0:24:47 – Displays of un-self-conscious eccentricity make me smile.

0:32:28 – True to his word (and my delight), the DJ plays Glen Miller, and even more delightfully surprising is the number of  people enjoying it, even if a couple have to be dragged out to the dance floor by a friend and none know quite what to do with themselves.  Hahah! – That’s the lark of it!  Following up with “I’m a Believer” only serves to make this little, die-hard Monkees fan’s heart go pitty-pat.  Topping that, then, with “The Monster Mash,” I want to jump through the screen to join them!

1:10:33 – Clientele interviews begin with my absolute favorite couple of the evening.  Mannered and well-spoken (though their accent is a bit tricky for me), they could be poster children for Gothic subculture.  They give the impression of normalcy beneath all the finery, knocking down the most tiresome stereotypes.  They look smashing, don’t they?  But I was completely wowed and won over by their claiming Glen Miller as a top favorite out of all the club’s music, validating everything I’ve wanted to believe (and have heard asserted) about the expansively diverse taste of goths.

1:15:46 – This little band of three gives me such a thrill, demonstrating the DIY ingenuity necessary for goth style at the time.  Remember, this footage pre-dates Etsy, Hot Topic, Heavy Red, and all the favorite internet and alt shops we have available today.   This group actually embodies what I find most attractive about goth fashion; true individuality.  It’s a bit of a wake-up call, too, that while I covet pricey items like this spiderweb poncho, the girl on the right had to improvise her own.  So, why don’t I just put up and shut up, huh?

1:20:12 – This young lady makes a rather poignant statement about how other clubs don’t accept people like them.   She unknowingly echos something said earlier in Anne & Pete’s interview, only now it seems truly strange, having been exposed to their quiet politeness and quirky sense of harmless fun.  I wonder if any of those club owners ever got a sense that they missed out on something.

1:32:27 – This girl is stunning.  I would love to re-create her look.

1:56:59 – Each person behaving like the main performer of their own pop concert = Brilliant.  Love it.  Simple love it.

What makes the whole video so wonderfully fascinating for me is the freshness of it all, despite its age.  I was a teenager in the late 80’s, not goth or even remotely alternative, but I remember those who were.  Here in the U.S., at least where I’m from, the goth label hadn’t yet come into use.  Alternative kids were all just lumped together.  At my school they were called “whammers,” although no one has the foggiest idea why.  Everyone knew, at least vaguely, the differentiation between punks, skaters, surfers, and everyone else, but it didn’t really matter.  They were called “whammers” for being different from the mainstream, and the spooky kids wearing ankh symbols, winklepickers, and total black, who didn’t fit any other category, were the most “whammer” of all.  No one was trying to figure out “what type of goth” they were (as I see happening today).  The goth label itself didn’t even exist most places.  Those who would have fit that description, though, were originally only emulating the style of their favorite bands and letting imagination carry them beyond.  Labels were more about what other people called them than what they called themselves.  They liked what they liked, and made what they couldn’t buy.  Simple.

Now, I’m sure it wasn’t all sunshine and spring breezes.  There was backstabbing and backbiting, as some talked behind their hands about so-and-so’s poor taste or terrible dancing.  Someone always got wasted & obnoxious or stoned stupid.   There was the creepy guy, the player, and the attention whore.  Perhaps they were all one and the same.  There were rivalries and petty jealousies, secrets and shenanigans.  How do I know this?  Because they’re people, and it’s just what people do.  Get any group together and these are the dynamics that start playing out, no matter what music they like, how they dress, or what they believe.  We’re fortunately spared all this in the video.  Instead, we’re exposed to the innocent sense of fun that is at the heart of it all.  That’s why I thought this a treasure worth sharing with you.  I hope we can all maintain this sense of childlike, playful innocence as we go about building our lives, and dance like no one is watching.

Geek Goth Does Karaoke

Tuesday nights are my karaoke nights.  There’s a great place nearby where the karaoke is run by a friend, the setup is great, and the place is friendly.  It’s the kind of place that, after showing up for a few karaoke nights in a row, everybody really does know your name.  It’s a chance for me to unleash my inner rock star.  I say grab the fantasy where you can, which means I like dressing up a bit.  Since it is sort of an intimate setting, I also consider it a safe place for trying out styles that are new to me.

This wasn’t really one of those days, though.  I’ve been in such an “ah, screw it!” mood lately in choosing what to wear, plus it was raining last night, so I went the jeans and t-shirt route.  I couldn’t completely relinquish the inner rock star, though, especially since I haven’t had a karaoke night in several weeks, so I had to dress it up a bit.  Of course, you know me … I had to throw in a bit of whimsy as well.

If you notice the pictures looking a bit grainy, there’s a reason for that.  Clutz that I am, I dropped my digital camera last week, and it died.  Somehow it just leaped from my hands.  These are actually stills taken from video.  Although my camcorder has the feature for taking digital pictures, they aren’t really worth the effort.  It’s better to save frames out of the video, and this is what we get … until I can replace my digital camera.

For some reason I loved the juxtaposition of novelty nerd glasses and old-fashioned Chuck Taylor style sneakers worn with a studded, leather collar and skull & crossbones t-shirt.  The jacket was part of a two-piece skirt suit with satin lapels and a shimmery pinstripe (which you can’t really make out in these photos).  It’s so old, I have no idea where I bought it.  I have to wear it open because it’s missing a couple of the cloth-covered buttons and, well, I’ve “grown” since then.  Yeah, that’s it.  “Grown.”

If you notice some of my poses looking familiar, there’s a reason for that, too.  I freely admit to copying … ahem…. “being inspired by” the lovely lady, GothBarbie, over at The Military Fashion Show.  Girl knows how to put an outfit together and then show it off.

I have to show you the cute little skull & crossbone earrings with pink gemstone bows I bought at Party City during Halloween.  I didn’t really want to wear them this night, but they were so matchy-matchy with the shirt I just had to.

Do you ever feel it necessary to put particular accessories with certain items of clothing?

Standing Out & Fitting In

When my favorite bloggers go silent, you know what that means? . . . I get bored.  Bored, bored, bored.  How dare they all go quiet simultaneously?  Of course, my Google Reader will say I have 30 or more unread posts from other bloggers … yeah… so?!!  If they aren’t fulfilling my craving for goth fashion and culture, they’re worthless to me, I tell you.  Worthless!!

I’m a wee bit obsessive.

It’s funny.  I recall criticism flowing out of 90’s talk shows about how hard all the “nonconformist” goth types work at conforming to each other.  What a laugh!  There is such diversity among this sect of people, you can’t even pin down exactly what they are!  “Goth” is just some nebulous term that seems to encapsulate what they all have in common, but it’s hard to define.  Sure, they wear a lot of black, but not as some sort of mass uniform.  An attraction to black is just something they all have in common.  Well, most.  There are always exceptions, as this newbie has to frequently remind herself when tempted into the pre-teen mindset of needing a prescription for fitting in.  No rules to follow (or break, as the case may be) in defining one’s self is liberating … and terrifying.  It’s a free fall; few risk it.  It’s fascinating watching people who do, though, and daunting becoming one of them. That’s when I run to my favorite blogs with a pre-teen-like need for assurance. “Is it okay that I don’t want to give up color?” “How can anyone recognize me as alternative when I keep a natural hair color and don’t shave my eyebrows or cake on eyeliner?” “Do I have to embrace every frikkin’ Halloween cliche there is?” “But I don’t wanna pierce/undercut/tattoo anything!”  Then, just when the insecurity nearly drives me to distraction, a blogger catches my attention with their particular spin on my concern du jour.  There’s the lady who always looks polished and professional with only touches of gothic style which might pass your notice if not for an occasional Pleaser platform heel or dramatic weekend attire.  Another elder goth eschews the trademark heavy eyeliner in favor of a more natural look, while still clinging to her black tresses, spool heel boots, and stripes. (Come to think of it, I’ve come across more goths not heavily made up for daily wear than those who are!)  There’s the young cat lover who swears like a sailor, delights in Victorian corsets, bloomers, and petticoats, but freely admits to being unimpressed with most music designated as “goth.”  There’s the lady whose sense of style often reflects a more punk flavor, embracing all kinds of bright color, but maintains her goth identity with spooky touches here and there.  Also, other than outrageously dyed and ever-changing hair, she has none of the more permanent body modifications popular among alternative types.  There’s the transplanted Englishwoman who calls her presentation style “out there,” but looks more glamorous than outrageous with her vintage 20’s attire that, combined with dark, goth makeup, gives her the appearance of having stepped right out of silent film.  There are the late adolescents who demonstrate their gothiness mostly through dramatic hair and makeup style with devotion to all-black, all the time.  There’s the perky young lady with orange, blonde, and black hair who is almost always casually attired.  Of course, there are those who look most extreme, with piercings, tattoos, the whole nine yards.  Some won’t be seen in jeans; some won’t be seen in pants at all; while others will claim jeans as their favorite article of clothing.  There is no way of saying what a goth will never wear, listen to, or say.  Besides being untrue from the moment it’s thought, it flies in the face of open-mindedness and creative individuality esteemed in the subculture and providing its very essence.

There are those who try pinning it down and putting rules to what goth is and is not.  Some can get quite critical, even harsh, with those not living up to their particular standard.  They must be driven by an insecurity of their own; a fear of losing their grip on something by which they identify themselves. Or perhaps it’s a fear of having the uniqueness they treasure get trampled beyond recognition by an onslaught of diverging influences.  Maybe it’s a fear of becoming ordinary if goth became too accessible.  Someone breaking the “code” then threatens their very existence.

There is something to be said for their concern.  I mean, no one likes seeing something they value being treated as a novelty.  If goth becomes something done to be “cool,” then it gets watered down to nothing more than a trend.  However, there’s little danger for the authentic goth, knowing the point of it all isn’t to define one’s self by fitting into a particular box, but to break out of one and never look back.