Gothic fashion will never die

Traditionally the term ‘Goth’ is associated with a specific social group, and this often comes with connotations of music taste, and attitudes towards more intricate issues like cultism. However, since the turn of the century the fashion and beauty industry has seen an explosion of Gothic subculture begin to influence a wider market.

Gothic fashion has inspired us to experiment with black, red, royal purple and other dark palettes by pairing them with captivating fabrics; as well as being pleasing to the eye and touch, these fabrics also add an element of mystery. Velvet, silk and sheer fabrics make seemingly simplistic items of clothing more dynamic. The use of lengths and layers creates more depth to dark ensembles—particularly outfits in all black. Kim Kardashian proved this by wearing a statement Givenchy sheer black lace jumpsuit at their AW14/15 show at Paris Fashion Week.

In terms of make-up, winged eye-liner is a common aspect of everyday makeup and can be applied more fiercely to transform a look from day to night. Everyone’s favourite—MAC Ruby Woo vamp lipstick—has been substituted for a much darker lip (à la Jessie J), and there has been continued mass production of Urban Decay’s Smoked eye shadow palette.

Although some of us may associate Gothic clothing with Avril Lavigne and an overwhelming increase in black eye pencil sales, simply observing the case of fashionista Lorde will help you to see how underlying Gothic influence has become a huge fashion trend. From high street fashion to Valentino’s studded sling-backs, there’s no doubt that Gothic style is currently influencing the way we dress. It’s the unconscious element of this trend that leads me to believe it won’t vanquish any time soon.