Recently I overread (in other words, I saw a discussion on a forum) about if it’s okey to call the fashion-worlds goth-inspired look for actual goth fashion. This theme interessted me quite a bit. You all know the drill, every year, when it gets closer to autumn, then goth/rock/punk is sooo fashionable. There are spikes for sale on H&M, the “normal” girls wear fishnets and loads of black eyemakeup. And all the goths complain about it, whilst secretly stocking up on spikes and fishnets and black nailpolish. But really, what is the difference between fashion gothic, and gothic fashion? And how is fashion gothic different from the other designercollections?

(left: Alexander McQueen, right buycostumes.com)

It all starts with the big couture-houses and their autumn collections (wich is normally released in the middle of january the same year, btw. The fashion industry is funny that way). Normally, when the collection are released, that says what is gonne be in fashion aprox. six months later. Then the circus begins. The runway-shows are dissected and analyzed and the trend is based on that. What ends up in the retailstores are based on the runwayshows. So, in other words, normal trends are inspired by the high fashion.

When it comes to fashion goth though, things are different. Fashion goth is inspired by normal goth fashion and the whole culture. That is quite unique, really. Designers are known for taking inspiration from former fashion (this year, it’s all about the seventies and hippie-boheme-fashion and stuff), but fashion goth is inspired by a style an subculture that is ongoing. Wich makes goth fashion, what the subculture wears, into the only thing that can be called goth style. Some good words to call the fashion goth is haute goth or fashion gothic. For the designers are inspired by gothic, not goth. See the difference? I highly doubt that Rick Owens are inspired by the average Hot Topic-gal when making his collections. It’s the whole gothic scene. For the “streetstyle”, I find two good phrases to use is simply gothic fashion or goth style. When you compare the words, you will see and understand the difference.

Punk and rock are also typical victims of this.

Some typical examples of fashion gothic:

Gareth Pugh

Gareth Pugh

Vivienne Westwood (Red Label)

Marc Jacobs

Rick Owens

Rick Owens

Rick Owens

It’s easy to see the inspiration. And I can even image all the outfits with some simple changes on a typical goth, metalhead or punk.

Personally, I roll my eyes a little bit at all the blonde girls walk around with bags with “spikes” on, tutu-ish skirts and loads of black and lace and leather. But I know it’s just another trend for them. If it means that maybe a 15-year old dares to continue to wear spikes and black, then I think it’s quite ok really. Plus it means a cheap way to add to your wardrobe, so just embrace it, and continue to educate people to what a corset REALLY is! (first of all, you don’t buy them at H&M…)