How to Achieve a Subtle Gothic Look

A high, ruffled collar is Gothic and glamorous.

An overdone Gothic style can look like a costume. When worn all at once, black clothing, striped tights, combat boots, skull jewelry and pale makeup are too much for the office or staid social events. The key to a subtle, wear-anywhere Goth look is balancing Gothic elements with neutral basics. Try the rule of three: Wear only three Gothic elements -- one color, one accessory and one item of clothing -- at one time. To be especially subtle, limit yourself to two Gothic elements. For an edgier look, choose four or five Gothic elements.

Things You'll Need

• Makeup
• Ornate jewelry
• Victorian-inspired boots or shoes
• Vintage accessories
• Distinctive Gothic items of clothing
• Gothic Lolita or steampunk items

Instructions

Color

1. Dye your hair a color that's slightly dark or unusual. Instead of choosing raven black or neon pink, pick a brown that's darker than your natural color, a burgundy-auburn or a red that's vivid but not outlandish.

2. Apply makeup with one Gothic element. Use a pale foundation and powder combined with natural lips and eyes. Pick a dark, dramatic lipstick but keep everything else neutral. Or stick with natural-looking foundation, blush and lips but create a dark, smoky eye.

3. Wear clothes that are mostly black or that feature Victorian burgundy or steampunk brown. Use neon pink or other very bright Goth colors as accents.

Jewelry and Accessories

1. Wear an ornate vintage-inspired locket, brooch or necklace. Instead of the expected skull and crossbones, choose jewelry that's subtly creepy. Look for small jeweled insects, angels, gargoyles and intricate crosses.

2. Choose Victorian-inspired boots or shoes. Pointy-toed lace-up boots are witchy and fashion-forward, and black boots with buckles and straps are a bit Gothic and a bit punk. Or wear shiny black wing tips for a "Victorian dandy" look.

3. Use vintage accessories. Top hats and veiled hats are hard to pull off, but doctor's bags, satchels and jeweled black evening bags are chic and functional. Look for classy retro cigarette cases, compacts, gloves and watches.

Clothes

1. Wear a terrific Goth piece – a lacy black skirt, a Sherlock Holmesian worsted wool vest, a pair of spiderweb tights – with basics such as jeans, plain T-shirts, button-down shirts and little black dresses.

2. Employ Gothic Lolita style with care. Choose a lacy white blouse, a petticoat or a tiered, flowered skirt but pass up the flouncy dresses, parasols and sausage curls.

3. Explore sophisticated variations on Gothic style, such as steampunk. A steampunk look is futuristic from a Victorian perspective and features gears, engines, compasses – anything that smacks of Victorian science. Think Sherlock Holmes, Madame Curie and the Wright brothers.

Tips & Warnings

• Decorate your home in a subtle Gothic style. Velvet chaise longues, dark antique furniture and antique books and globes set a brooding, classy mood.

• Read Gothic literature. Works by Edgar Allen Poe, Bram Stoker, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Emily Bronte are classics. Neal Stephenson's "The Diamond Age" is an excellent modern steampunk novel.

References

• Fashion Institute of Technology: Gothic Dark Glamour
• Daily Camera: Fashion: Finding Your Inner Steampunk
• CNN.com Geek Out!: Lolita Fashion Finds a Niche in the U.S.