How to Be Goth in Less Than an Hour

Goth started in the late 1970's and early 1980's, first as an affinity for a particular type of music and then spreading to a complete personal style. You see a lot of watered-down goth these days, and really, watered-down is all you can do in under an hour. You can't achieve the deep Goth experience without some heavy background in the culture. But you can get a decent look and go from there. This method can apply to girls or guys. Let's get started.

Things You'll Need

• (See step 1 for more detail on supplies)
• Make-up
• Jewelry and accessories (silver, black leather)
• Hair products (gel, paste, wax) and scissors
• Clothes: black is preferred.

Instructions

1. 

   Get your supplies. Dark nail polish: Black or dark purple or dark crimson. Black is standard, and if you're new at this and don't know if your crimson is too bright, be safe and go with black. Make up: Black eyeliner, eye shadow in purple, red, dark silver, or charcoal, white foundation, and lipstick either in black, red, or a very, very pale hue. Jewelry/accessories: Silver for jewelry; chains are good, skulls, bats, vampiric symbols; black leather, studded belts, plugs for ears. Clothing: Black is your standard. Get that in place and then you can deviate. The most basic is black pants and a black shirt, very fitted for girls. You can branch out from there.

2. Turn on some goth music. Think dark thoughts.

3. 

   Paint your nails black. All of them, fingers and toes.

4. 

   Apply your make up. It's basically the same for guys or girls, although many guys choose not to wear lipstick and might skip the eyeshadow as well. Not all Goth guys wear make up, but eyeliner is popular. For girls, apply a thick coat of black eyeliner all around the eye. Apply eyeshadow above the liner up to the brow line. Apply the pale white foundation over your entire face except for lips and eyelids. Pencil in lip liner and then apply lipstick. Put on mascara.

5. 

   Get dressed. You can go with the most basic of Goth outfits: Black head to toe with big combat-like, lace-up boots (also black, of course). Black is an important color for a Goth. It represents death, which is kind of an obsession for Goths. So if you throw in a little color--white, purple, crimson--don't let it outweigh the black. If you prefer something more distinctively Goth, go for an 18th or 19th century inspired outfit: Think a fitted, corset-type dress, a long, button-down coat. Or you can go more sexy Goth (for a girl) and wear fishnets (black, of course) and a black leather skirt with some sort of corset top. Guys might wear fishnet on their arms.

6. 

   Put on your jewelry and accessories. Lots of piercings are a bonus, but if you can't manage that, go for lots of chains. Crosses and skulls, ironically, are both popular motifs. If you carry a wallet, it should be attached to your studded, black leather belt with a chain. Put studs in your ears.

7. 

   Fix your hair. Goths are pretty versatile in style, but the color of choice is, obviously, black. Alternately, you could go a very pale blonde. Red streaks are nice. Long, straight black hair is popular for Goth guys and girls. Spikes are fine. Girls often favor short, sleek hair, some type of bob.

8. Personalize your Gothness. Use a black Sharpie to draw strange symbols and cryptic statements on your exposed skin. (An hour isn't long enough for a tattoo.) Add a little lace somewhere (not too much).

9. 

   Read Edgar Allen Poe.

Tips & Warnings

• Watch out for the dark side. Goth can get pretty heavy-duty, pretty fast if you jump into this scene. So be aware of the influences and choose carefully. Nothing wrong with dark make-up, but causing pain to yourself and other people (which can become part of a Goth lifestyle) is never good. Just don't go there. You can still be happy.

Resources

• A History of Goth