Talk:Victorian Goth/@comment-191.177.180.32-20201007062738

So, I ended up here after a weird internet-rabbit-whole situation, and saw that a lot of people commented on how expensive or impractical this particular style is. Here's the "hum, actually".

First of all, I'm a historian, but daily fashion doesn't need to be historically appropriate; that's the first thing that jumps to mind whenever people say that Victorian styles are too expensive. I recomment taking a look at Gail Carriger's blog; she's a steampunk author who dresses very victorian, and has pretty good tips on how to do it in a cheap manner. Just adjust the colour scheme, add some flairs, and you can make an outfit that could possibly get a compliment from mr. Wilde (if he was in a good mood).

If you're feeling lazy, here's a couple tips from someone who dresses in a pretty similar way (my personal style is very reminiscent of Byronic and Gothic literature, toned up or down depending on how many students' parents I'll talk to that week. And please don't answer me with philosophical takes on The True Nature of Goth; any subculture that starts nitpicking itself in such a way is already deviating from its origins. I don't claim any lable, or feel like debating what is or isn't goth. This is just a series of tips from a dramatic-looking lady in black to others that might want them).

- Trifting is your best friend. Garage sales, trift stores, even church bazars: if there's old clothing there, go look at it. Sometimes the most awesome treasures are found amongst clothing from someone's dead great-aunt. Perfect accessories can also be found, specially reliquaries, broches and such.

- Look for separates. Don't fix in an entire gown: those are the expesive things. Look for structured tops, layered skirts, all kinds of broccade. Even if you have nothing to finish the garment with just yet, if you find a good piece, keep it. It's easier to get started this way.

- Making dresses is expensive, but taking them appart is very cheap. Saw something with the most beautiful skirt but a horrendous bust? Cut off the nice part, add an elastic/ some finshes, and you're done (or hire someone to do it: I can assure you it'll still be much cheaper). The same goes to a perfectly corseted top attached to the worst bridesmaid dress ever. Ugly dresses are good friends.

- ACCESSORIZE! Opera gloves are available in any costume shop (along with some pretty cool jewerly, if you're lucky). Chokers are cheap and easy to find. Embelishing your look is the cheapest part, and exactly the kind of thing that'l take a look from kinda cool to "holly shit this must cost a fortune". Be smart about it.

- More than the accuracy, go for the feel of it, the final results of your look. Wearing ballgowns on a daily basis is not very attainable for most of us, but historically-inspired fashion is. As a teacher, I can get away with very dramatic looks that give off a victorian feel, but don't take me straight to costume territory - after all, I do need to be taken seriously by older students and conservative parents, and this is a hard thing to achieve in a bustle. Find a balance that makes you confortable, and expresses your personality, without caring about "how accurate or legitimate you are".

- If you're scared but constantly gravitate towards this kind of style, start smal, and work your way up. My gettaway drug were beautiful lacy chocker being sold by literal cents. I'vegot a collection. Then came the skirts, most of them in very intricate lace and with a nice volume, but still not full-lenght. Corset-like tops followed suit. My point here is that you don't need to dive in heat first: finding your personal style and exploring it is just as fun as being photographed by random tourists who saw you cycling in an outfit straight out of Mina Murray's closet (true story).

If you got this far, congrats on the dedication. My last piece of advice: ignore everyone who triest to tell you there's no place in the "Goth Movement" for you. Honestly, I'd never want to even be associated with people like that, and neither shoult you. Times change, and so does the way we interpret things. I've never called myself a "Victorian Goth", or a "Romantic Goth", or any flavour of goth at all. I read a lot of 19th century fiction and love me some Byronic poetry, but will never say no to a wall-written Urban Fantasy book. I'm a trained opera singer (though just for fun), and can combine this love for the erudite with an absolute passion for punk-cabaret, broadway musicals and many different flavours of rock. I can go out under my parasol in a beautiful gown and opera gloves, in leather pants and a cropped top, or in my Roller Derby gear and zero make-up: that won't change my personality. Being tru to yourself is much, much more importante than trying to find the perfect fit and absolute approval from a subgenre inside a subculture. People mostly define me as goth; almost everything about me screams goth. But those are just categories to make it easier for people to understand you. If my friends read this article, they'd have an "oh, now it makes sense!" reaction to me, but the same would happen if they saw me in jeans and a t-shirt, reading Jane Austen and drinking fruit juice. "Goth" isn't a judgment call the world gets to make for you. Nothing is. So, experiment, have fun, look how you want to look, and be proud of each tiny moment of liberation from a new conquest in the road to looking the way you want to, and being comfortable in your own skin.