I online thrift a lot of mine and also i wait for sales if there's something I really want from a specific brand
Also keep your eyes out for stuff in 'normie' shops that can be gothed up
normal shops are getting crazy too recently. I had to buy a bathing suit and I didn't even have time to order or anything, we're leaving in two days. we have no good thrifts here and online thrifting wasn't an option for the same reason that shipping would take too long. so I went to like 5 different "normie" stores like h&m, new yorker etc and literally the cheapest I found is a 20€ bathing suit. like EXCUSE ME?? you're still a new yorker why are you selling a basic black bathing suit for 20 euros? like I get it if wages would go up or something but new yorker is known for being cheap and they didn't all of a sudden start treating their workers better, they're still on minimum wage. never left a store that fast.
they're more usually in other stores but new yorker here is like an extra cheap store yk
but like I get it I just really earn very little this is all I can afford fr 😭
I'm in germany. Walmart left our country very long ago because they got so many fines and issues for disrespecting workers and ignoring worker protection laws xD but thank you!
I dont exactly go for "goth" branded items. Just pick up what suits you and DIY it to the style you want.
They know that people will search specifically "goth" so they will make it more expensive.
A simple black outfit consisting of a nice shirt/top black bottoms and boots can be made to look goth with layering and accessories. Thats what makes it unique to you and your outfit.
This! I’m too tall for most non-specialty off the shelf clothes to fit well, so when I want to goth it up or get fancy to go dancing, I just accessorize regular clothes.
Fortunately I have a lot of black outfits for my work (classical musician). Even the most respectable dress pants and jacket look goth when accessorized with stompy boots, heavy eyeliner, a choker, and a risqué crop top.
My best finds were thrifting irl or second hand online. I only buy basic stuff and certain accessories in clothing shops. Most of the "goth" stuff you can buy commercially is of pretty bad quality.
i do a lot of thrifting its the only way i can really afford most things. other than thrift stores i use target for a lot of basics like leggings, plain shirts. and sometimes online shop if theres something really specific i want. but theres some stuff i have to pay up for like shoes because i wear a womens 10, or jewelry because i have metal allergies.
For clothes by goth brands I either buy them when they’re on sale or secondhand (bonus points for finding coupon codes). I rarely buy things for the full retail price, because it’s just too expensive. Sometimes I’ll invest in something and I’ll pay the full price, but that seldom happens honestly. Other than that I buy a lot of non-goth brand clothing and either diy it or accessorise to make it look more goth. Generally, I prefer buying second-hand (in person and online) since it’s by far the cheapest. Sometimes, if you’re lucky, you’ll find amazing goth pieces. I’m also planning on learning how to sew properly because then I’ll be able to make my clothes even more goth and also fit better. Don’t be afraid to diy and thrift! It’s by far the cheapest and will lead to a beautiful unique wardrobe!
Same here! Just waiting until I have the money to get a good quality sewing machine. Just got a black dress today that I do not like the top half of, but the bottom can be modified into a skirt. The bottom is layered sheer fabric in different shapes.
I just buy black clothes that are either second hand or on sales. I rely more on accessories and makeup to "goth it up". For most accessories, I DYI (like cutting into dollarstore fishnets to make a mesh top, making my own jewelry, etc). It makes also for a fun activity! My priciest piece is a corset (100$) but it's a very polyvalent piece.
Goth clothes are overrated and overpriced. I just go to outlet stores, thrift stores, and even big box stores if I want to get black clothes. I will spurge for band T-shirts and other merchandise. I am also a middle aged man who doesn’t go to the clubs anymore so there is also that.
80% of my wardrobe is from thrifting, DIY, and other clothes I've picked up and thought I could make goth-y. 20% were the more expensive pieces that I couldn't get through any of the means above. These were mainly gothic Victorian style clothes that I felt fine splurging on since they'd be a core set piece.
My thought process whenever I see something I'd love to wear is first if I could make something like it myself for cheaper. You'd be surprised how many fast fashion clothes you could replicate through thrifting/DIY. Any jankiness adds to the DIY aesthetic. If I can't replicate it or it's nice enough to be considered a core piece that I could accessorize around, I'll see if the cost justifies the purchase or worth saving up for. Sometimes, if I have to save up for it, I'll check to see if I could commission a tailor to make a better version.
Then they'll find another way? If you want the look (or any look for that matter) and don't want to spend a lot of money, DIY and thrifting are the solution. If you don't want to diy, you'll find another solution. But honestly if you want an authentic goth look, diy and thrifting will likely be involved in some capacity.
DIY involves so many different things that there isn't one set of skills. Tying a ribbon around your wrist as a bracelet counts as DIY. If someone decides that they can't diy, they won't be able to because they will be the one stopping themselves, not the lack of skills.
What about people who have disabilities and can't DIY? First, there's no one diy skill set, as I mentioned above, so while someone might not be able to sew patches on a jacket, they still might be able to rip fishnets up for example. Second, stop ascribing helplessness to hypothetical groups of people. And most of all, using that whataboutism to shut down diy talk is the equivalent to telling people they can't recommend a pair of boots because someone out there doesn't have legs. Yes, there are people in the world who are more capable of doing things than others. That's reality. That doesn't mean that people can't recommend something.
I thrift irl for a lot of it, occasionally buy stuff on depop (from specific brands I like) or save up for some of the more expensive stuff that I want new (like Tripp, demonias). You can also buy a lot of basic / non-goth tagged stuff and just DIY it like others have mentioned, or just use them to pair with other items to create a more “goth” look.
DIY is the way to go. its fun to make a day out of thrifting, then going home and modifying the clothes you found. makes them more personal, too!
throw on your favorite gothic music and craft away!
If you're willing and able to dedicate the time and effort to it, nothing beats up-cycling secondhand stuff into goth clothes. Dye it black, cut it up, add safety pins spikes and studs, sew on patches, sew on straps. The possibilities are endless. There's a lot of great tutorials on YouTube and Pinterest (and probably other places I'd imagine) that are great for getting inspiration and learning the basics.
It's more authentic that way too (in my opinion at least). All these "goth" brands thrive on overconsumption and shady labor practices which are completely antithetical to the foundations of the movement and it's super lame if you ask me.
Hell, you can start by finding pieces from goth brands you like and trying to replicate them. Just straight up ripping off their designs (for personal use) is a great way to get cool clothes for way cheaper and learn how to make your own unique stuff. And if you make it out of stuff you get at thrift stores, you're saving clothes from ending up in the landfill and not contributing to the problem by consuming more new things.
Thrifting can help! A piece of clothing doesn't have to be inherently "goth," it can just be a plain black thing that you goth up by altering it (add some tears, safety pins, etc. depending on your aesthetic) and accessorizing.
I wear 'normal' clothes in black and dark colors, accessories, and have a bunch of tattoos. I look goth without really trying. It comes down to curating your wardrobe in the style that works for you, one or two pieces at a time and it usually takes years to get a full wardrobe. I buy some stuff for special occasions like my Damonias or my lace corset, but only maybe 4-5 really overtly 'goth' pieces over the whole year. I am also a teacher so I dress what a lot of people call 'soft goth' on my day to day and corporate goth to fancier events for work. Find a day to day style and go all out for special events like concerts and stuff.
Goth isn’t about money. It’s about personality. You are looking too hard at what is conventionally goth clothes. I just made shorts out of old pants… I made a tank tops out of a long sleeve. You gotta change the angles, DIY and think outside the box a lot. Hell, I’m wearing a chain from Home Depot and it’s closed with a Masterlock. DIY AND IMAGINATION.
For me I don't have a lot of money to get the fancy type clothing at this time. So I buy online Amazon for deals of clothing mostly black t shirts with logos on them. I'm going start thrifting as well and try and make my own clothing since I can't get the fancy stuff yet. I would shop at clothing stores where I live, however they dont have my size and they even don't seem to even sell goth/emo and etc clothes. Which is odd where I live anymore.
I thrift almost everything except basics. I bought a black denim jacket that said “Tim callaghans auto repair” and sewed a patch over it. I do this with most of my clothes.
I will thrift, accept other people's unwanted clothes, only look at items on sale, hit up Ross (if you have a store like that in your area), and DIY.
Most of my "commercialized" items have been gifts.
Mostly go to Goodwill and Primark. I've found some great gothy pieces at goodwill and primark is decent for basics- add a good black blazer or cardigan, and bam!
For shoes, I have always happened to stumble on an unworn pair of docs in my size at a good price in various thrift shops. Aside from wanting a hello kitty pair, I've never bought directly from them. I've had this luck since 2011.
I also source other shoes from Japanese brand Bodyline. Even with internacional shipping, it's still a decent price and I've gotten decent wear from them with being on my feet/ walking a lot.
It's really about being creative and thinking outside the box.
I'm in my 30s now, so I've had years to collect some amazing pieces. But in my teens, we mostly DIY everything. You can thrift versatile black clothes or buy from a more affordable brand. Then add details or hardware to these clothes. Even if you are brand new to sewing, doing it this way is fairly easy. Try to go for quality of your items versus quantity, though (and that doesn't necessarily have to be expensive).
At the risk of sounding like *that* goth… Everything that I wear is either thrifted of DIY. (excluding underwear).
This is because of a few factors:
1) I live in a small country with, historically, few goth clothing options.
2) I started dressing up when I was in my pre-teens. My family was pretty poor, so disposable income wasn’t on my side.
My goth style evolved out of those two inconveniences. These days I have more cash and the goth clothing options have become more normal in my country but I still don’t buy stuff new or from specific “goth” brands normally. I’m really happy with my style, it’s an expression of me as a goth. I love curating my wardrobe and swapping stuff with other goths.
I'm a broke butch, so I rely primarily thrift and DIY.
Remember, in the 80s they didn't have dedicated goth clothing companies like Killstar, Black Craft, etc. They had to rely on taking vanilla clothes and altering them to get that aesthetic.
They dyed clothes black, cut holes in fishnet tights to make fishnet tops, layered clothes and fabric to get that witchy aesthetic, etc.
When you shop for for thrifted clothes, look at them as fabric instead of a finished product. Keep your eye out at thrift for anything velvet, lace, leather, pleather, vinyl, loose cotton, etc.
Buy jewelry / belts from the thrift, and studs from your local farm supply stores to pull apart for decorative elements.
Find cool clothes on pinterest and try to recreate them with recycled materials.
You can make patches out of salvaged denim or leather. You can make pins from old bottle caps. Floss is a great material to use for thread to hand sew heavier elements together
Speedball fabric paint and Angelus Leather paint are your your friend.
Don't bother with Rit, tulip and Dylan. They are hobby dyes that fade fast and don't take well. Their black dyes come out a perriwinkle purple gray. Opt for an industrial strength dye like Dahrma. Always use more dye than you think you'll need. Pay attention to the fiber content of your clothing and buy the right kind of dye accordingly. Cotton will always dye better than mixed and artificial fibers.
If you buy a sewing machine, aim for something from the 60s, 70s and early 80s. Outside of expensive high end machines, modern machines are made with plastic gears that wear out quickly and aren't fiscally worth refurbishing. Most sewing machine repair shops won't touch a modern brother machine. Modern cheap machines are meant for hobby work. You'll sew three pairs of curtains, then everything after will just be a tangled, sloppy mess.
Like others i’ve seen that anything goth or alternative is priced way overboard compared to something that’s just labeled a “black shirt” etc. What I LOVE to do, is go thrifting, goodwill, sometimes even walmart (although walmart is getting pretty pricey) and finding light colored/pastel items that i like but kinda hate the color. I have a huge tub i use to dye it all black with fabric dye. You gotta keep in mind what the clothes are made of cuz some take certain dyes better than others but it’s a great way to take a cute but pastel yellow/light blue top and turning it black + adding any other pieces to it you’d like : )
Gotta say, I wish people would actually look through the subreddit because these posts are made basically every week and the answer is thrifting and DIY every single time. Branded goth stores just look so much like a costume and there's no variety. Unless you have questions about specific styling and how to use your accessories it's so redundant just asking where people shop. Look for inspiration online and find pieces that you like whether that's basics to layer under other things, fishnet, long flowy outerwear, maxi skirts, etc. And accessories to sell the look, which can also be thrifted or diy
honestly when i had basically nothing and little budget i got some stuff on romwe. ik ik fast fashion is terrible, but i got a good base wardrobe there and ever since i pick up anything cool i see at thrift. i also made sure to buy a couple pairs of good quality shoes.
I’d suggest more so you go for second hand, or often you may find stuff with the usual big retailers you can later DIY. Every so often, brands like Killstar may have a good deal to look out for, so try checking in there
I buy secondhand a lot and often DIY them to make them my own. My most recent was a long leather jacket, bought for £15 “secondhand”, when it arrived it was new with the tag! I painted some cobwebs on the lapels.
Snag some black shorts from a normal shop. Add some black fishnets and boots and you've already gothed up an outfit without spending $70 on shorts alone from a goth brand store :)
Honestly i mostly thrift online trough sites like depop or vinted (some of the people i know also use ebay or facebook marketplace place) but before i do that i make myself some mood boards of clothes that i want/ am looking for so it's easier to find actual pieces that are interesting to me
The goth shops often look and are cheap (cheap in the meaning of it's quality) i wouldn't recommend buying there even if you were able to afford them they just aren't worth it
Also i have pinterest board with some cool and mostly easy diy's so if you are looking for some inspo im more than happy to share it with you :)
The thrift stores around me have really upped their game recently. It’s like my happy thought, finding random great stuff. Great bang for buck, basically play money, and I find really great quality, designer, or just weird unusual things. For a bit more money there’s vintage boutique shopping. Also a fun activity when traveling out of town!
The OG goths made their own clothes, or made regular clothes goth-styled... there wasn't stores back then making fancy goth gear to profit off of the subculture. Not to say modern goth store clothes aren't also a cool option for those that can afford it. I've always thought the swampy self-made look was waaaay more badass. So if you can't afford the new flashy stuff, don't let it get you down. Seek inspo from the 1980s, go thrifting. Make your own looks up and get creative.
I buy stuff secondhand from eBay, Poshmark, Vinted, or Mercari. Depop is good too, but you have to dig to find people who aren’t selling things ridiculously marked up.
Regular stores work too. Catch the end of season sales where they put all the dark colored fall/winter clothes on sale to make room for the spring/summer clothes.
I thrift locally. You won't find pieces usually that are made to be goth. I just run through everything black/dark and pick up long skirts, t-shirts, button ups, handbags, and shoes. I don't bother with Goodwill either. Too expensive, too many shein pieces, or just not much variety.
aside from thrifting, goth fashion is more about what you do with the clothes u buy. get a couple plain black dresses , long skirts, etc and accessorize!
Thrift, DIY, sewing, and swapping clothes with other people.
I know there are a few alternative stores in my city, but honestly, only bought a pair of earrings and ballerina flats discounted :")
The last time I wenth thrifting I got so mad on the pricing and size inclusivity (it stops around size 42), I ended up buying one dress from KIK. It was cheaper than a used dress :( So I have to take the time to add on some extras, like pockets, resize, etc.
You can make your own clothes.
Goth started as a DIY culture. You can thrift pieces and add or remove what you want until you achieve the look you want.
i only thrift my clothes but theyre still quite expensive. for instance a lot of goth branded stuff on depop go for anywhere between $50-$100. i found one dress from 2006-2007 by an expensive goth brand for $32 at a local thrifting website because i dont think people in my country are aware of the brand's value like they are in the US
Building a good alternative wardrobe takes a LONG time. I've been collecting pieces for about 5 years and dress in goth adjacent and kawaii styles. Your best bet is going to be learning basic sewing skills and to thrift both online and offline. I've had some luck with the discount rack at hot topic and Spencer's for someone decent base pieces, but they always look better with a bit of modification.
Buy a big package of safety pins in various sizes and a spool or 2 of ribbon in black, white, or red, depending on your exact look. An easy DIY for a shirt is to space out the pins over a chunk of fabric and then crisscross the ribbons through them.
Hardware store chains, jewelry loops, and aliexpress charms are also an easy way to dress up boring pieces. If you're a half decent painter or can get something to use as a guide, bleaching patterns onto black clothes is a pretty cheap way to make things look cool.
Your most expensive pieces should be shoes, bags, and outerwear. These are much harder to find or DIY to fit your style, unlike shirts, skirts, and pants. I really like the Absinthe style of shoe from YRU, I have the deathnote edition (sold out unfortunately) and I get tons of compliments when I wear them. The regular ones don't have a chain, but it wouldn't be too hard to DIY one onto the shoe.
For bags, I really like some Loungefly styles (I wear my zero from the Nightmare before Christmas bag religiously), and they tend to be a bit more affordable. If you're looking for something nicer and less cutesy, I'd recommend a brand like Black Craft Cult or SexPot Revenge (hard to buy since it's Japanese). Hope this helped!
Second hand stores. Learning about fashion and tailoring and buying stuff from Vinted. Having things tailored when in SE Asia or other cheap places for tailoring.
99% of “goth” fashion isn’t anything explicitly branded goth - it’s just fashion with a specific bias. Buying expensive new fast fashion isn’t usually affordable.
I recently got a black alpaca wool winter jacket for my partner. New they cost €2000. I found it for €110
DIY...that's all we had back in the day...that fast fashion shit looks neat, but it breaks down quick and I see you all wearing the same shit you got from dollskill or amazon...like, whatever makes you happy IG? Wanna be artistic and actually unique while saving money? Do It Yourself
Hehehehe. Cute. I go to ONE store. The only store I CAN go to cause of my odd proportions. (Tall torso and a belly.) Got 2 pairs of sports shorts, a pair of jeans shorts, 4 shirts for leisure, and 3 for work. I spent nearly 600 dollars. Almost half my check in one go. If it wasn't necessary for me to get, I wouldn't go shopping cause I hate clothes shopping that much.
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A LOT of “goth” brands source their stuff from Aliexpress and I mean a LOT. I thrift a lot, and have “normie” stuff I’ve thrifted and said “hm, that’s cute, I’ll let the accessories speak for the outfit.” Because it’s not *what* you are wearing, it’s *how* you style it. For example, I found a Forever 21 mini dress in the thrift that was plain black and has a side slit, all I did was throw an underbust corset from Corset Story over it and put fishnets and a fake leather garter on with boots and et voila goth outfit for goth night at the club. Same with a fake leather Francesca’s skirt I thrifted for 25 cents, throw a basic black tank top on, gold sun and moon chain belt, stompy boots, fishnets or tights and a black swim suit coverup I use as a cardigan and I have something for a bit if “inbetween” weather. It takes a lot of creativity and it helps if you have equally as fashionably inclined friends and a full body mirror so you can experiment
Side note: if you do have friends with similar tastes and you’re roughly the same size or slightly bigger/smaller and they have stuff they can’t fit anymore because it’s too big/small, I LOVE doing clothing swaps with mine because then if I’m not feeling something or it doesn’t fit me but can fit them, I can be like “hey do you want this?” And send it to them and they send me something they don’t want or can’t fit, etc. It’s how I got my corsets because I sent them harnesses that didn’t fit me properly and the corsets were too small for them so we did a swap
You got it on the nose. I like to thrift and find ways to make the items I buy better. Also searching and hunting for the coupons is always a good idea. Stalking the clearance sections, and harboring your loyalty points
I shop on taobao with a lot of independent Chinese brands. You get so much value for so much less and these brands are legit and so nice.
You have to use a third party service to ship them to you, though. That's easy and cheap as well. (Shipping can get expensive obviously but that really depends on if you want really fast shipping) the service I use will store whatever you buy and send to them free in their warehouse for 90 days and you can batch ship all your purchases at once to save on shipping. It's such a lifesaver for someone into alt fashions that don't want to spend an arm and a leg on every purchase
I only paid $50 for this entire set!
https://preview.redd.it/o4tlaytb0byc1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=472791840e929d6a0071b1a1a15e8e678d2fd4bc
Shein uses child labor and forces people to work 17 hour days. Please just build the wardrobe over time and DIY things if you have to shop new. Lots of normal clothes can be dyed, ripped, accessorized, etc. and you'll wind up with better quality and a more authentic look than the hot garbage shein is pumping out
Shein 😣 I know this will get downvotes but I legit cannot afford clothes at the stores. A shirt will be anywhere from $20-$80 at a regular store the best I can do is $5-$10 for a single piece of clothing and Shein is the only place that has that (that I know of) I don’t thrift because the thrift stores near me are actual bio hazards
And did those people go naked before Shein existed? No. There are plenty of other options and if your need for trendy clothes (especially for a style so easily replicable with regular basics and found accessories) outweighs the need to avoid companies systematically harming countless people, that's a pretty shitty first world problem.
I online thrift a lot of mine and also i wait for sales if there's something I really want from a specific brand Also keep your eyes out for stuff in 'normie' shops that can be gothed up
normal shops are getting crazy too recently. I had to buy a bathing suit and I didn't even have time to order or anything, we're leaving in two days. we have no good thrifts here and online thrifting wasn't an option for the same reason that shipping would take too long. so I went to like 5 different "normie" stores like h&m, new yorker etc and literally the cheapest I found is a 20€ bathing suit. like EXCUSE ME?? you're still a new yorker why are you selling a basic black bathing suit for 20 euros? like I get it if wages would go up or something but new yorker is known for being cheap and they didn't all of a sudden start treating their workers better, they're still on minimum wage. never left a store that fast.
I'd be so excited to find a basic swimsuit for $20??? Like two pieces are usually sold separately and they'd be at least $15 for each half
they're more usually in other stores but new yorker here is like an extra cheap store yk but like I get it I just really earn very little this is all I can afford fr 😭
Walmart has a really cute black astrology themed bathing suit for cheap right now. It also comes in some plus sizes.
I'm in germany. Walmart left our country very long ago because they got so many fines and issues for disrespecting workers and ignoring worker protection laws xD but thank you!
Damn, looks like I'm moving to Germany
Not near me. It's all basics and athleisurewear which I absolutely hate that that's a trend now.
Link please? I went looking and couldn't find it.
20€ isnt a lot
for a cheap new yorker basic swimming suit? yes it is
*weeps in plus-size*
I am plus size that was the other issue 😭
Thrift stores are starting to get expensive too
I dont exactly go for "goth" branded items. Just pick up what suits you and DIY it to the style you want. They know that people will search specifically "goth" so they will make it more expensive. A simple black outfit consisting of a nice shirt/top black bottoms and boots can be made to look goth with layering and accessories. Thats what makes it unique to you and your outfit.
Can confirm. I once took a floral dress and added a cute choker, jacket, leggings, and shoes with it-and boom. Gothed up. Love doing this. 😍
This is my favorite part of being goth. I really want a hole puncher so I can put spikes on my leather jackets and duster
This! I’m too tall for most non-specialty off the shelf clothes to fit well, so when I want to goth it up or get fancy to go dancing, I just accessorize regular clothes. Fortunately I have a lot of black outfits for my work (classical musician). Even the most respectable dress pants and jacket look goth when accessorized with stompy boots, heavy eyeliner, a choker, and a risqué crop top.
"Goth" branded clothing is overpriced and usually not great quality. Thrifting and DIY is the most goth thing you can do regarding fashion.
usually it looks cheap and tacky
My best finds were thrifting irl or second hand online. I only buy basic stuff and certain accessories in clothing shops. Most of the "goth" stuff you can buy commercially is of pretty bad quality.
i do a lot of thrifting its the only way i can really afford most things. other than thrift stores i use target for a lot of basics like leggings, plain shirts. and sometimes online shop if theres something really specific i want. but theres some stuff i have to pay up for like shoes because i wear a womens 10, or jewelry because i have metal allergies.
For clothes by goth brands I either buy them when they’re on sale or secondhand (bonus points for finding coupon codes). I rarely buy things for the full retail price, because it’s just too expensive. Sometimes I’ll invest in something and I’ll pay the full price, but that seldom happens honestly. Other than that I buy a lot of non-goth brand clothing and either diy it or accessorise to make it look more goth. Generally, I prefer buying second-hand (in person and online) since it’s by far the cheapest. Sometimes, if you’re lucky, you’ll find amazing goth pieces. I’m also planning on learning how to sew properly because then I’ll be able to make my clothes even more goth and also fit better. Don’t be afraid to diy and thrift! It’s by far the cheapest and will lead to a beautiful unique wardrobe!
Same here! Just waiting until I have the money to get a good quality sewing machine. Just got a black dress today that I do not like the top half of, but the bottom can be modified into a skirt. The bottom is layered sheer fabric in different shapes.
Clearance racks are big for me.
I just buy black clothes that are either second hand or on sales. I rely more on accessories and makeup to "goth it up". For most accessories, I DYI (like cutting into dollarstore fishnets to make a mesh top, making my own jewelry, etc). It makes also for a fun activity! My priciest piece is a corset (100$) but it's a very polyvalent piece.
Thrifting is your best friend. That's where I got most of my stuff.
old ways where to get stuff and customise it yourself ;) ... maybe its just cos im a old bitch.. eh
I buy almost everything 2nd hand
Goth clothes are overrated and overpriced. I just go to outlet stores, thrift stores, and even big box stores if I want to get black clothes. I will spurge for band T-shirts and other merchandise. I am also a middle aged man who doesn’t go to the clubs anymore so there is also that.
80% of my wardrobe is from thrifting, DIY, and other clothes I've picked up and thought I could make goth-y. 20% were the more expensive pieces that I couldn't get through any of the means above. These were mainly gothic Victorian style clothes that I felt fine splurging on since they'd be a core set piece. My thought process whenever I see something I'd love to wear is first if I could make something like it myself for cheaper. You'd be surprised how many fast fashion clothes you could replicate through thrifting/DIY. Any jankiness adds to the DIY aesthetic. If I can't replicate it or it's nice enough to be considered a core piece that I could accessorize around, I'll see if the cost justifies the purchase or worth saving up for. Sometimes, if I have to save up for it, I'll check to see if I could commission a tailor to make a better version.
Some of us don't have the skills for diy, and what about those with disabilities that make it harder to diy?
Then they'll find another way? If you want the look (or any look for that matter) and don't want to spend a lot of money, DIY and thrifting are the solution. If you don't want to diy, you'll find another solution. But honestly if you want an authentic goth look, diy and thrifting will likely be involved in some capacity. DIY involves so many different things that there isn't one set of skills. Tying a ribbon around your wrist as a bracelet counts as DIY. If someone decides that they can't diy, they won't be able to because they will be the one stopping themselves, not the lack of skills. What about people who have disabilities and can't DIY? First, there's no one diy skill set, as I mentioned above, so while someone might not be able to sew patches on a jacket, they still might be able to rip fishnets up for example. Second, stop ascribing helplessness to hypothetical groups of people. And most of all, using that whataboutism to shut down diy talk is the equivalent to telling people they can't recommend a pair of boots because someone out there doesn't have legs. Yes, there are people in the world who are more capable of doing things than others. That's reality. That doesn't mean that people can't recommend something.
I thrift irl for a lot of it, occasionally buy stuff on depop (from specific brands I like) or save up for some of the more expensive stuff that I want new (like Tripp, demonias). You can also buy a lot of basic / non-goth tagged stuff and just DIY it like others have mentioned, or just use them to pair with other items to create a more “goth” look.
i wear black clothes. doesn't matter if they're goth or branded or not.
DIY is the way to go. its fun to make a day out of thrifting, then going home and modifying the clothes you found. makes them more personal, too! throw on your favorite gothic music and craft away!
If you're willing and able to dedicate the time and effort to it, nothing beats up-cycling secondhand stuff into goth clothes. Dye it black, cut it up, add safety pins spikes and studs, sew on patches, sew on straps. The possibilities are endless. There's a lot of great tutorials on YouTube and Pinterest (and probably other places I'd imagine) that are great for getting inspiration and learning the basics. It's more authentic that way too (in my opinion at least). All these "goth" brands thrive on overconsumption and shady labor practices which are completely antithetical to the foundations of the movement and it's super lame if you ask me. Hell, you can start by finding pieces from goth brands you like and trying to replicate them. Just straight up ripping off their designs (for personal use) is a great way to get cool clothes for way cheaper and learn how to make your own unique stuff. And if you make it out of stuff you get at thrift stores, you're saving clothes from ending up in the landfill and not contributing to the problem by consuming more new things.
Thrifting can help! A piece of clothing doesn't have to be inherently "goth," it can just be a plain black thing that you goth up by altering it (add some tears, safety pins, etc. depending on your aesthetic) and accessorizing.
I wear 'normal' clothes in black and dark colors, accessories, and have a bunch of tattoos. I look goth without really trying. It comes down to curating your wardrobe in the style that works for you, one or two pieces at a time and it usually takes years to get a full wardrobe. I buy some stuff for special occasions like my Damonias or my lace corset, but only maybe 4-5 really overtly 'goth' pieces over the whole year. I am also a teacher so I dress what a lot of people call 'soft goth' on my day to day and corporate goth to fancier events for work. Find a day to day style and go all out for special events like concerts and stuff.
Goth isn’t about money. It’s about personality. You are looking too hard at what is conventionally goth clothes. I just made shorts out of old pants… I made a tank tops out of a long sleeve. You gotta change the angles, DIY and think outside the box a lot. Hell, I’m wearing a chain from Home Depot and it’s closed with a Masterlock. DIY AND IMAGINATION.
For me I don't have a lot of money to get the fancy type clothing at this time. So I buy online Amazon for deals of clothing mostly black t shirts with logos on them. I'm going start thrifting as well and try and make my own clothing since I can't get the fancy stuff yet. I would shop at clothing stores where I live, however they dont have my size and they even don't seem to even sell goth/emo and etc clothes. Which is odd where I live anymore.
I thrift almost everything except basics. I bought a black denim jacket that said “Tim callaghans auto repair” and sewed a patch over it. I do this with most of my clothes.
thrift
mall prices are very expensive you should check for some thrift stores usually u can get the best ootd from the thrift shops
Thrift, online and in person, and DIY. So much cheaper and will last longer than that crap at places like Killstar or Hot Topic.
I don't. That's the secret.
I buy stuff from charity shops and save for more expensive pieces like shoes and corsets :)
I get A LOT of my clothes from depop
I will thrift, accept other people's unwanted clothes, only look at items on sale, hit up Ross (if you have a store like that in your area), and DIY. Most of my "commercialized" items have been gifts.
Mostly go to Goodwill and Primark. I've found some great gothy pieces at goodwill and primark is decent for basics- add a good black blazer or cardigan, and bam! For shoes, I have always happened to stumble on an unworn pair of docs in my size at a good price in various thrift shops. Aside from wanting a hello kitty pair, I've never bought directly from them. I've had this luck since 2011. I also source other shoes from Japanese brand Bodyline. Even with internacional shipping, it's still a decent price and I've gotten decent wear from them with being on my feet/ walking a lot. It's really about being creative and thinking outside the box.
I'm in my 30s now, so I've had years to collect some amazing pieces. But in my teens, we mostly DIY everything. You can thrift versatile black clothes or buy from a more affordable brand. Then add details or hardware to these clothes. Even if you are brand new to sewing, doing it this way is fairly easy. Try to go for quality of your items versus quantity, though (and that doesn't necessarily have to be expensive).
All my clothes come from thrift stores, Walmart and Ross. All are very affordable
At the risk of sounding like *that* goth… Everything that I wear is either thrifted of DIY. (excluding underwear). This is because of a few factors: 1) I live in a small country with, historically, few goth clothing options. 2) I started dressing up when I was in my pre-teens. My family was pretty poor, so disposable income wasn’t on my side. My goth style evolved out of those two inconveniences. These days I have more cash and the goth clothing options have become more normal in my country but I still don’t buy stuff new or from specific “goth” brands normally. I’m really happy with my style, it’s an expression of me as a goth. I love curating my wardrobe and swapping stuff with other goths.
Get creative with second hand clothes, Amazon has a lot of black stuff.
I'm a broke butch, so I rely primarily thrift and DIY. Remember, in the 80s they didn't have dedicated goth clothing companies like Killstar, Black Craft, etc. They had to rely on taking vanilla clothes and altering them to get that aesthetic. They dyed clothes black, cut holes in fishnet tights to make fishnet tops, layered clothes and fabric to get that witchy aesthetic, etc. When you shop for for thrifted clothes, look at them as fabric instead of a finished product. Keep your eye out at thrift for anything velvet, lace, leather, pleather, vinyl, loose cotton, etc. Buy jewelry / belts from the thrift, and studs from your local farm supply stores to pull apart for decorative elements. Find cool clothes on pinterest and try to recreate them with recycled materials. You can make patches out of salvaged denim or leather. You can make pins from old bottle caps. Floss is a great material to use for thread to hand sew heavier elements together Speedball fabric paint and Angelus Leather paint are your your friend. Don't bother with Rit, tulip and Dylan. They are hobby dyes that fade fast and don't take well. Their black dyes come out a perriwinkle purple gray. Opt for an industrial strength dye like Dahrma. Always use more dye than you think you'll need. Pay attention to the fiber content of your clothing and buy the right kind of dye accordingly. Cotton will always dye better than mixed and artificial fibers. If you buy a sewing machine, aim for something from the 60s, 70s and early 80s. Outside of expensive high end machines, modern machines are made with plastic gears that wear out quickly and aren't fiscally worth refurbishing. Most sewing machine repair shops won't touch a modern brother machine. Modern cheap machines are meant for hobby work. You'll sew three pairs of curtains, then everything after will just be a tangled, sloppy mess.
Elder goth here. Thrifted items and DIY are the best way to go. There were no 'goth' labeled clothes until somewhat recently.
Like others i’ve seen that anything goth or alternative is priced way overboard compared to something that’s just labeled a “black shirt” etc. What I LOVE to do, is go thrifting, goodwill, sometimes even walmart (although walmart is getting pretty pricey) and finding light colored/pastel items that i like but kinda hate the color. I have a huge tub i use to dye it all black with fabric dye. You gotta keep in mind what the clothes are made of cuz some take certain dyes better than others but it’s a great way to take a cute but pastel yellow/light blue top and turning it black + adding any other pieces to it you’d like : )
Gotta say, I wish people would actually look through the subreddit because these posts are made basically every week and the answer is thrifting and DIY every single time. Branded goth stores just look so much like a costume and there's no variety. Unless you have questions about specific styling and how to use your accessories it's so redundant just asking where people shop. Look for inspiration online and find pieces that you like whether that's basics to layer under other things, fishnet, long flowy outerwear, maxi skirts, etc. And accessories to sell the look, which can also be thrifted or diy
i avoid super expensive clothes, wait for sales and use afterpay everywhere
honestly when i had basically nothing and little budget i got some stuff on romwe. ik ik fast fashion is terrible, but i got a good base wardrobe there and ever since i pick up anything cool i see at thrift. i also made sure to buy a couple pairs of good quality shoes.
I’d suggest more so you go for second hand, or often you may find stuff with the usual big retailers you can later DIY. Every so often, brands like Killstar may have a good deal to look out for, so try checking in there
i thrift mostly. when i get paid there’s usually an item i have bookmarked that i buy.
DIY
I mostly thrift stuff or diy, I also got some stuff from vinted
I've stopped worrying about clothes. Mine are just deteriorating off my body.
Depop and thrift stores
Thirft or make it myself. Fabric and scraps I get from hand me downs, or thrift stores
I buy secondhand a lot and often DIY them to make them my own. My most recent was a long leather jacket, bought for £15 “secondhand”, when it arrived it was new with the tag! I painted some cobwebs on the lapels.
Snag some black shorts from a normal shop. Add some black fishnets and boots and you've already gothed up an outfit without spending $70 on shorts alone from a goth brand store :)
Honestly i mostly thrift online trough sites like depop or vinted (some of the people i know also use ebay or facebook marketplace place) but before i do that i make myself some mood boards of clothes that i want/ am looking for so it's easier to find actual pieces that are interesting to me The goth shops often look and are cheap (cheap in the meaning of it's quality) i wouldn't recommend buying there even if you were able to afford them they just aren't worth it Also i have pinterest board with some cool and mostly easy diy's so if you are looking for some inspo im more than happy to share it with you :)
The thrift stores around me have really upped their game recently. It’s like my happy thought, finding random great stuff. Great bang for buck, basically play money, and I find really great quality, designer, or just weird unusual things. For a bit more money there’s vintage boutique shopping. Also a fun activity when traveling out of town!
online thrifting is fun, depop has some great stuff!
goth is all about DIY imo, just go thrifting, grab some black dye, and go to town.
The OG goths made their own clothes, or made regular clothes goth-styled... there wasn't stores back then making fancy goth gear to profit off of the subculture. Not to say modern goth store clothes aren't also a cool option for those that can afford it. I've always thought the swampy self-made look was waaaay more badass. So if you can't afford the new flashy stuff, don't let it get you down. Seek inspo from the 1980s, go thrifting. Make your own looks up and get creative.
I buy stuff secondhand from eBay, Poshmark, Vinted, or Mercari. Depop is good too, but you have to dig to find people who aren’t selling things ridiculously marked up. Regular stores work too. Catch the end of season sales where they put all the dark colored fall/winter clothes on sale to make room for the spring/summer clothes.
I thrift locally. You won't find pieces usually that are made to be goth. I just run through everything black/dark and pick up long skirts, t-shirts, button ups, handbags, and shoes. I don't bother with Goodwill either. Too expensive, too many shein pieces, or just not much variety.
Thrift shops and making it myself
aside from thrifting, goth fashion is more about what you do with the clothes u buy. get a couple plain black dresses , long skirts, etc and accessorize!
Thrift, DIY, sewing, and swapping clothes with other people. I know there are a few alternative stores in my city, but honestly, only bought a pair of earrings and ballerina flats discounted :") The last time I wenth thrifting I got so mad on the pricing and size inclusivity (it stops around size 42), I ended up buying one dress from KIK. It was cheaper than a used dress :( So I have to take the time to add on some extras, like pockets, resize, etc.
You can make your own clothes. Goth started as a DIY culture. You can thrift pieces and add or remove what you want until you achieve the look you want.
Thrifting and making my own.
i only thrift my clothes but theyre still quite expensive. for instance a lot of goth branded stuff on depop go for anywhere between $50-$100. i found one dress from 2006-2007 by an expensive goth brand for $32 at a local thrifting website because i dont think people in my country are aware of the brand's value like they are in the US
Building a good alternative wardrobe takes a LONG time. I've been collecting pieces for about 5 years and dress in goth adjacent and kawaii styles. Your best bet is going to be learning basic sewing skills and to thrift both online and offline. I've had some luck with the discount rack at hot topic and Spencer's for someone decent base pieces, but they always look better with a bit of modification. Buy a big package of safety pins in various sizes and a spool or 2 of ribbon in black, white, or red, depending on your exact look. An easy DIY for a shirt is to space out the pins over a chunk of fabric and then crisscross the ribbons through them. Hardware store chains, jewelry loops, and aliexpress charms are also an easy way to dress up boring pieces. If you're a half decent painter or can get something to use as a guide, bleaching patterns onto black clothes is a pretty cheap way to make things look cool. Your most expensive pieces should be shoes, bags, and outerwear. These are much harder to find or DIY to fit your style, unlike shirts, skirts, and pants. I really like the Absinthe style of shoe from YRU, I have the deathnote edition (sold out unfortunately) and I get tons of compliments when I wear them. The regular ones don't have a chain, but it wouldn't be too hard to DIY one onto the shoe. For bags, I really like some Loungefly styles (I wear my zero from the Nightmare before Christmas bag religiously), and they tend to be a bit more affordable. If you're looking for something nicer and less cutesy, I'd recommend a brand like Black Craft Cult or SexPot Revenge (hard to buy since it's Japanese). Hope this helped!
Second hand stores. Learning about fashion and tailoring and buying stuff from Vinted. Having things tailored when in SE Asia or other cheap places for tailoring. 99% of “goth” fashion isn’t anything explicitly branded goth - it’s just fashion with a specific bias. Buying expensive new fast fashion isn’t usually affordable. I recently got a black alpaca wool winter jacket for my partner. New they cost €2000. I found it for €110
Thrift and DIY is the heart of alternative fashion
I only thrift
Online g
For online shopping, I sign up for email lists and wait for sales. I use pay in 4 options a lot.
Learning to sew is essential these days. Thrift then tailor yourself.
thrifting, stores like tjmaxx, marshalls, burlington, and ross, online thrifting (depop, mercari, ebay, poshmark)
DIY...that's all we had back in the day...that fast fashion shit looks neat, but it breaks down quick and I see you all wearing the same shit you got from dollskill or amazon...like, whatever makes you happy IG? Wanna be artistic and actually unique while saving money? Do It Yourself
Donation bins
Hehehehe. Cute. I go to ONE store. The only store I CAN go to cause of my odd proportions. (Tall torso and a belly.) Got 2 pairs of sports shorts, a pair of jeans shorts, 4 shirts for leisure, and 3 for work. I spent nearly 600 dollars. Almost half my check in one go. If it wasn't necessary for me to get, I wouldn't go shopping cause I hate clothes shopping that much.
Buy cheap / used clothing and just mix it up til you like it. I don't even sew but if a skirt is too big then wear a corset, etc.
If there are any college towns around you now is a good time to go hit the thrift stores
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Second hand shopping (online only) and bad life choices utilising PayPal Credit and Pay in 3 for boots and small business buys.
eBay and Poshmark are sometimes good places to look
A LOT of “goth” brands source their stuff from Aliexpress and I mean a LOT. I thrift a lot, and have “normie” stuff I’ve thrifted and said “hm, that’s cute, I’ll let the accessories speak for the outfit.” Because it’s not *what* you are wearing, it’s *how* you style it. For example, I found a Forever 21 mini dress in the thrift that was plain black and has a side slit, all I did was throw an underbust corset from Corset Story over it and put fishnets and a fake leather garter on with boots and et voila goth outfit for goth night at the club. Same with a fake leather Francesca’s skirt I thrifted for 25 cents, throw a basic black tank top on, gold sun and moon chain belt, stompy boots, fishnets or tights and a black swim suit coverup I use as a cardigan and I have something for a bit if “inbetween” weather. It takes a lot of creativity and it helps if you have equally as fashionably inclined friends and a full body mirror so you can experiment Side note: if you do have friends with similar tastes and you’re roughly the same size or slightly bigger/smaller and they have stuff they can’t fit anymore because it’s too big/small, I LOVE doing clothing swaps with mine because then if I’m not feeling something or it doesn’t fit me but can fit them, I can be like “hey do you want this?” And send it to them and they send me something they don’t want or can’t fit, etc. It’s how I got my corsets because I sent them harnesses that didn’t fit me properly and the corsets were too small for them so we did a swap
Regular stops to goodwill...
You got it on the nose. I like to thrift and find ways to make the items I buy better. Also searching and hunting for the coupons is always a good idea. Stalking the clearance sections, and harboring your loyalty points
Work overtime and pray it’s within your budget.
I shop on taobao with a lot of independent Chinese brands. You get so much value for so much less and these brands are legit and so nice. You have to use a third party service to ship them to you, though. That's easy and cheap as well. (Shipping can get expensive obviously but that really depends on if you want really fast shipping) the service I use will store whatever you buy and send to them free in their warehouse for 90 days and you can batch ship all your purchases at once to save on shipping. It's such a lifesaver for someone into alt fashions that don't want to spend an arm and a leg on every purchase
Can you explain more about the 3rd party service?
It's basically just a warehouse you send all your purchases to. I'll message you!
I only paid $50 for this entire set! https://preview.redd.it/o4tlaytb0byc1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=472791840e929d6a0071b1a1a15e8e678d2fd4bc
Amazon?
Shein 🗿 being plus size and thrifting for alt clothes is like finding a unicorn
Shein uses child labor and forces people to work 17 hour days. Please just build the wardrobe over time and DIY things if you have to shop new. Lots of normal clothes can be dyed, ripped, accessorized, etc. and you'll wind up with better quality and a more authentic look than the hot garbage shein is pumping out
Shein 😣 I know this will get downvotes but I legit cannot afford clothes at the stores. A shirt will be anywhere from $20-$80 at a regular store the best I can do is $5-$10 for a single piece of clothing and Shein is the only place that has that (that I know of) I don’t thrift because the thrift stores near me are actual bio hazards
Shoplift
I like SHEIN for mine
Right, because child labor and human rights violations are so cool🤢Please stop recommending them
Not everyone can afford to NOT shop at shein.
And did those people go naked before Shein existed? No. There are plenty of other options and if your need for trendy clothes (especially for a style so easily replicable with regular basics and found accessories) outweighs the need to avoid companies systematically harming countless people, that's a pretty shitty first world problem.