Gothic vs Emo fashion : Key comparisons |
Posted: March 2, 2024 |
Goth and emo fashion styles have often been confused or conflated in mainstream media and culture. However, there are distinct differences between goth and emo style. This comprehensive review will examine the history, influences, aesthetic elements, attitudes, and evolution of goth and emo fashion over time. What is Gothic Fashion?Gothic fashion originated in the late 1970s and early 1980s as part of the goth subculture, which was influenced by Gothic rock bands like Bauhaus, The Cure, Siouxsie and the Banshees, and the Batcave club scene in London. Early goth fashion was characterized by a darker, romantic Victorian-inspired aesthetic with elements of punk, glam, and occult imagery. Key elements of goth fashion include:
Victorian-inspired garments like lace trim blouses, brocade waistcoats, tailcoats, and velvet dresses reference 19th century Gothic literature and architecture.
Early goth fashion featured more handmade or customized pieces with distressed or ripped elements. Music and club culture heavily influenced the style. Figures like Siouxsie Sioux became icons of the scene. What is Emo Fashion?Emo fashion grew out of the emo music scene of the early 2000s that was influenced by melodic and emotionally intense punk, indie, and hardcore bands like Rites of Spring, Sunny Day Real Estate, and My Chemical Romance. Emo style incorporated elements of punk, grunge, and skate cultures. The popularity of emo also led to online quizzes like Am I Emo Quiz that allowed youth to see how their style, music tastes, and attitudes aligned with emo culture. Key characteristics of emo style include:
Emo fashion originated on the West Coast punk scene as a youthful style centered on music and bands. Flannels, band tees, chucks, and skinny jeans defined the casual look. Key DifferencesWhile both subcultures express a disaffected youth identity through fashion, there are clear distinctions between goth and emo styles. Color palette - Goth fashion favors stark black clothing and accessories contrasted with pale skin. Emo style incorporates more color like bold prints, colored jeans, and multicolored sneakers. Influence - Goth draws more on punk, glam rock, Victorian, and occult influences. While emo has punk roots, it also incorporated grunge and skater style. Makeup - Goth makeup aims for an ultra-pale face accentuated by stark black lipstick, eye makeup, and nails. Emo makeup features a more colorful aesthetic with bright eye makeup and pops of color. Silhouette - Goth has a more structured silhouette emphasizing angular shoulders with nipped waistcoats and corsets. Emo clothes have an oversized slouchy fit, like hoodies and loose band tees. Accessories - Spiked collars and chokers, platform boots, and occult symbols distinguish goth accessories. Emo accessories include studded belts, Chuck Taylors, and piercings. Attitude - Goth intensity stems from darker obsessions with death, vampires, and the occult. Emo intensity channels feelings of sensitivity, vulnerability, and melancholy through fashion. Evolution of Goth StyleGoth fashion has gone through different incarnations since emerging in the late 70s, while maintaining its dark essence. Different goth styles have their own distinct aesthetic: Traditional - The original goth look featured ripped fishnets, occult symbols, spiked chokers, and Siouxsie-style black hair. Emphasized a punk DIY aesthetic. Romantic - Romantic goths brought in softer fabrics like velvet, lace, and brocade. More inspired by Victorian and medieval aesthetics mixed with Romantic literature. Rivethead - Industrial, cyberpunk goth style incorporated harder materials like leather, PVC, and combat boots. More futuristic. Victorian - Exaggerated the Victorian-influenced side of goth with top hats, lace, tailcoats, corsets, and elegant gowns. Nu-Goth - A revival in the 2010s that made goth style runway-ready with sleeker black silhouettes and minimal club-kid touches. Pastel Goth - A modern evolution incorporating pastels, soft pinks and purples paired with darker gothic elements. Cybergoth - Futuristic cybergoth style combines goth, rave, and rivethead aesthetics with LED lights, neon colors, and anime influences. Throughout its evolution, goth style continues to center on romanticizing darkness and mortality through fashion. It retains its intense DIY underground roots. Evolution of Emo StyleLike goth, emo fashion has seen different incarnations since the early 2000s: Midwest Emo - Messy hair, thick glasses, thrifted plaid shirts and jeans defined the early lo-fi emo look, as seen in bands like Rites of Spring. Pop Punk/Warped Tour Emo - Bold merch, dyed hair, piercings and tattoos, Vans and skater shoes characterized the pop-punk influenced Warped Tour style. Scene - Scene style took emo fashion to brighter neon heights with rainbow hair extensions, cartoon graphic tees, and heavy eye makeup. Tumblr Emo - The 2010s saw an emo revival through Tumblr culture focused on a soft pastel grunge aesthetic and flower crowns. E-boy/E-girl - The current TikTok iteration combines retro Y2K and skater influences for a more ironic take on emo style. Emo continually absorbs influences from adjacent youth music subcultures while retaining its brooding, sensitive outsider spirit. From punk to pop and grunge to indie, the emphasis is on channeling adolescent angst into fashion. Key FiguresSiouxsie Sioux - Lead singer of Siouxsie and the Banshees, she created the goth archetype with her distinctive spiky black hair, Cleopatra-style eye makeup, and leather looks.
Robert Smith - The Cure frontman pioneered the big hair goth aesthetic with his backcombed black hair, smudged eyeliner, and lipstick. Peter Murphy - With his vampiric look and deep baritone vocals as Bauhaus' lead singer, Murphy cemented gothic fashion. Marilyn Manson - Manson's controversial occult persona and avant-garde glam looks brought goth fashion into the mainstream in the 90s. Pete Wentz - The eyeliner-wearing bassist for Fall Out Boy emerged as a poster boy of emo fashion in the 2000s scene. Gerard Way - My Chemical Romance's vampiric lead singer popularized emo style with his signature messy black hair and eyeliner. Hayley Williams - Paramore's brightly-haired lead singer represented the pop-punk Warped Tour side of emo fashion. Brendon Urie - Panic! At the Disco's Brendon Urie has bridged emo, glam, and retro styles while remaining an icon. Why Goth and Emo Looks Still ResonateGoth and emo styles continue to go in and out of fashion because they represent youth subcultures centered on expressing individuality, disaffection with the mainstream, and channeling darker feelings into fashion. Both goth and emo looks let people explore identities outside societal norms. Black clothes and dramatic makeup allow goths to delve into morbid curiosity and romantic darkness. Emo fashion captures adolescent sensitivity and vulnerability during the teenage years. While some dismiss goth and emo as juvenile phases, both subcultures value authenticity and building community around shared aesthetics and musical tastes. Goth and emo fashion will likely continue influencing youth cultures for generations. ConclusionGoth and emo fashion arose from distinct subcultures, eras, and musical influences. While they share a rejection of mainstream style and an intensity stemming from adolescent angst, goth and emo have signature aesthetics. Goth fashion draws its dark glamour from punk, Victorian, and occult influences. Emo style mixes punk, indie, skater, and grunge to create its brooding look. However, both allow young people to reinforce their identities and find community through shared style and musical tastes. Goth and emo looks will continue to morph and revive, but their essence remains staying outside the norm of accepted fashion.
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