Beyond Black: How to Embrace Colour in Gothic Fashion
Gothic culture is about celebrating uniqueness and expressing individuality. It’s a welcoming, open-minded community that embraces different tastes and styles. That said, there has always been one colour at the forefront of gothic trends – black.
Black is synonymous with gothic culture. Dark clothing, accessories, hair, makeup and even homeware are how many goths express their style and make themselves known to others in the community. While we love an all-black wardrobe, switching it up and adding different hues to your look can be fun and won’t ruin your gothic cred.
At Attitude Clothing, we’re showing you how to diversify your look with colour – and teach you that new shades are nothing to be afraid of!
TLDR: While black is synonymous with Goth fashion due to historical (Victorian mourning) and musical influences, embracing colour is encouraged and doesn’t compromise one’s style. The core of Gothic culture is self-expression, so there are no rigid rules against wearing brighter hues. Goths can add colour by:
- Using dark shades like deep red, elegant purple, midnight blue, or dark green for a mystical touch.
- Incorporating metallic tones (silver, gold, copper).
- Starting small with colourful footwear or accessories (jewellery, bags).
- Dyeing hair with bright, semi-permanent colours.
Table of Contents
Emerging gothic colour trends within the alternative subculture
Tips for adding colour to goth outfits
Will I still be considered goth if I wear bright colours?
How to incorporate colour into your gothic wardrobe without feeling overwhelmed
Why do goths wear black?
There are plenty of reasons goths opt for an all-black look.
It goes with everything
It’s not all about looking like the monarch of darkness itself. Dressing in black is appealing because it’s easy! Everything goes with black, so when your entire wardrobe is one colour, you can throw on any combination of clothing and look great.
Historical roots
Gothic culture is heavily influenced by romanticism and melancholy, popularised throughout Victorian literature. Victorian fashion often influences modern Gothic looks, such as corsets and luxurious, dark jewellery made with jet.
When Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert, died in 1861, the monarch ditched every colour in her wardrobe and mourned in only black until she died in 1901. Though rooted in grief, the Victorian upper classes copied this all-black look. This dark, melancholic style served as the perfect inspiration for gothic fashion.
Musical influence
It’s no surprise that music has strongly influenced gothic fashion over the years. In the 1970s, fashion took inspiration from the punk movement – donning motorcycle jackets, big boots, studs, chains and heavy jewellery. The influence of the punk movement remains evident in modern gothic style and many of the same moral sentiments upheld by the community.
Emerging gothic colour trends within the alternative subculture
If you’re still feeling intimidated by the prospect of adding colour to your wardrobe, fear not. You don’t have to go full rainbow (unless you want to). Instead, you can start by embracing common shades that lend themselves well to gothic dressing.
Red: Can be used as a bold burst of colour within clothing and accessories to add a vibrant look to an outfit.
Purple: Associated with mystery and spirituality, purple often conveys a sense of depth. In most gothic items, the purple will be an elegant plum or deep purple shade.
Green: Adding dark green to your outfit adds a nature-inspired mysticism to your look. Perfect for whimsigoth enthusiasts.
Blue: A midnight blue shade can maintain a dark aesthetic while stepping out of a black comfort zone.
Metallic tones: Silver, gold, and copper can add allure to gothic fashion without being too overwhelming.
Tips for adding colour to goth outfits
Colour helps to create a rich and diverse style within gothic fashion, allowing you to experiment with clothes, accessories and homeware.
There are various ways you can incorporate alternative colours into your wardrobe. Whether you want to add subtle hints of colour or want to be more daring with your choices, here are a few ideas:
Footwear
Be bold with your footwear: Keeping your outfit primarily black but adding colour to your feet is a great way to add a unique touch to your look.
DemoniaCult Shaker 52 UV Neon Green Wedge Boots are a good way to introduce colour into your wardrobe while maintaining the comfort of black. These funky shoes, with a standout glow-in-the-dark platform and laces, will elevate your look in more ways than one.
Accessories
Jewellery
A colourful piece of jewellery lets you make a style statement without being too out there.
Bags
You can add colour to your outfit with a cute bag that allows you to carry your essentials while being a standout part of your look.
The Attitude Clothing Dark Forest Tote is perfect for injecting extra colour into your look while maintaining the black background. It’s great for use as a daily bag or to fold into a different one, just in case!
The Banned Apparel Annabelle Handbag takes a more classic handbag silhouette and goths it up with bat wing detailing and an irresistible pastel purple shade.
Bright hair
Goths have been dyeing their hair for decades. Initially influenced by bands like Bauhaus and Joy Division to choose classic black, many modern gothic cultures opt for bright shades to offset the all-black look in their clothing.
Brands like Lunar Tides, Directions, and Crazy Color have become synonymous with alternative communities thanks to their incredible shade offerings, making it easy to get beautifully bright locks. Opting for a semi-permanent colour means you can easily switch up your look.
Coloured home accessories
You may be interested in adding colour to your home’s interior and your wardrobe. Different colours can create distinct atmospheres, and you can choose a different colour scheme for each room.
Bedding & cushions
The Gothic Homeware Reversible Duvet adds the perfect touch of muted colour to your bedroom. The reversible element means you can choose your favourite based on your mood or the seasons!
The Restyle Enchanted Forest Embroidered Cushion Cover adds a whimsical and colourful touch. This is a beautiful statement option if the rest of your bedding is plain or a great addition to a more eclectic set-up.
Colourful mugs
There’s nothing better than a fun mug to liven up your daily cuppa. These Dark Forest Mugs by Gothic Homeware add a colourful touch to your kitchen cupboard, and the mystical designs will fit perfectly into your gothic home.
Will I still be considered goth if I wear bright colours?
Being goth or alternative is about self-expression. If you’re thinking of stepping out of the realms of darkness by increasing your use of colour, you can still consider yourself a member of the gothic community. Alternative subculture is more than just wearing black; there are no rigid rules, and it is all about being creative.
How to incorporate colour into your gothic wardrobe without feeling overwhelmed
Start small if you want to diversify your style while keeping your aesthetics in line with traditional gothic subcultures. Adding too much colour can be overwhelming, so choosing colourful accessories like jewellery and bags is a subtle way to ease yourself into a brighter look without feeling too uncomfortable.
Focus on one colour at a time and build your outfit around that. Experiment with shades and tones to create a cohesive look while mixing and matching them with black or neutral pieces for balance. As you grow more comfortable, introduce new pieces and colours whenever you feel like it. There’s no need to rush or overhaul your wardrobe entirely, and there’s no right or wrong way to add more colour or dimension to your alternative look.
Find fashion inspiration and gothic classics at Attitude Clothing
Across our ranges of men’s and women’s clothing, footwear and accessories, you can find everything you need to create a classic gothic getup or something with more colour. Whatever subculture you belong to, there is something for every style at Attitude Clothing.
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