It took the existing rock and punk styles of the time and went a bit darker with the concept. This particular style has remained more or less true to the traditional roots of goth subculture. Borrowing from styles of the rock and punk scene of the 70’s and 80’s, you’ll see plenty of similarities between early gothic style and the rock and punk trends of the time. Trad (short for traditional) Goth refers to early founding musical and fashion styles that emerged at the dawn of gothic subculture. Ultimately though, goths can have any style or preference and everyone has complete freedom to be who they want to be.Īlright so now that we’ve got a brief history lesson out of the way, let’s dive into some of the most popular types of goths here. It should be noted that the popular goth styles discussed below are not about labeling particular segments that people fit into but rather, seek to categorize the different types of gothic styles by preferences in music, fashion, etc. It is the character of a person that lets the world know the type of person they are. We should never judge people based on their appearance. Like every other subculture on the planet, despite differences in fashion, music, and identity, everyone is united by our humanity. It is a strong form of expression and a counter-cultural movement that defies what the mainstream had tried to impose on people in terms of how they should live and what that should look like. Many people gravitate to goth subculture because they personally identify with a love and appreciation for darker things. The dark and creepy elements of life, which most people find no interest in, are foundational to many goths and likely tie into individual personality traits and core beliefs. Goths can laugh, have fun, have positive attitudes, and ultimately just be all-around good people.Ī common similarity that most goth subcultures share is finding beauty and wonder in the dark, morbid, and mysterious. Goth subculture includes plenty of happy, upbeat, and bubbly personalities. Additionally, to be goth doesn’t have anything to do with being angry, sad, or having evil intentions. Goths enjoy a wide variety of different types of music and fashion. The reality is goth subculture is a vast and diverse collection of different fashion styles, preferences, musical tastes, outlooks on life, belief systems, and more that are always evolving. While there may be traces of these elements within certain segments of gothic subculture, many of these misconceptions couldn’t be further from the truth. Goth subculture is often characterized by wearing all-black apparel, strong elements of magic or witchcraft, angry or depressed attitudes and emotions, and evil intent or involvement. Now several decades later, the goth subculture has evolved to include many different styles, beliefs, and disciplines making it one of the most popular subcultures in the world with large followings in Japan, Germany, and the United States. Essentially, the goth subculture was born from this emerging music scene and the corresponding fashion styles of these bands inspired fans around the world to embrace and continue to develop the look and ultimately, the culture. The reality is very different so let’s clear up some misinformation about what it means to be goth and explore the rich variety in this dark, mysterious, and wonderful subculture.īack in the 70’s and 80’s when the rock and punk musical genres were exploding and rapidly evolving, a new term was coined to describe the emergence of a variation of that music along with the new fashions styles accompanying it.īands like Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Cure, Joy Division, and others were some of the early pioneers who popularized the gothic style. Perhaps one of the most common is that if you’re a goth then that must mean you’re an angry or depressed satanist who embraces all things evil. There are many misconceptions and stereotypes when most people think of what it means to be goth. Goth subculture is one of diversity and expression, however, it is united by some common elements and themes.