Gothic Charm School: pretty things

Cue the ElderGoth nostalgia in 3 … 2 … 1. From Propaganda Magazine’s feature on San Francisco’s House of Usher.

LOVE !!!!

blkstiletto:

From Propaganda Magazine’s feature on San Francisco’s House of Usher

source

That’s a very familiar story, and it makes me sad.

The Gothic subculture does NOT come with a uniform. It’s very human to want to oversimplify things; it’s our shared compulsion to try to put things in neat, black-and-white categories, but that just isn’t how reality rolls. If you look at enough photos of the super-Goths, even they didn’t/don’t dress like Elvira 24/7.

Siouxsie tried everything from topless punk, buzzcut military, to nothing but flowers, to elegant ball gowns.

There are an abundance of super cute photos of Robert Smith in his own Stevie Nicks type vintage look of many colors - even white! /heavens!/

Andrew- oh let’s not just this once.

Carl McCoy dresses like some kind of dirty, voodoo cowboy.

Nick Cave dresses like some kind of dirty, voodoo, predatory, lounge singer.

Niether Rozz nor Valor looked anything like Dave Vanian, and his shirtless animal teen days look nothing like his Romantic Phantasmagoria days, look nothing like his biker/rockabilly days, look nothing like his mad scientist… that’s enough, right?

It was actually much later when “Goth” was cut down by the mainstream into the current Gomez and Morticia stereotypes. There’s nothing wrong with that! BUT, that is just one sliver on the vast spectrum of Goth fashion. Happens to everyone. Just look at old school punks and compare them to the stereotype, that’s a whole other rant… but damn… Any way look at trad Goths then look at Lolitas; have I convinced you yet?

I say you’re a Goth-at-heart (which is so cute) maybe even a Goth.

My stance is; fashion is great but the music is the main thing.

It’s a matter of contention in the scene, but I think how you look is just one minor aspect of the culture; If you listen to the music, like the literature, art, movies, humor, community - you are part of it.

TRUTH.

(Elder, did you get the memo about the change in time for the meeting of the Cabal That Doesn’t Exist?)

Coffee, red velvet, black chiffon poet’s shirt, skirt from Kambriel, ankh rosary, choker with a pendant of the crest of the Order of the Dragon (filled with soil from Castle Bran), and Big Hair. Yes, I am ready for this work day.

(Or, as the RealHusband said this morning, “I see you went with Power Hair today.”)

Oh! The gothy nostalgia! I used to have this exact coffin purse. (I think it went off to live with Aine, because I finally accepted it was a smidge too small for everything I carried.)

Is the clothing company Eternal (or Eternal Love) still around? If so, are they still making the uber-witchy black crinkle gauze dress with the velvet stars & crescent moon on the bodice? (Clicky-link to an auction for one that’s not the right size for me.) Do any of you know where I can find one? Did I really sell the one I had ages ago, because I can’t remember.

StuntHusband, did we ever decide where this would go in our eventual ElderGoth Retirement Haunted Mansion? The parlor? Or in a separate music room? I think it would be best in the parlor.

(Source: hautecouture-nosebleed)

ElderGoths at Whitby! They look fantastic.

gothicrealm:

by ~ak21626

justamus said: You are always flawless, and I loved your post on sizeism in Gothic scenes. Any tips on being curvier and more mature, amid all the size-zero nineteen-year-olds?

Oh, you are such a love, thank you! I’m eventually going to do a(nother) proper Gothic Charm School post on being curvier and more mature in the goth scene, because those are topics that need to be talked about. (Along with reassuring the babybats that they can grow up in the scene and not feel pressured to grow out of it.)

The #1 tip I have for being a curvy, older goth: OWN IT. There are times the Body Image Demons get to me, or when I look at the gorgeous waify youngsters and sigh. But getting older means I know down to my marrow who I am, what I like, and I don’t care what other people may think of that.

Look at them. LOOK AT THEM. Perfect ElderGoth Couple.

gorgonetta:

[A b/w photo of Dave Vanian smooching Patricia Morrison on the cheek. Both wear sunglasses. Caption: “Patricia Morrison & David Vanian; 2001” with John Nikolai’s name, website, and assertion of copyright prominently noted]

(Source: deadpictorial)

blkstiletto said: Jillian, ever feel like us ElderGoth folk have small fortunes in our closets or lurking in storage trunks? ;-)

YES. But I am never, ever giving up my (battered, faded) Cure shirt OR my Bauhaus shirt from the Resurrection tour. (Besides, the Bauhaus shirt has bleach and hair dye stains.)

Oh dear. I’ve been not-so-idly thinking about adding long, full skirts (with petticoats!) back into my daily wardrobe ANYWAY, then nudiemuse linked to velvety broomstick skirts, and next thing you know, I’m searching eBay for long, flowy skirts. Should I wear my new Gloria di Notte skirt from Kambriel to the office tomorrow?

Ruffled jabots, scarves, and cuffs! Frock coats! Ankle-length full skirts! Who else is suffering from a full-on relapse into neo-romantic Gothic?

ElderGoth indeed. You look fabulous, madame.

subcultureandaltart:

The Old Days by *Estruda

Standing desk + nostalgia fit of My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult on the headphones = the sudden realization that I’m doing the hand motions for “Christian zombie vaaaaampiiires” while at work. Good thing my co-workers are used to me.

stunthusband:

lovesgreatadventure:

I want to see a show of old folks.

Seeing as how I’m one of them.

August 1969

April (1) 1968. I remember the first men on the moon.

KIDS THESE DAYS WITH THEIR SPACE STATIONS AND CURIOSITY LANDERS.

November 17, 1968.

KIDS THESE DAYS WITH THEIR INTERNETS AND FIC SITES. I LOVE LIVING IN THE FUTURE.

americangothgirl:

thesolekitsune:

Only 4000? WTF?

26

Good grief, this again? Oh Infamous BlueJay, time to make your version of this!

Hi! I’m 43. I’ll be 44 in mid-November. My never-to-be-gotten-rid-of black leather motorcycle jacket is older than some of you. (In fact, Neil Gaiman drew a doodle of the Sandman and signed the back of it in early 1993, and I’d had the jacket for a few years by then.)

Older than 17, bless.

(Source: dancingdeadpuppets)

Gothic Charm School: pretty things

Fine Folk

Posts tagged Eldergoth…

ElderGoth Fashion Nostalgia question time!

ElderGoth Fashion Musing

The Old Days by *Estruda

ElderGoth Problems: part I’ve lost count

REBLOG IF YOU WERE BORN BEFORE 1970

Okay seriously. Reblog if you’re OLDER than 17