Some Goths will go full vampire/monstergirl look. Some Goths will go dark clothes and thick eyeliner only. Some of them have corporate jobs that prevent them from dressing like it’s Halloween 24/7. Some have makeup allergies. Some don’t want piercings or tattoos for whatever reason (including age).
Goth is a big umbrella with a lot of different looks. I saw once someone who dresses like the girl on the right say that “there is no wrong way to do goth”. So…
I’ve seen the original post multiple times on Tumblr, Instagram and Facebook but this is the first version that doesn’t make me annoyed.
The “fake goff vs tru gothicc” attitude doesn’t get anyone anywhere and gives an incorrect impression of the subculture to begin with.
Fashion might be the most visible part of goth but it is just that: one part of it. Dress in black, dress in pastels, wear corsets, wear dungarees, wear makeup, don’t wear make-up, look scary, look cute, have a colourful mohawk, have natural hair… It might not all be equally represented but it’s all welcome.
You don’t have to dress goth to be goth!!
Some of the most hardcore goths you could ever meet- you have already met, and you just didn’t know it.
The only fake goths are the adversarial dick heads who try to gate-keep and act as if there are rules- and they are blessedly rare- as a subculture of misfits well accustomed to bullying – we look out for each other with open minds and open arms.
Gatekeeping is just ridiculous. Besides, we all know what real Goths look like.
The Paradox Machine 