Would a 17 year old girl like this or is it cringe?

[StyleSiren]

Bought this for my niece's birthday because she loves animals but now am having second thoughts. She's quite a trendy girl, into goth clothes/makeup etc. Would she be seen dead carrying this? It's weekend bag-sized.

Be really careful with some of the ‘goth bag’ tips on here. As an ex-goth I would never have carried anything with a bat/coffin/‘my bag is as black as my soul’ etc on it. It would have been tacky and the mark of a weekend goth whose mum had dressed them.
Stick to black, leather/suede, maybe with some fringing or silver hardware.

Mine too. And she’s 87.

Older women are just older, not idiots with no taste.

Exactly!

To be completely honest... unless you're very VERY confident that you know the recipient's style I would avoid clothing or accessories as a gift as a general rule - especially with things like bags or coats that would be used frequently. For teen girls I would definitely go for the cash/voucher option and let her pick her own stuff.

I mean I'm 40 and am not particularly fashionable but still I'd only ever really be comfortable with my sister buying me anything to wear or a bag or whatever as her style is similar to mine (just a bit cooler 😅). It was my birthday recently and my aunt has been excitedly telling my mum that she's bought some item of clothing that's 'just perfect for Andoutcomethewolves' and 'she'll love it!'. I'm dreading having to fake gratitude and joy when I see her and get the gift at the weekend 😬

You obviously bought it because something about it made you think of your niece. I'd give it to her. Worst case scenario, she'll use it as a storage bag and shove it under the bed.

Yeah mine is 79 and wouldn't be seen dead with this, she was/is a full on flower child hippy type and is probably still cooler than I've ever been!

Exactly this. People have seen the word Goth and jumped to a conclusion about what it means for this specific unseen individual. I might as well stick a link for a Laura Ashley handbag up and suggest that would be the perfect gift.

Does she want a surprise?

My then Goth/Rock Chick DD wanted a proper Dc Martin satchel. Her clothes were from EMP and independent shops. My sister likes to surprise, but it's always a wasted present.

Thank God someone said it 🙏

Exactly this! I’m a 27 year old alt female, been in the goth phase when I was you ber and and I’m still very much alternative, and I agree with this, quite a lot of those themed bags would be considered quite cringe.

I personally L O V E this bag, especially as an overnight bag, looks spacious, print is cute, a lot of my alt friends/hippie friends etc would love it as it’s a bit ‘out there’ and it’d be hard to lose. In terms of being trendy, funnily enough the kitsch bright themes tend to be pretty in fashion at the moment. Especially amoung the alt community. I think it’s super cute. I have friends in the alt community (inc goth girlies) who use Squishmallow bags at 30 😂

Spot on! I instantly thought "nappy bag" when I saw it.

@StyleSiren my DD is 17 and not full on
goth but in that direction, she likes Disturbia and All Saints, maybe a voucher from All Saints they are more expensive but a voucher could go towards something she really liked and their sales are pretty good.

That animal motif is quite on trend ime but on black/in a more subtle way than that bag.

The disturbia website seems to have some nice things but everything else on here is not at all appropriate for a trendy 17yr old goth.

Absolutely not a bat or coffin shaped bag and absolutely not nemesis now.

The bag you've posted could be hit or miss. As evidenced by this thread. And without knowing her we can't tell you. She will probably have quite a distinct view of what she considers her style and identity and we can't really guess that based off her being goth. So unless you know it's something she wants I would probably give a voucher and a token gift

P.S. I was a bit "alt" at 17 and would have been absolutely thrilled with this.

My DD 17 is currently using a corduroy tote from Urban Outfitters

The colour scheme for goths is kind of obvious..

Failing eyesight

If she flies, I would get her a good plain 4 wheel cabin suitcase. They are so so useful and beyond a teen budget. Otherwise a fairly plain duffel type weekend bag, the kind that gets better with age. Forgotten the (American ?) brand but they sell them in John Lewis, I think.

“She's quite a trendy girl, into goth clothes/makeup etc.”

Do you know what a goth wears? lol. Does she wear goth clothes and make up all the time or just occasionally? If it’s all the time then I can’t imagine she’d use this however it’s hard to say what someone’s tastes are when we don’t know them

That very much depends on the aesthetic of the person

I was a 17 year old goth girl a long time ago and I'm sorry but I wouldn't like that. At that age I was making bags for myself from old denim or using vintage leather bags (if you have an old leather bag that is pretty worn and beaten up, she might love that as something she can customise with scarves and safety pins).

I would never have liked something like that, be it clothing or an accessory. I think you may not get a good reaction.

I do genuinely mean this with love @StyleSiren but I think this looks a bit tacky so would only really see a tween use it! If she’s a goth/alt, she might like something from Disturbia, Killstar or Minga London? Minga isn’t necessarily just goth/alt stuff

If she's goth, take a look at Disturbia for her www.disturbia.co.uk/