Grown-up alt kids, what is your style now?

[LongLiveGoblingKing]

As a yoof my style was alternative. Gothy greb.

I'm now a mother of two in my 30s and feeling a bit lost when it comes to my personal style. I want to create a Pinterest board of inspiration so I can begin curating ideas, but I actually don't know what I want my style to be.

Looking for 'outfits for women in their 30s' throws up mainly preppy looks, which I don't think is me. Then again, I don't want to be really gothic or punk or anything. I think I want smart and sophisticated with a nod to my alternative past, but what is that even called?

So please tell me what your style is and what it might be called, I need inspiration!

@ThatOtherPoster

I was a Goth from 15-25. I’m 50 now (somehow!). Throughout my life I’ve drifted away from Gothy styles, and ended up more glamorous. But now I’m 50, I’m finding I am drawn towards Gothy stuff again. Slightly. I don’t want to look like I sleep in a coffin these days, but I still love chunky silver jewellery, distressed jumpers, black boots, silver buckles, etc. Still love loads of eye make up.

In my 30s I thought I’d completely lost my Gothy look but I made a new friend and she said she’d spotted it straight away.

Are you me?!

I abandoned the gothness in my 30s too but now I'm all old I've come back to it. Perhaps it's part of the wonderful not giving a fuck side of getting older!

I used to have a friend who identified the phenomenon of 'Once A Goth, Always A Goth'. Basically she said that it doesn't matter how conservatively you think you dress in your post-goth years, there's always a tell. Hair a shade too dark, eyeliner flicks a little too dramatic, shoes a little bit pointier than is strictly fashionable... She was absolutely correct. And even in my normie years I was still definitely Once A Goth

@Medusasbadhairday are you me? This is exactly my style. Plus red lip stain, loose black/gingham smock-style tops, skinny black jeans, mutli-buckle black leather biker boots and a HELL of a lot of leopard print.

Plus, my recent indulgence - a pair of Adele Mildred vampire-bat inspired sunglasses. The kids in my class tell me I look like a 'vampire rockstar' and I could not be happier.

I love this thread. It's like the corner of the shopping centre/behind the science block/Tuesday goth club night where all the cool kids hang out.

I have an urge to listen to Sisters of Mercy, drink cheap cider and spark up a Sobranie black Russian cigarette

Since wider leg jeans came back I've basically embraced the 00s again.

Vans do chinos - that's smart enough! Better quality than "officey" shops too.

Plaid shirts are a staple. Boots.

Fat Face used to be quite surf/outdoorsy, and White Stuff used to be boho/quirky. Both now a bit Boden. I still pick bits and bobs from the surf brands as, aside from the branded stuff, there's good basics there.

Might not do blue/lilac hair now but a balayage at a decent salon can give a two-colour mix that still looks really different.

Just been listening to the Sisters…

I'm 48 and was an indie chick/goth in the 80s and 90s.

I still wear black, but with touches like 60s scarves, silver jewellery etc.
I'm growing out my grey so rocking alt hair again.

etsy.me/2dOBvEN

[quote DiscoStusMoonboots]@Medusasbadhairday are you me? This is exactly my style. Plus red lip stain, loose black/gingham smock-style tops, skinny black jeans, mutli-buckle black leather biker boots and a HELL of a lot of leopard print.

Plus, my recent indulgence - a pair of Adele Mildred vampire-bat inspired sunglasses. The kids in my class tell me I look like a 'vampire rockstar' and I could not be happier.[/quote]
I have to confess to still wearing chunky biker style boots with my pretty vintage dresses 😂

Skinny jeans were never my thing, and sadly I don't think I can still pull off the skintight leather look trousers of my youth. So it's dresses/ skirts all the time for me.

I agree with the PP that you never quite lose the goth tells, even when you think you are dressing normally.

I used to wear acid rave/punk stuff and these days have a very pared back style - loose denim jeans or straight-leg black trousers, white cotton t-shirts or linen shirts and boots or trainers. But I still like a really bright slash of yellow, red or tartan.

@TheVampiresWife I recently got ‘ain’t no punk like an old punk’ at a ‘guess things about this person you’ve just met’ session which made me laugh! (I am also considering selling an organ for one of your namesake’s dresses - bigod they’re gorgeous).

Joe Browns?

@Slothkin

I used to wear acid rave/punk stuff and these days have a very pared back style - loose denim jeans or straight-leg black trousers, white cotton t-shirts or linen shirts and boots or trainers. But I still like a really bright slash of yellow, red or tartan.

@TheVampiresWife I recently got ‘ain’t no punk like an old punk’ at a ‘guess things about this person you’ve just met’ session which made me laugh! (I am also considering selling an organ for one of your namesake’s dresses - bigod they’re gorgeous).

I'd sell DH for one tbh.

Posting to come back to this, as I was also a gothy greb and have lost my way since getting older and especially having a child. My style can now be described as 'comfy and mostly black'. Sigh.

My child is now 2.5 and I'm feeling the stirrings of getting back to looking how I want to look.

I love the idea that you can always spot a goth :D I like to spot us at conferences (in the BeforeTimes) - I always know I'll get on with them.

I always know I'll get on with them.

Yes! Goths are always lovely. Surprisingly down to earth for people who wanted to be vampires in their teens. 😆

Another here that was a goth/punk /art alt in my youth.

Am 30 now and lean into dark academia /cottagecore /fairy core with the odd slightly more subtle but definitely still goth piece thrown in (black fur collar knee length pea coat for example in winter, black and white striped sun dress with black sandals and black floppy hat in summer)

@ThatOtherPoster

I always know I'll get on with them.

Yes! Goths are always lovely. Surprisingly down to earth for people who wanted to be vampires in their teens. 😆

I never actually wanted to drink blood, just to look like I might.

I'm just here to say thank you for the introduction to dark academia. so so much more fun than actual academia!

@TheVampiresWife ah I can’t possibly sell DH because he’s the teen goth in our relationship - and every metalhead needs a cute goth!

@Slothkin I'm the goth to my metalhead DP His hair is longer than mine, though sadly sliding backwards...

[quote BobbinThreadbare123]@MyFloorIsLava there is a leather goods shop inside the Liverpool Central station concourse. It's been going a very long time and I used to go in there for my stuff, till I moved away. Also a big alternative collective called Quiggins which is sadly gone.[/quote]
The leather shop is, also long gone. Quiggins was such a loss.

I've found my people!

Same here, 30s now with kids. Alt kid back in the day. I dont want to look full on flouncey goth, studded punk, or baggy jeans mosher but I do still want to look vaguely "alternative".

I tend to wear a lot of black, docs and converse for shoes and my faithful biker jacket. Maybe skinny jeans are out, but they can pry them from my cold dead hands.

Shop wise, I tend to get stuff from EMP, collectif, vive maria, hell bunny.

Carolina dress room have some cool prints, but i wish they did tops as i find the leggings and dresses a bit too much of a good thing pattern wise.

I've never heard of "dark academia" I'm going to check that out!

@Bbq1 it was still open last time I went, probably year before last. Wonder if the pandemic made the chap who ran it think of retirement!

@whatswithtodaytoday the cake-cutting photo has my DH immaculate in silk waistcoat and tie and me a sweaty mess in a band shirt and shorts, having been teaching my new FiL how to headbang 😆

Religion do nice clothes for the retired Goth. It’s a weird mix - some stuff is very normal, other stuff more quirky. But when I saw their shop in Brighton, it was like discovering my spiritual home. I’d gone down with my husband to visit a shop he wanted, but elbowed him aside to get to Religion.

My style as a teen was definitely more sexy punk than goth, lots of tartan mini skirts and fishnets.
Now it depends where in the world I am. When I'm backpacking I dress pretty casual and Boho. Lots of floaty barely there dresses.
Back in England, when I'm not wearing gym gear, my style leans more towards alt/edgy biker girl with a chic twist. Lots of leather and lace, chunky boots, big sunglasses...