If you used to be ‘alternative’

[Sleepyhungryfattyanddoc]

What do you wear now?

As a teen / early 20s I liked lots of black, lots of ‘gothic’emo looks. As I got older I obviously moved away from it
But now my look is just blah and doesn’t feel like me at all. I never have an outfit to put on that I actually like or feel great in, just ‘ok’ at best
I’m sick of never feeling good or excited about my outfit, or just feeling like ‘me’

I’m obviously older and a mum, I don’t want to be dressing head to toe ‘goth’ but I don’t know how to find what my slightly more ‘sophisticated’ look may be

Just had a Google of dark academia and I am loving this look. I love how there are so many named looks these days - I would be in my element if I was younger!

I also like the way Cate Blanchett dressed in Oceans 8. Very rock chick.

What about Nasty Gal, OP?

Have a look at Little Wings and Elsie's Attic for slightly different patterns and a good selection of dark colours. I used to like a few bits from Joe Browns but it's so twee now.

Ooh and Disturbia

There are lots of brands on EMP but my fav are their own brands Black Premium and Red (more street style).

I wear DMs most of the time (boots, Mary Janes for work and Blaire sandals in the summer). I like shift dresses and dungarees. (33 yo mum/secondary school teacher). X

Some great suggestions here. Following.

This is the ultimate goal...

https://instagram.com/sammijefcoate?utmmedium=copyy_link

@JaninesEyePatch
You can. But I’ve said a few times I don’t want to dress how I did 10-20 years ago. I want to update my look to something more mature and practical and less dramatic - just a bit more interesting than it currently is.
If other people want to dress exactly how they did at 16 that’s fine, they can.

@daisyjgrey

This is the ultimate goal...

[[https://instagram.com/sammijefcoate?utm]]medium=copyy_link

Wow yes! This has taken me down a Pinterest rabbit hole now

I was an indie girl back in the day, bit pf 60s etc.

I'm 48 now and lost my style for a long time when the kids were small.

Now, I generally wear black dresses and black tights (h&m) funky scarves, hairbands, stand out jewellery, denim, velvet, bright lippy etc.

I'm growing out my grey and for the first time in years feel like I stand out again. It feels edgy! I was lost in a sea of dodgy beige dyed hair and boring clothes for ages.

I've always been curvy and short snd was never suited to skinnies and stripey/band tees (which I love) but my style icons were the likes of Tracey out of The Primitives, Belly etc. I don't wear trousers but black tights, bangles and boots have been my staples for years!

We still go to lots of gigs snd festivals. Kids are teens so it's much easier.

Don't lose your identity. Don't conform to what society expects "middle aged moms" to be. It took me a while to feel comfortable again, but I think I'm there.

When I was a skinny goth in the early 80s, I would wear teeny tiny leather mini skirts and things like lacy, see-through blouses with no bra on underneath. Or just a long t-shirt as a dress.

I am now late 50s and quite overweight. I would get arrested if I dressed like that now .

I have grey hair, sleek shoulder length Bob, geek glasses, 80s Casio digital watch.

@OooPourUsACupLove you sound really cool .

I updated my look a while ago. The furthest I could go was jeans and some nice t shirts, blouses. I felt so fake and uncomfortable I ended up sticking with the jeans but having more t shirts that I actually felt more comfortable in. I like the stuff from spiral.
I keep the "nice" t shirts for the occasions where my other ones wouldn't be appropriate.

My ds came home today and said to me "really? That's what you're wearing?" A t shirt of a ufo abducting someone lol

I'd still prefer to wear some nice cargo trousers but finding decent ones for my size isn't easy. I'm 5'1 and a size 4-6 if anybody knows of anywhere please let me know!

My ds came home today and said to me "really? That's what you're wearing?" A t shirt of a ufo abducting someone lol.

Brilliant !

I have statement glasses and try to wear bright colourful clothes, mostly secondhand. I'm much more conservative than I used to be though. My hair is all natural colour now, whereas it most certainly wasn't in my teens.
Do you get Gorman in the UK? They have great clothes. Stylish and not too generic.

I probably dress more like a teen now than when I was younger. For me I express myself most through accessories, quirky jewellery, bags, boots etc. Small details really change an outfit and also how I feel.

Well, generic if you live in Sydney's posher suburbs but not generic if you live anywhere else.

[quote Sleepyhungryfattyanddoc]@JaninesEyePatch
You can. But I’ve said a few times I don’t want to dress how I did 10-20 years ago. I want to update my look to something more mature and practical and less dramatic - just a bit more interesting than it currently is.
If other people want to dress exactly how they did at 16 that’s fine, they can.[/quote]
Sorry I wrote my initial comment before id read all your other replies - that'll teach me!

@malificent7

Why cant you dress like a Goth just because you're a mum?

The ageing goth is a bad look. It means you haven’t changed at all with the times.

I haven’t bought from them, but another store to have a look at is Little Lies. As the name suggests, their range is inspired by the look of Stevie Nicks. They have some nice stuff.

little-lies.com/

Buy really good quality well fitting basics - jeans, leggings, tees etc in neutral colours that suit and then add one thing to every outfit that has some edge to it - a belt or jacket or blazer or boots, and some interesting jewellery. That will give make your look feel more 'you.'

@SugarHouse1

I have grey hair, sleek shoulder length Bob, geek glasses, 80s Casio digital watch.

@OooPourUsACupLove you sound really cool .

I'm afraid that was @elQuintoConyo not me!

(I am really cool anyway though )

It's interesting how many of us have natural grey. @Silverparting mentioned having grey hair makes her feel edgy again and I know what she means. I wonder if that's how us older alt types are rebelling now!

I realised last night I forgot to mention my most alternative accessory: DH is still stick thin with long hair, so when I'm out with him I'm put back in the alt box!

I’ve gone in another direction and embraced minimalism. To me Goth was about style and looking different.

I don’t wear any prints, or even any black! I wear stuff from Arket and Cos.