American Gothic

Gothic style: pointed arches, flying buttresses, rosette windows... metal studs and a fascination with the color black? You see, I've never understood modern American "Goth" style- not the neo-Gothic look that some churches go for, but the kind of Gothic that you see lurking around in high schools. It simply doesn't make any sense. The name of your style should match your style, at least then people what accurately know what you are channeling.

Where exactly do modern Goths (MG from here on out) get their inspiration from? I have trouble envisioning any stylistic connection between them and the Medieval Gothic style. Pointed arches? Nope. Flying buttresses? Also nope. Rosette windows? Still nope. Now don't tell me that its not a fair comparison because those are architectural elements and MG is mostly a style of dress; fashion can take architectural inspiration (haven't you ever watched Project Runway?).

So if theire not getting their inspiration from Gothic architecture, perhaps MGs are channeling something earlier, like the Visigoths or the Ostrogoths. However, I'm not really thinking that is true. For instance, Ostro- and Visigoths are more into natural fibers (like wool and fur) in natural colors (like brown), and I don't think they did much in the way of spikes and chains (I could be wrong- 14th century Scottish Highlanders wore leather armor with steel studs, but then again, they're MG not Modern Highlanders).

The most confusing thing of all are MG shoes. Big, heavy black boots, generally on the taller side, with lots of laces. Definitely not Medieval. In fact, its either a nod towards 80s glam rock or 90s Doc Martens. Sorry guys.

So, what are MGs channeling if it isn't the Gothic style? Well, having done some pretty in-depth googling, I think that some of them are going for more of an extreme Victorian look (the VMGs are mostly ladies, and have a thing for lace, fitted jackets, parisols, etc.) I may just be confusing VMG with Steampunk, which is something else...I think. Other than that, I don't know what the MGs are channeling stylistically. Maybe the 90s? Then again, maybe that's because MG first came around in the 90s? Oh I don't know.