Five Spotify Playlists I've Been Loving

As usual, I'm about six-thousand years behind everyone else when it comes to new sites to use. For those of you like me who live under a rock, Spotify is a platform for legally streaming music on your PC, phone, or tablet. You can use Spotify for free with some limitations and ads or you can pay a monthly subscription fee and get it ads-free. I was able to get three months of premium which is ads-free for under a dollar so I figured I'd make the most of it and I've been discovering a lot of new music lately.

Gothic Splendor by Record Club - 52 songs, 4 hrs 17 min

"Take a walk on the dark side of new wave, synth pop, post punk and dark wave. Classics from Siouxsie, Joy Division and The Cure alongside more recent gems from The Horrors, White Lies and more." This could also be called quintessential Goth tracks. Not sure where to start with Goth music? This is a good first bet.

Southern Gothic by Spotify - 98 songs, 5 hr 54 min

"Deep, dark, dramatic. Roots rock, folk, and americana -- with a gothic soul." This playlist combines my love of folky music with my love of darker sounds and themes and introduced me to a bunch of new artists, it's what I turn on when I'm lounging and don't want anything too up-beat.

OccultRock.Com by Richie Katz - 274 songs, 23 hr 30 min

It's hard to describe this playlist and there isn't a description on it besides mentioning that it's the playlist for OccultRock.Com, but the music is a mix of every kind of metal with a darker, mystical bent and there's a fair number of bands I've never heard of with more added regularly.

Middle School Alternative by Bronson Kimball - 157 songs, 9 hr 20 min

Ready to take a walk down memory lane? Like many now-Goths I had a phase of listening to a lot of... angsty alternative rock during my early teen years and this playlist has it all with a variety of bands you might recall (or still be fond of, no judgement.

Dark Cabaret by Dondunken - 175 songs, 9 hr 28 min

This playlist has been a lot of fun. Cabaret music in general is playful, a little sexy, and a bit silly, and this dark twist on it makes for a very light-hearted station that appeals to the dark at heart. There are a few old favorites on there, like Voltaire, Rasputina, and Tom Waits, but it's mostly all new to me.

What music have you all been loving lately?

OOTD and Kates Clothing Review

It's too hot for this outfit and I'm too Goth to care.

Blouse: Thrifted

Skirt: Kates Clothing

Jewelry: Various

This outfit was planned around this lovely bow-fronted skirt that was sent to me by the lovely folk over at Kates Clothing for an honest review. The skirt is manufactured by Chic Star and I've owned other Chic Star pieces in the past but this was my first experience with this particular website. Kates Clothing are a UK-based alternative clothing website that host a whole bunch of brands offering most styles of gothic clothing and other alternative looks in different styles. International shipping to here in the US was super quick, which I really appreciated.

The skirt is a fairly simple black pencil skirt with notched top and a decorative flat bow. It rises up under the bust and falls down below the knee (on me, anyway, at 5'7".) There's no boning or structure in the top of the skirt but I was surprised at how well it stood up without unfortunate folding or creasing. The fabric is on the thin side, not enough that it's sheer but if you're wearing bulkier underwear you might end up with a visible panty line, so Spanx or skimpy underwear might be advisable. 

The skirt is closed at the side with a zipper. In the past I've had issues with Chicstar zippers breaking easily but this one seems sturdier and has stood up to a fair bit of wiggling. The skirt runs from a UK8 (XS) to a UK30 (8XL) so there's a size for everyone, which is always really nice and something most goth clothing brands don't cater to.

On one side there is a pleat with three decorative buttons on the side hem, which is a cute little touch.

Style-wise I think this skirt is really versatile. There's nothing about it that screams GOTHIC but that's perfect if you're wanting something that can be worn as part of a corporate Goth outfit or around less-accepting family members. It also lends itself to a retro/vintage pin-up look quite well, so there's a lot you can do with this skirt.

I don't have any real complaints about this skirt, it's a very versatile piece that I'll certainly be wearing a lot and if you're into this kind of feminine pin-up or corp-goth style I'd definitely consider it. The one thing I will say is that it is fairly long and if you're shorter than 5'6" or so you'll probably find yourself with the skirt hitting your mid-calf, which isn't really the intended look. So, this one might be for my taller folk.

If you'd like this skirt for yourself you can find it on Kates Clothing here in straight-size and in plus-size, as well as in a red colorway. Thank you to Kates Clothing again for sending the skirt, I really do love it.

Gothic Gold Decor

Silver and black is Goth's ubiquitous color combination. Everything from classic Goth platform boots to Gothic jewelry and home decor tend to favor metallic tones in the silver, pewter, and nickel range. That's wonderful for me as I've always favored silver accents but lately I've been expanding my horizons and looking into the options that other metallic tones can offer for a Gothic look.

When done right gold is luxe and has a great vintage vibe that I think goes very well with a Gothic decor scheme. Some people think that lots of gold looks tacky so I think the key is to use it subtly. The highlighting on this architectural wall is the perfect place to add just a touch of shimmer, which also helps reflect light to keep a black-painted room from looking too small.

Source.

I'm still as much into minimalist gothic decor with a black and white palette as I was when I wrote my Minimalist Gothic Decor post a while back so the black and white basic color scheme catches my eye a lot here.

Source.

That being said, not everyone is as into that stark look as I am, and I understand that. Gold matches a lot of different colors so you can incorporate whatever accent colors your dark heart desires. Red, purple, dark green, and turquoise pop especially well when paired with gold. Black and gold also goes well with a variety of different styles and motifs. Occult imagery art deco, Greco Roman, and Art Nouveau are the ones I've been most drawn to on my Pinterest board, but Egyptian motifs, Japanese laquorwork, and Medieval decor all often have gold touches.


Follow Mary's board Gothic Gold on Pinterest.



So, readers, do you ever stray outside of the usual silver metallic accents for your Goth looks, decor or fashion wise?

Reader Question: Bending Workplace Dress Codes

Hi, Miss Mary Rose,
I am writing to ask you for your advice. I am part of the Gothic Subculture, while I am happy I am, I Volunteer for a library where I have to wear a t shirt everyday. Is there any way I can incorporate the goth look without breaking the dress code for the volunteers? Thanks
MirithSilverose
Hi Mirith! 

Dress codes can be kind of a pain to work around, especially if you have a uniform of sorts (I assume by t-shirt you mean one provided by the library and not just any t-shirt?) The best way to start is to familiarize yourself with your limitations. If you were given a pamphlet or something that outlines the rules, that's a good thing to familiarize yourself with. If not, speak to your supervisor and ask questions. Some common dress codes might regard high heels, religious iconography, heavy makeup, skirt lengths, facial piercings, covering tattoos, or something similar.

The reason I say this is that having to wear a specific shirt is still pretty flexible as far as dress codes go. You can wear black jeans or trousers with that, or a pretty black skirt. Your shoes can also be a point of gothy interest, though some more than others (creepers or Docs are gothy but still pretty work appropriate while Demonia platforms might not be.)

Generally speaking you can add a Goth-y look to most outfits with accessories. Add bracelets, cuffs, necklaces, hair accessories, or earrings that will Goth up your look. Subtle bat earrings might not be noticed by everyone, but you'll know that they're there adding a little bit of spook to your day. Even if no one notices that you're wearing cute striped socks, you will and it'll help you feel more connected to your Goth side.

If you carry a bag to your work you can add some Goth there as well. Band patches on a fabric backpack, a Gothy tote bag, an interesting purse, etc. are all ways to spook up your outfit that you can then store during the day to keep within your dress code. Whatever you carry in your bag can also be little decorations you might enjoy to add a Goth aspect to your day. If you carry a compact, decorate it with Goth appropriate stickers. If you have to have an umbrella, make it a spider webbed one. Use a Goth themed phone case. Add a Goth keychain or something to your bag.

If all else fails, though, just change your clothes when you get home from volunteering! It's not the end of the world if you can't dress to your spooky heart's content at all hours of the day, so just do it when you can. It won't make you any less of a Goth, promise.

Readers, what are your tips for dressing Goth when you have a dress code?

[Closed] RebelsMarket Ring Giveaway

[THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED]

To celebrate coming back from my unintended hiatus I'm partnering with Rebels Market to give away this lovely titanium skull cluster ring to my followers, part of their skull jewelry collection. Rebels Market is a website that brings together alternative stores to one shop front for you and I to buy from, which is a neat little idea for all of us spooky types looking to browse a wide variety of retailers.

This giveaway is open to anyone in the United States. It will end on July first and I will e-mail you to confirm and then pass your e-mail on to Rebels Market where they will ask for your ring size (8-11US) and mailing address. If you do not respond to me within 48 hours I will contact a new winner.

RebelsMarket Giveaway

Best of luck!

5 Beach Ready Women's Goth Looks

It's now well-past memorial day here in the States which means summer is here and beaches are open. Goths aren't particularly renown for being beach-goers but many of us do, at some point, make the trek out to spend the day with friends or family. But what to wear? Here are five beach ready women's goth looks that I made in Polyvore recently.

First up is a retro, rockabilly inspired look with a pretty red and white polka-dotted swimsuit with a wrap-dress for a cover up. Keeping your hair up with a simple vintage hair wrap will keep it out of your face and help you to avoid the dreaded hair deflating that happens to goths with more elaborate hair styles. I've included a parasol and sunglasses but don't forget your sunscreen! 

Beachware by theeverydaygoth

The next look features the gothest swimsuit I could find (they seem to be generic and a lot of brands stock them, search 'skeleton swimsuit' to find lots of them.) This look also has a black and white striped towel and tote bag for a Beetlejuice inspired look, as well as a sheer chiffon blouse with skulls and shorts to wear as a cover up. The hat will keep the sun off of your face and the back of your neck.

Beachware2 by theeverydaygoth

Finding cute plus-size swimsuits is a royal pain even but it's even worse when you're looking for Gothy styles, still, I like this asymmetrical cut-out black swimsuit and I've paired it with a lace cover-up dress to keep the sun off your skin when you're walking to and from the beach or on the boardwalk. for this look I've included jewelry to up the goth vibe but  remember to take any valuable jewelry off if you decide to wade out into the water, just in case.

Beachware 3 by theeverydaygoth

This look takes a pretty black swimsuit with corset detailing and amps up the Goth with a fun kitschy body-outline towel, skull bag, and skull umbrella. The cover up is a sheer wrap top to let the interesting detailing on the swimsuit show through and black shorts.

Beachware4 by theeverydaygoth featuring a chiffon blouse

Lastly, my favorite look, which is an understated vintage black swimsuit with a semi-sheer coverup dress. A parasol is included, of course, as well as some classic Demonia sandals and a basic black bangle. The towel is coffin shaped which I thought was too perfect, and I absolutely adore these round sunglasses.

Beachware5 by theeverydaygoth

Do you go to the beach? If so, what do you wear?

Reader Mail: Parents Who Don't Get It

Heyllo Mary!My name is Isabelle but most call me Issa. I am 15 years old and just this/last year I've finally realized (more like an acquaintance did) that I am Goth. Long story short: since 5th grade, others have considered me emo & I thought I was myself but I was wrong. After 4 years, that's what I thought I was but it didn't feel right. Then a girl I knew asked me if I considered myself goth (she is goth too). It just hit me. So from then on, I researched the Goth subculture and became even more goth (as best as I can & here is why).My parents think that goth is abnormal, depressing, and just all about wearing black. They don't see the beauty that comes from it, and for me, it's the reason why I have always looked at the world from a much better (& complicated) perspective. At one point I was done being emo and just considered myself in the alternative lifestyle. But the more I read about it and see people who are Goth, I fell in love and knew that this is what I am (& always was, I just didn't know it yet). The thing is, while I don't really know how to be Goth (so I don't look like a poser to others), my parents don't even approve of this lifestyle I have chosen. Besides what they think about it above, overall they think it's silly and a phase that I'll get over because "it's impossible to wear black all your life." I don't know how to make them understand. And yes, I should talk to them but I tried and they keep shutting the idea down. What I found out the best way to do, is to slowly slip a bit of Goth into my daily life. It's my interpretation of them accepting it (for the moment) so what else could I do to be goth while still in the "accepting" zone? I know I can already wear all black clothing, but what else?Also, I have an Instagram @tipsforgoths, because it helps me thinking I'm helping others as well as helping myself. It's more of helping with their appearance at the moment, but it'll get deeper into history and such with time as I learn it too. Anyways, if you checked it out, you're my inspiration at the moment, so I gave you credit for them on my posts. If you don't like it, I'll take them down immediately.Currently, I am on your blog reading things to help me. Sorry for the long letter but I hope you could respond, by post or email, it doesn't matter. (& I haven't seen a post about dealing with non-goth parents so if you already have one up, sorry because I haven't reached it yet). Thank you for your time(: xx Issa

Hello Issa, thanks for writing in.

It sounds like your parents are doing the same things that many people's parents do when they express an interest in the darker side of life: being dismissive of it. In our teenage years this can be pretty difficult to hear, since this is the age that we do a lot of identity-forming, so I understand your frustration. That being said, it really isn't the end of the world.

My advice would be not to make a huge deal about becoming Goth but rather just express it as a part of your personality and let them get used to that. There doesn't need to be a big "coming out" to them, so don't try and worry about that as much.

You may never be able to convince your parents that being a Goth is the "real" you, but you can ask that your parents accept it and not make rude comments about it. Don't act very defensive if, say, you're buying a black dress and your mother asks "Black again? You can't wear all black forever, you know." Rather than responding by saying "Yes, I will, I'm a Goth, it's what we do" you could say something like "Maybe not, but it's what I like right now." By framing your clothing choices as your own personal style decision (just like any teenage girl who goes through an Ugg boots phase) rather than being insistent that this is who you are, you can hopefully avoid that kind of conflict.

As for how you can express your Goth side outside of wearing clothes (which don't actually have to be all black), listening to music is a big first step (I have a Babybat Starter Pack playlist with lots of Goth classics here and there are online radio stations like Cathedral13 you might want to look into.) You can also look for goth-favorites at your local library. Older Gothic works such as Edgar Allan Poe's poetry and short stories and Bram Stoker's Dracula or newer works by Neil Gaiman and Gail Carriger are quite popular. I have a "For-Goths" bookshelf on Goodreads with books I think Goth-y types might like, so be sure to check that out.

Other Goth activities you might be interested in include visiting cemeteries, watching beloved Goth movies (horror and vampire films are a favorite, of course), writing poetry or drawing, blogging, or learning a new DIY technique for your spooky wardrobe. You're a bit young for clubbing (at least in my part of the world) but when you turn 18/21 you might want to look at events in your area.

Readers, how do you deal with unaccepting parents?