Guide
Types of Goth: A Guide to Goth Subcultures & Styles
Goth isn't one look — it's a family of subcultures with decades of music, fashion, and attitude behind them. Here's a friendly overview of the most recognizable styles, from the original Trad Goths of the late 70s to today's Nu-Goth and Pastel Goth scenes.
Trad Goth
Late 1970s – 1980s
The original. Post-punk roots, dramatic and unmistakably gothic.
- Fashion
- Fishnets, leather jackets, band tees, big teased hair, silver jewelry, pointed boots.
- Music
- Bauhaus, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Sisters of Mercy, The Cure.
- Makeup
- Pale skin, heavy black eyeliner, dark lips, sharp winged liner.
Romantic Goth
1990s – today
Soft, poetic, melancholic. Beauty in sorrow, candlelight and roses.
- Fashion
- Velvet, lace, corsets, flowing skirts, capes, cameos, deep reds and purples.
- Music
- Dead Can Dance, Faith and the Muse, Lycia, Cocteau Twins.
- Makeup
- Rose-tinted lips, soft smoky eyes, natural pale base.
Victorian Goth
1990s revival of 19th-century aesthetic
Historical, elegant, mourning fashion turned every day.
- Fashion
- High-neck blouses, bustle skirts, top hats, parasols, cameos, lockets, gloves.
- Music
- Neoclassical darkwave, Rasputina, Sopor Aeternus.
- Makeup
- Pale porcelain skin, subtle dark lip, defined brows.
Mall Goth
Late 1990s – early 2000s
Nu-metal era teenage goth. Loud, chunky, unapologetic.
- Fashion
- Baggy JNCO-style jeans, band tees (Slipknot, KoRn, MCR), studded belts, Tripp pants, chunky boots.
- Music
- Marilyn Manson, Evanescence, My Chemical Romance, KoRn.
- Makeup
- Black lipstick, thick eyeliner, colored streaks in the hair.
Nu-Goth
2010s – today
Modern, minimal, occult-inspired. Instagram-friendly darkness.
- Fashion
- All black basics, wide-brim hats, pentagram jewelry, sheer fabrics, platform boots.
- Music
- Chelsea Wolfe, Zola Jesus, Cold Cave.
- Makeup
- Matte black lips, sharp contour, minimalist eye.
Cyber Goth
Late 1990s – 2000s
Rave meets goth. Neon, futuristic, high-energy.
- Fashion
- Neon dreadfalls, PVC, goggles, platform boots, UV-reactive accessories.
- Music
- EBM, aggrotech, industrial — VNV Nation, Combichrist.
- Makeup
- Bright neon eyeshadow, sharp graphic liner, black base.
Pastel Goth
2010s – today
Soft palette, dark motifs. Cute meets creepy.
- Fashion
- Pastel pink and lavender hair, crosses and bats on baby-blue tees, platform shoes.
- Music
- Crystal Castles, Grimes, witch house.
- Makeup
- Pastel eyeshadow, glossy lips, occasional black accents.
Gothic Lolita
Japanese street style, 1990s – today
Doll-like elegance with a dark twist.
- Fashion
- Knee-length bell skirts, bloomers, blouses with lace, headdresses, Mary Janes.
- Music
- Malice Mizer, Moi dix Mois, Kanon Wakeshima.
- Makeup
- Doll-like round eyes, soft base, deep lip.
Finding your style
You don't have to pick one. Most people in the scene mix pieces — a Romantic Goth velvet dress with Trad Goth boots, or Nu-Goth minimalism with a Victorian cameo. Start with the music you love, borrow from the wardrobes that call to you, and let your look evolve.