Around the globe, people produce about 100 to 150 billion pieces of clothing annually. There are a lot of options to choose from, so understanding various aesthetics and creating cohesive looks is more challenging than ever before. Luckily, though, it’s also more fun!
Gothic jewelry is one of the best ways to express yourself through fashion. It gives you a dark and mysterious edge that’s sure to make people interested in getting to know you. Read on to learn how you can make a statement with Gothic necklaces, rings, and more.
Understand the Gothic Aesthetic
The term “Gothic” first came into play in the 1500s. It was originally a pejorative term for things that were grotesque, barbaric, and destructive looking. Over time, though, it came to describe a popular aesthetic for dark and mysterious art and architecture.
By the late 1700s, Gothic art and literature were extremely popular. Gothic paintings and sketches featured archlike shapes and dark colors. Books about haunted buildings with pointy arches and spires became popular, including The Castle of Otranto and the widely-knownWuthering Heights.
Today, people often wear clothing and accessories that draw inspiration from the vibes that these art and books exude. Dark Academia is a really popular Gothic aesthetic that draws on shadowy architecture, rainy feelings, the arts, and higher education.
The Basics of Wearing Gothic Jewelry
Before you choose Gothic jewelry, it’s important to know the core characteristics of Goth fashion. You’ll want to:
- Wear mostly black clothes
- Avoid light-hued accents and instead create pops of color from maroon, blood red, silver, pearly white, royal blue, dark purple, and emerald green
- Draw inspiration from vintage clothing’s laces and skirts
- Consider getting a fashionable corset with a lot of lace and strings
- Embellish with embroidered accents and architectural shapes
- Emphasize Gothic jewelry and accessories in every outfit
Of course, because Gothic fashion so heavily leans on jewelry and similar accessories, it’s important that you get jewelry that works with the aesthetic.
Choose the Right Jewelry Colors
If you’re trying to be Goth, it’s not the time to try on rose gold necklaces or bright pastel rings. Instead, you’ll want to use simple metals like yellow-gold or sterling silver. Platinum is always a winning metal.
The best Gothic outfits use black metals or black-painted pieces to spruce up their style. Many of these pieces will contain stones in rich, deep colors like sapphire or ruby.
Don’t Be Dainty
While small, dainty, subtle pieces work wonders for a Light Academia aesthetic, they won’t get you very far when you’re trying to look Goth. Because Gothic vibes are so bold and brash, jewelry generally consists of large, chunky pieces.
Long, thick dagger-like earrings are an awesome choice. You might want to pair them with big spider motif rings or enormous skull necklaces. Chokers are also a big deal in Gothic fashion, especially those made from thick leather or wide lace ribbons.
The bottom line is that a true Goth wants to be noticed and thought of as boldly awesome. Don’t settle for anything less.
Use Common Gothic Motifs
One of the reasons that Gothic jewelry found here is chunkier is because of the motifs and themes that the aesthetic lends itself to. You’ll want to incorporate dark symbolism into your Gothic outfits, including:
- Skulls
- Spiders (and other insects)
- Dragons
- Bats
- Crucifixes
- Thorny roses
- Dragons
- Snakes
These are darker motifs that other styles use. Think of nocturnal animals, predators, and things that go bump in the night. Anything involving graveyards or morbid imagery is also almost always a safe bet.
Experiment With Piercings
If you love Goth style and want to make it a permanent part of your wardrobe, there’s no better way to spruce things up than with piercings. In fact, the Gothic style necessitates earrings and heavily encourages nose piercings.
If you’re not comfortable with these body modifications, that’s okay! You can use clip-ons, magnetic earrings, or fake nose rings. There are no hard-and-fast rules here, and you should only do what feels right to you.
Regardless of whether you want piercings or clip-ons, long earrings are a good bet. They should include the same motifs as other Gothic jewelry and stand out heavily.
You also might want to consider a dragon or snake ear cuff along the shell of your ear. Chains that go from a cartilage piercing down to your earlobe are also a great choice, especially when paired with a delicate lacy ribbon choker or softer rose motifs.
Gothic fashion enthusiasts also frequently have septum piercings (or fake septum rings, if you prefer). This spot between your nostrils is the perfect place for a simple black ring that draws together any darkly beautiful outfit. It’s also the one place where you can opt for minimalism and subtlety and still make a loud statement.
Pair With Other Accessories
Jewelry isn’t the only accessory type that can make a Gothic outfit stand out. You’ll want to pair it with other accessories that feel like a throwback to the Victorian era.
Lacy gloves are definitely something to consider. They’re especially great if they’re elbow length and you pair them with short sleeves. Gloves also give you the chance to show off necklaces and piercings without detracting attention away from them and toward bracelets and rings.
Create a Gothic Outfit Today
Since fashion is such an important part of self-expression, it’s important that you use style to make a statement. Now that you know how to wear gothic jewelry in a way that represents you, it’s time to start putting together some bang-up outfits that you’re sure to love.
Check out the “fashion” section of our home page for more info on what you can wear with your fave gothic styles. You also might be interested in the “lifestyle” tab if you want to learn about all things goth.