World Goth Day is coming this weekend! This Sunday, May 22nd to be exact.
As the resident goth on the Indy100 Wishlist, I feel it is my personal duty to tell readers that the subculture is still thriving, still inspiring everything from high fashion to fast fashion today, and is still producing some of the best music out there around the globe. Terrestrial – Just think of the meteoric rise of Russian band Molchat Doma thanks to their infectious tunes that spread across Tiktok. If that wasn’t enough, check out this primer I wrote a few years ago about other modern stars of this genre for more.
You don’t have to be an expert in the unpublished B sides of Joy Division or Victorian mourning clothes to participate, though. It’s easy to incorporate romantic, lush, gothic elements of elegance and décor into your home and wardrobe that inspire your darling without overwhelming your most sensitive feelings. Below, I’ve handpicked the pieces that are more than worth wearing and showing off Adams familyA damp dwelling but can also give a mild advantage to a person with a passing curiosity in the subculture.
If this catches your eye, put on a Bauhaus log, swipe on thick black eyeliner, and plan a picnic at your local cemetery to celebrate the holiday. And browse through these fun products that let you relive the gothic phase of high school or start from scratch.
bikini cover up
venkate
bikini cover up
It’s almost hard to make World Goth Day a fully-fledged day with the onset of summer, but even a vampire can enjoy a trip to the beach with this lacy cover-up. Throw it over a black bikini and layer it over voluminous shades to complete a beach ghoul day.
venkate
Hampton 15.7″ Metal Tabletop Candlestick
Hampton
15.7″ Metal Tabletop Candlestick
You may have a goth a housebut it’s not really gothic Homepage So add the candlestick. Go with something modern and chic like this black tabletop model from Wayfair that weighs 1.7 pounds strong and holds five taper candles.
Hampton
Steve Madden Slink Black
Steve Madden
slink black
We’ve elevated the classic smooth black Steve Madden sandal, a style we’ve been loving again for a few years now. Goths are known for their love of platforms, and it’s just because they tick all the boxes thanks to being black, tall, and easy to walk on – perfect for a stroll through the cemetery.
Steve Madden
ram skull table lamp
blackening of the teeth
ram skull table lamp
The lines between heavy metal images and Gothic images are often blurred, if not crisscrossed in one large cultural pentagram. Enjoy mixing these styles with this mildly ominous yet stunning ram skull lamp handcrafted with customizable touches like matte or glossy lacquer and gold, copper or white interior fabric for shade.
blackening of the teeth
Stratton Home Décor Stratton Home Decor Black Baroque Wall Mirror
Stratton home decor
Baroque black wall mirror
You’ll want something trendy to hang near your door so you can make sure you don’t smudge your black lipstick on your way out for a night of dancing, so consider this baroque-inspired mirror that adds a chic, dark touch to any decor scheme and provides the perfect photo opportunity. Subjective to you and your guests.
Stratton home decor
Black No. 1 (rosewood + suede)
Burke and Her
Black No. 1 (rosewood + suede)
When it comes to gothic thrills, no one beats the late Peter Steele’s deepest, Draculaian singing a song like one of their biggest hits “Black No 1.” An inviting and sexy tone is beautifully reflected in this elegant candle, perfect for providing ambient lighting and an intoxicating scent the next time you decide to host a romantic evening at home.
Burke and Her
Blood Flower Color Nectar Tincture Conditioner
Ritwell de Ville
Pigment nectar balm
If you’re going to name your product after an album by The Cure, you’d better make it goth-friendly…and Ritwill de Ville did. The entire brand is rooted in romantic, hypnotic, and esoteric images, so naturally, this shimmery and bloody tinted moisturizer will reverse those dark circles when applied anywhere and everywhere (works on eyes, lips, and cheeks evenly) as you’re ready for the day.
Ritwell de Ville
gothic cathedral bag
restyling
gothic cathedral bag
A boring black handbag is for those under the spell, so take the boring part, add dramatic cathedral windows, and enjoy the tragic romance of a gothic scene adorned with patent vegan leather on the next piece of art you can carry.
restyling
Ussry ceramic pot planter
Al Mutawa Studio
Ussry ceramic pot planter
nothing says Morey’s souvenir Just like the image of a human skull. Give your home a soothing reminder of mortality by growing new life (like plants) within the harbinger of death itself when you order this awesome skull planter.
Al Mutawa Studio
Heavenly Bodies: The Amazing Treasures of Worship and Saints from the Catacombs
Paul Kodonaris
Heavenly Bodies: The Amazing Treasures of Worship and Saints from the Catacombs
Religious icons are as vital to Gothic culture as the Sisters of Mercy, no matter how much Andrew Eldrich denies the inclinations of his fans. Invite your guests to browse this adorable coffee table book that shows off the fascinating treasures of catacombs from around the world in stunning detail, then discuss your favorite bejeweled skulls over a glass of red wine (we might suggest Apothic) or absinthe.
Paul Kodonaris
Moon and star print ruffled hem dress
Emery Rose
Moon and star print ruffled hem dress
Not ready to go all Siouxsie Sioux? Dip your toes into the gothic waters with a flowy, star-studded dress that exudes all the magic of the night without the dark elements of gothic culture.
Emery Rose
Boy de Chanel nail polish
Chanel
Boy de Chanel nail polish
It’s jet black, completely matte, and the only color you’ll want to wear when you’re in one of your bored moods.
Chanel
