Trad Goth
aka Traditional Goth, 80s Goth, Classic Goth
"Death is beautiful, darkness is home"
The original gothic subculture aesthetic from the 1980s, featuring all-black clothing, dramatic makeup, and post-punk sensibilities.
Atmosphere
The sensory world of Trad Goth
Goth clubs, vinyl shops, graveyards, underground shows, smoke-filled venues, nocturnal living
Philosophy
Darkness over light. Death is natural. Beauty in morbidity. Music is identity.
Who Lives Here
The character archetypes that embody Trad Goth
The Goth
The Dark Romantic
The Post-Punk
The Night Creature
What It Rejects
Trad Goth exists in opposition to:
Bright colors
Mainstream culture
Daytime
Cheerfulness
Daily Rituals
The practices and behaviors that define this way of living
Club nights
Band shows
Cemetery walks
Dramatic makeup
Vinyl collecting
Origin
Emerged from UK post-punk music scene in late 1970s-early 1980s through bands like Siouxsie and the Banshees and Bauhaus.
Era
1979-Present
Regions
UK, US, Germany, Global goth scenes
Trend Score
Key Elements
Key Garments
- •Band tees
- •Leather jackets
- •Fishnet
- •Doc Martens
- •Teased hair
- •Heavy eyeliner
- •Black clothing
- •Crosses
Silhouettes
- •Dramatic
- •Punk-influenced
- •All-black
Color Palette
Uncompromising blackness
Primary Colors
Secondary Colors
Accent Colors
Key Brands
Materials
Cultural Context
Post-punk music scene, embracing darkness and death as aesthetic, outsider culture, and anti-mainstream rebellion.