Of Goths and Makeovers

A few things have been bothering me as of late, it has to do with making over goths, and yes, I do believe I feel a slight rant coming on.  

A lovely picture of a goth, from Wikipedia

A lot of you are probably familiar with shows like What Not To Wear, or How Do I Look.  If you're not, then I'll give you a quick synapse of what the shows are about:

What Not To Wear and How Do I Look are both makeover shows (hence the tittle of this entry), who give makeovers to those who are fashionably challenged, as well as those who 'give up' on fashion.  Usually the 'fashion victim's' family will nominate them, and tell the hosts how horrendous the victim's fashion is.  Sometimes the hosts of these shows have some good fashion advice, like dress according to your body type, or a nice belt can help create a nice hourglass shape.  The hosts will then turn to say some pretty crude comments about the fashion victim's style, making fun of the people who they're suppose to be helping (I suppose the quickest way to get someone to stop doing something, is to make fun of them, but I feel that is beyond rude, even for the right reasons).  There is a difference between wanting to change your fashion choices, and being forced to change, which I feel that the people who are nominated are being forced to change.  If someone wanted the help with their fashion crisis, then I say go for it, because it's wanted change, instead of forced change. 

Now, what does this have to do with goth?  Both shows have featured punks, goths, and alternative people who 'looks scary, and are in need of a makeover'.  We know that non goths don't have a great opinion about goths, and subcultures alike.  We are very much aware that mainstream likes to put everything in boxes, even if the stereotypes are true or not.  It amazes me that the hosts of these shows try to rationalize why someone wishes to dress alternative, and give some sort of psychoanalysis, because we know that people don't wear alternative fashion because they like it, there has to be something wrong with them psychologically to want to wear it *rolls eyes*.  

Like many non goths, the hosts think that either someone is 'still in their goth phase', or they think that the person doesn't feel attractive, and pick at their insecurities, just to make the person that they are trying to help, admit that they have self image issues.  Again, making fun of someone until they change their fashion style, so they can be accepted within mainstream society, isn't a very productive way to go about it.  If anything, it makes the person feel worse about themselves, and feel like they have to do what they can to fit in, sort of like high school.  

I understand that not everyone will accept alternative subcultures fully, and there will always be criticism everywhere you go, but is it possible to have high self-esteem, and confidence, eventhough one is goth?  I personally believe it's possible.  As long as one is happy with what they're wearing, and one knows how to dress for the occasion, I don't see a problem with someone being goth, and therefor, don't think that they need a makeover, unless they really want to change something about their wardrobe.  They key word being want, and not have change forced upon them by family members who thinking that the person has to change, just to fit in.