Things I wish I knew when I was a baby bat

Looking back at our baby bat years, we often think of who our former selves were, and how we acted.  I'm sure that we all have some funny stories about either a fashion mistake, among other things (I know I have a few).  Part of being a baby bat, means that you're just getting into the goth scene, and eventually, you'll evolve, but for right now, you're going to make tons of mistakes.  However, there are just some mistakes we make as baby bats that we wish we could avoid, instead of climbing up from the deep pitfalls.  I know that I made quite a few of these, and I wish I could kick my baby bat self in the bum.  I hope that this post could help any baby bat, as well as help anyone interested into the subculture.  

Things baby bats should avoid:

1. Only buy clothing from 'alternative' stores

We all go through this as baby bats.  We go to the mall, go to a nice, little Hot Topic store, and buy these awesomely 'unique' clothes/accessories.  Now, I do like to shop at Hot Topic every now and then (especially when they have sales on their accessories), and same thing with other alternative stores.  Dysfunctional doll has some great picks for accessories, as does Good Goth, but only limiting yourself to these stores can make your fashion seem bland (oddly enough), and well, like you bought a 'goth starter kit'.  Strangely, sometimes K Mart, or even Wal-Mart, has some interesting pieces that any goth would love to snatch up.  Not to mention that thrift stores are wonderful places to pick up something you can alter, or wear as is.

What I'm trying to say is that part of evolving your style, means that you might have to look in the strangest of places, in order to find clothing that just shouts out you.  Even if the store is rather mainstream, and not appealing to your otherworldly style, gritting your teeth and lurking around, might just pay off.  Remember to give every store a fair chance.  You'll never know what you'll end up finding.  

2. Everything Black

When you think of goth, you think of a person wearing all black, with hardly any color at all.  That's well and good, and black is a very nice shade, and there are quite a few outfits that I have that are all black.  However, goths don't stick with wearing just black, and colors are incorporated to their style, opening up more doors to express their fashion.  I know it seems a little taboo to the budding baby bat, wearing color with their dark attire, but it is normal for goths to wear colors, no matter what the stereotypes say.  So, don't think it's not goth to wear colors, because it will limit your creativity to piece together some awesomely whimsical outfits.  As for continuing to wear all black, sure, you can still do it.  It's all about wearing what you like to express yourself.    

3. Collars and overloading on accessories

Besides wearing all black, most people picture a goth with a leather collar around their necks.  Now, with the right outfit, leather collars can look pretty cool.  However, one pitfall that baby bats fall in, is wearing them all the time, with everything.  Lets face it, collars don't go with everything, no matter how 'alternative' it looks.  The same thing as wearing leather, and/or multiple bracelets.  It doesn't work all the time, and there are times when wearing neither is appropriate.  There is a thing such as too much accessorizing, and when you over do it, it can make a great outfit, look gaudy, and like you're trying too hard.  So, knowing when to wear these items are very helpful for not only baby bats, but for any goth.

4. Too much makeup

Another pitfall with looking the part, is makeup.  You can make so many mistakes with makeup, and even some of the most skilled goths, can have a little trouble with it every now and then.  One of the issues that we have to look out for with makeup, is wearing too much of it.  Too much white powder can make us ghost white, instead of pale, and too much black eyeliner can make us look like a raccoon.  Knowing the right amount of makeup to use, and learning how to put in correctly, can save you a lot of trouble.  It pays off to know this, so you can look frightfully wonderful, instead of just frightful.

5. Goth clothes and creativity

Something that took me a while to realize, is that DIY can make clothes more unique than any alternative store.  I recently gotten into crafts, and made quite a few accessories, and alterations to pieces that just came out awesomely.  It pays off to know how to sew, use bleach correctly, and the like.  Surfing the net to get inspiration to the limitless things you can make, means a lot more to the subculture, than just buying 'the goth starter kit'.  It means that you took the time to make something, or tweak it, putting the effort to mold your own style.  Like mentioned before, goths take a lot of time to piece together the perfect outfit, in order to express themselves.  Some time researching projects can certainly pay off, and you can let your creative juices flow.   

6. Drawing inspiration

One thing that is recommended when you begin this journey, is to look for, and draw inspiration from others.  Try looking up famous gothic icons, and see what you like about them, and their style.  Who knows, maybe you'll look at your favorite goth character, and form a whole new style, being inspired by them.  You don't have to limit yourself to just goth icons though.  Actually there are some non goths you can use for inspiration, and the same goes for mainstream styles.  Anything can be used to inspire a whole new outfit, or how you wear your makeup/hair.  The point is to do research, and form something new out of your creativity.  

7. Knowing when goth is acceptable

It would be nice for goth to be loved wherever you go, and in every situation.  Sadly, it's not.  When a goth goes to work, they have to learn to dress down, and conform to the dress code.  Fishnets, corsets, and platform boots, have no place during an interview, or a job.  It would be nice for a goth to wear what they want, while working, but most bosses frown on that, and won't hire someone who has tattoos, or piercings.  I know I sound like someone's mother, or grandmother, but what I say is true.  This is a lesson learned at some point in a baby bats life, and many goths still struggle with this.  If a goth ever wants a job (this includes you, baby bats!), we have to learn how to dress down for jobs, and other events, and when to dress up for the club, or a nice day out. 

8. More goth than thou

No one likes an elitist.  People who tell everyone how goth they are, and that no one else will be as goth as they are, are just plain annoying, and we roll our eyes at them.  These types of people often ruin the subculture for a lot of us.  Now, on the other foot, baby bats who pull this, aren't taken seriously within the goth community, which makes us yet again, roll our eyes.  Anyone who makes a giant point to tell everyone how goth they are, are most likely A) Trying too hard to be goth, and has doubts in if they are or not, or B) Are just that type of person who wants to make other goths feel bad, and make themselves feel superior.  Either way, it's not a good thing to be this person, so don't do it.  

9.  Stereotypes

Another thing that I hoped that I realized long before my baby bat days were over, was sticking to the well known goth stereotypes.  Like any other person, I thought that you had to fit into a certain image, in order to be goth.  It sounds like a foolish thing to believe, but you'll be surprised by how many baby bats fall into this.  Actually, when someone is goth, and acts mopey and depressed, people think of the South Park goth kids.  I'm not kidding, when people think of goth, that's what they think of.  Please know that you don't have to be depressed to be a goth, nor do you have to be unfriendly to people, or any of the laughable stereotypes that has been stapled onto the subculture over the years.  What I'm going with this is, be yourself, and don't feel like you need to be any of the stereotypes, in order to be accepted within the subculture.  People respect you more for doing so, as well as older goths.  

    

10. Dealing with non goths

There are a lot of ways to deal with a non goth, being uncomfortable about your gothyness.  The best way is to be nice and talkative, instead of falling into to the goth stereotype 'all goths are anti-social/cranky'.  People will say mean things about your clothing, it comes with the territory.  However, it doesn't mean that we should be aggressive back, and make fun of non goths.  Don't take the insults seriously, and move on with your day.  If someone asks about your outfit, answer them truthfully.  Some people generally want to know about what you're wearing, so why bite their heads off?  I can understand that some of us get suspicious when people pretend to want to know what we're wearing, or ask questions about goth, just to mock us.  Still, don't let it bother you.  The point is to educate people on goth, and diminishing the stereotypes, in a positive manor (no matter how mean some people are).  

There may be times where you are physically threatened by non goths.  It doesn't happen often, but when it does, it can be scary.  There are way too many violent stories about people hurting goths, just because of what they're wearing, and in some cases, the goth ends up dead (I think the lot of you are aware of Sophie Lancaster).  If you are in this situation, I urge you to fight back, run away, do what you have to do to get out of it.  Physical violence is not an excuse, for people wearing clothing that they want to.

Sometimes goths forget that baby bats are our future, and can be just as rude.  Remember to don't let it bother you, some goths forget that everyone was a baby bat once, and should be in a teachable mode, rather than criticize baby bats.  If goths politely gave baby bats advice, rather than ranting about it, I'm sure that both groups could have a better coexistence with eachother.  So, goths have to learn to be nice baby bats as well, and try to help them out once in a while.           

Fashion and Barriers

At some point in our gothy lives, we've heard someone, either a friend or family member (or a random person), say that our fashion is creating a barrier between ourselves and the rest of the world.  We know that our family and friends mean well (as well as the random person), and sometimes their concerns make us want to roll our eyes.  Even makeover shows, like TLC's What Not To Wear, makes snap judgments that either goths are creating the said barrier, or they are unhappy with themselves.

I'm sure that most of us who are goth, don't feel this way, because we like to dress a certain way, and everyone has their own personal style.  It's nothing new for people to be uneasy about goth clothing, and most of us are use to the reactions that we get, no matter how annoying it is.  But, are the clothes we wear are the blame for an imaginary barrier that separates ourselves, and the mainstream?  Is there even a barrier at all?  Personally, I think the whole barrier thing is a load of BS.  There is only a barrier, if we allow one to be there.  I believe that if there is a social barrier, then everyone is responsible for it, not just goth fashion.  

The mainstream is partially to blame, because instead of getting to know a real goth, they assume that the negative stereotypes surrounding the goth subculture is right, and don't even try to make an effort.  In a society where we are suppose to celebrate what we are, and what we believe in, fashion seems to be the only thing that people are still allowed to nit pick.  I've met quite a few non goths who were very friendly, and eventhough I didn't become close friends with them, they were still attempting to make an effort to talk to someone who's a little different.  Now, instead of making up catchy insults, if non goths would make an effort, then goths wouldn't feel a need to be suspicious of a non goth's kindness, or question why a non goth is striking up a conversation with them.  Then the mainstream can have accurate information on what a goth is really like, and thusly, have no reason to put up a 'barrier'.

Goths are also to blame.  Yes, we don't ask for someone to insult us, calling us 'freaks', and the like.  We don't ask for any physical and emotional assaults that people have the need to hand to us.  At the same time, we have to understand that some of our clothing choices are great for the clubs, but not for work, or other activities.  Like if someone wore a corset to a job interview, the person will most likely not get hired, because they didn't dress the part.  What I'm trying to say is goths need to know when to dress up, and when to dress down, for occasions, so we can show non goths that we can function in society just fine, without having to change our style, or what we like.

What do you guys think?  Do you think that there is a 'barrier'?  Has anyone told you that your clothes makes a barrier between you and other people?

Munsters Remade

When I heard that NBC was going to remake the ever so classic, Munsters, my eyes just about popped out of my head.  "Why would anyone want to remake a classic?" I asked.  Then, I heard that the classic Munsters, were no longer going to be the comedic family that we know.  Instead, it's going to be a drama.  You just read that right, it's going to be a drama, which hardly seems Munster like at all.  

Not much has been said about the up coming remake.  Munsters Remake, is an article that I found about it.  More to come, I'm sure.  I'll keep my eyes out for it, and probably  post updates.

Real Witchcraft

This is my first post about witchcraft, which was about time.  I love my gothy posts, but I think I'll turn to other subjects as well.  For this segment, I would like to talk about real witchcraft, and not stuff that you see out of the movies.

There is a lot of confusion about witchcraft.  I can understand why, most people aren't very open with talking about it, as it's still seen as a taboo subject.  Like goth, witchcraft has a lot of negative stereotypes, and people who don't follow it, have bad opinions on it.  Sometimes it's hard to talk to someone about it, without them asking if you warship the devil, or have them roll their eyes and say it's not real.  Maybe it's not real, but it's all about faith, like Christianity, etc.  

A few things that witchcraft is not:

• It's not a cure all.  That means that if you cast a spell, don't expect it cure all your issues.  You still need to make decisions, and you still need to live your life.
• It's not about warshipping the devil.  Actually, you can perform witchcraft, and warship any god you want to.  You can even warship the Christian god, though some would argue with this.  
• It's not evil, but neutral.  It depends on what you send out to the world.  As long as you don't harm anyone, then you're ok.
• If you're expecting to do spells like they do in the movie, The Craft, then sorry to say, they don't exist.  While spells that change your eye color sound cool, they don't work.  You need special contacts for those.  Doing spells for invincibility, or invisibility, won't work.  Same thing with controlling the weather, it's impossible.  That's not what real witchcraft is about.  Real witchcraft is, to be frank, almost like praying, for those who follow Christianity.  Sure, we do love spells, money spells, etc, but like preying, it's about faith, hope, and that what you're doing will help you to find what you're looking for.   
• You don't have to be goth to be into witchcraft.  Some of them are, which is cool, but just like how everyone in the goth community is different, so are all those who practice the craft.
• We certainly don't sacrifice animals, or people.  The media likes to over play this in some movies that feature witchcraft.  Despite what everyone thinks, no, we don't sacrifice living things, or would we want to.  Many people that perform witchcraft would rather live side by side with animals, instead of cutting them open.  Just the thought makes them squirm.  
• Witchcraft isn't a religion.  Most people confuse witchcraft with being a pagan religion like wicca, but it's not.  It's a craft, which means that you perform it, and incorporate it into your life/religion.

The Goth Challenge, Day 27, 28, 29, 30

This is the final one, my last goth challenge entry.  I have to say, I had to give some thought on some of the days, like some actual sit and ponder thinking.  It was good, I liked it a lot actually.  I will be skipping day 26, because I don't have any decent pictures of every year I was goth.  Anyway, without further ado, here we go!

Day 27: The worst thing you've ever done to a newbie

I can safely say that I have never done anything rude to a newbie goth.  When i was in high school, there were only about three students, including myself who have curiosity for the dark side.  Besides that, I have never met a newbie before, but if I do in the future, I wouldn't do anything to discourage them from getting their feet wet with the subculture.  I was a newbie at one point too.

Day 28: Do you consider yourself and eldergoth?

I'm not old enough to be an eldergoth I'm afraid.  I'm in my early 20's, so I have a while before I hit the eldergoth bracket.

Day 29: What do you think will happen to goth in the future?

Another question I will have to give some thought on.  In a perfect world, I would hope that in the future that goth becomes more celebrated, where it's more socially accepted.  It would be naive of me to think that it could happen in the future.  Maybe it will, maybe it won't, I don't know, but it would be nice if society had a positive look on goth, rather than the negative stereotypes that cling to it.  

With that being said, I think that goth itself is fairly subjective, and everyone has a different outlook on what is, and isn't goth.  Along with that, sometimes you get the elitists who ruin it for the newcomers, which then less people want to be part of it.  I hope that in the future, such elitists will be more kinder to newbies, and baby bats, since we were all there once.  I think it's rude to state what goth is, or isn't, if it's all based on a personal definition.  So hopefully in the future, people will learn to lighten up on it, and enjoy the subculture for what they believe it to be.

I can't wait to see what happens in the future, regardless if it's for the better or worse.  

Day 30: Make a list of blogs you regularly read

I will be more than happy to make a list of the blogs, however, I don't feel right about linking to them, since access was not granted. 

• Sophistique Noir: It's a wonderful blog with fashion ideas for the adult goth, who wants to break out of their baby bat shell, and have a more mature style.
• Stripy Tights and Dark Delights: I think this a blog that all goths should read, young and old, new or not.  The author has some great advice, good information about the subculture, and she's pretty humorous.
• GIY (Goth It Yourself): This blog has some neat DIY project ideas for the darkly inclined.  I'm looking forward to doing one of these projects soon. 

DIY With Bleach

I think most of us had experience with DIY with bleach, or at the very least, know what happens when bleach gets onto dark, or colored clothes.  I've seen quite a few interesting designs on clothes, where people used bleach.  I even did one of my own, with some pretty nice results.  There are a few things to remember while using bleach though:

• Bleach is a chemical, so be responsible while using it.  This should really be obvious, but I felt the need to say it, just in case.  Also, take precautions.  Use a news paper, or cardboard for easy mess cleanup, and to make sure that the areas you don't want bleach on, is covered.
• When using bleach, it's best used by spraying it from a bottle, and using a stencil to guide where you spray.  I used a cheap paint brush to apply bleach, and little did I know, the bleach ate my brush's bristles.  There was nothing left by the time I got done with my DIY project.  The moral of the story, don't use paintbrushes with bleach.  The bristles will disenigrate.
• After bleaching, I would let it dry for a few hours, then I would wash it.  After that, you can wear it proudly.

Goth Challenge, Day 21, 22, 23, 24, 25

Happy late goth day everyone!  I hope that everyone had enjoyed the spooky day as much as I did.  For this segment, I'll be busy completing the goth challenge.

Day 21: What body mod do you have, or have you considered?

While I do like some people's body mods (and they do look quite artful), I have never been the type to want to do much of it.  It's a personal choice, I'm content with my ear piercings.  If I do choose to get a body mod done, maybe either a nose piercing, or another ear piercing would be nice.  I had considered getting a tattoo, but then I remember that I'm fearful of needles, so I don't think I'll be getting one of those anytime soon.

Day 22: If you could attend any goth event, what would it be?

Right now, I think any goth event would be a good one.  Living at an area where there aren't any goths my age (unless you want to count baby bats, but I'm older than that, so it would be a little awkward), and the closest thing remotely promoting alternative subcultures, is a Hot Topic, it gets a little aggravating.  I have considered making my own goth event, but sadly, I don't think I can get a goth friendly event group to help out, especially at a place where goth isn't welcome.

Day 23: Your favorite artist or photographer?

I don't look at enough photography to really know who my favorite is.  As for art, I like some of the classic artists, Picasso, van Gogh, but other than that, I don't pay attention to new artists as much.  I pay more attention to the pieces, and if I like it.

Day 24: Name the best websites for goths

I haven't been many goth websites.  If I had to pick one, I would say Blogspot.  It's not exactly a goth website, but there are a lot of goths on it, and a lot of goth blogs are very helpful for baby bats, and elder goths alike.  It's a nice place to share beauty tips, fashion, and advice for everyday goths.  

Day 25: Did you ever consider leaving the subculture?

Yes and no.  A few years back, I wasn't happy about how things were going, and I had just started college.  College was frustrating at times, the workload and exams were harsh enough, but making new college friends was tough too.  I decided to still be my spooky self, but try to dress in a more mature, goth way.  I never truly left the subculture, but I reinvented myself to be mature, instead of looking like a rebellious baby bat.  I figured out that I can still be goth, but I can also be a mature adult about it.