Today is World Goth Day.

A day when former goths all over the world can hold a candle (or studded wrist band) aloft in memory of the (un)happy days of being a goth in the 90s.

The 80s had punks, the 90s had goths, and the 00s were all about Emos and ‘scene’ kids *shudders*.


So here are 14 things that made you a goth in the 90s.

1. High school was a harder time for you than most. No one understood you. Everyone thought you practiced magic spells (you sometimes tried) and worshiped Satan.

2. The indignity of having to do PE with back combed hair and a full face of makeup was indescribable. Not to mention the risk of getting a tan from being outdoors for too long, and having to take off your all black outfit and put on light coloured sports clothes. The shame.



3. Everyone else was into happy brightly coloured pop bands like the Spice Girls, NSync and 5ive. Your favorite bands were Slipknot, Cradle of Filth and The Dead Dolls. In fact, you hated pretty much everything that everyone else liked.

4. You couldn’t leave the house without painstakingly blinding yourself with black eyeliner in an attempt to perfect the perfect cats eye. And don’t forget your black nail varnish, black hair, and black lipstick. Your makeup skills were second to none.

5. Facial piercings in general were also a strong part of your look. You could never have too many.

6. All the other girls at school had posters of Marilyn Monroe. You were into a different Marilyn.

(Picture: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

7. No outfit was complete without a pair of fishnet gloves, and massively flared black jeans.

8. Accessories were key to your look. Although wearing jewelry was slightly hazardous. Spiky rings, studded wrist band, spiky chokers. All the spikes.

9. ‘Hanging out’ in highly visible public places was what you did most weekends. Outside McDonalds, outside Boots, outside the local offie. Having an eye contact showdown between you and the local group of ‘Townies’ hanging out across the road.

10. While all your school chums (or enemies) were snapping up sparkly thongs and hair scrunchies in Tammy Girl, you shopped in Punky Fish, on Ebay, or in your spiritual home, Camden. Wandering around the hundreds of stalls that all looked exactly the same searching for the cheapest crushed velvet cape was a day-long affair.

11. Simply going for a walk took major concentration in those platform goth boots. People thought you were looking down because you were thinking sad, dark, gothic thoughts, but really you were just concentrating on not tripping over.

12. Black hair dye was your everything. Even if it left your fingers, forehead, ears, pillows and towels permanently stained. And your Mum permanently angry.

13. When people mistook you for an emo or grunger it made you die inside. And you liked it.

14. Feeling like the coolest most individual person in the entire world. Especially when hanging out with a crowd of goths dressed exactly the same as you.

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