Current Goth: Consumerist and Boring
I have noticed mostly online that it is more important to perform than to do something different or stand out. Goth is an 80s music-based subculture with a visual side, which can be flexible and expressive.
For women, this can include elements inspired by the 40s and 50s: dresses, skirts with belts, layered jewerly, or hair styled in interesting ways. For men, the aesthetic can include fitted shirts, layered jackets, skinny or tailored pants, boots, chains, or accessories like pins and jewerly. But you don't have to have a "set" hairstyle or outfit to be goth. Shoes can be anything, and while black is common in 80s goth, it isn't required. What matters most is how you layer and combine pieces to create something unique -- a reflection of yourself rather a copy of someone else's look.
Though I have seen Romantic or Victorican goth elements in today's looks, goth has never been about appearing white. White face paint was used by groups like Siouxsie and the Banshees and many others, but many people in these scenes are non-white, even though online discussions often focus on white artists.
Another part of goth is DIY. Buying from big shops to buy a curated look isn't goth, it's just being everyone else. I can understand if you don't have money or time, but you don't need to overhaul your closet overnight. This subculture has always been about music; the visual aesthetic can accompany it if you want. You're not less goth for just listening to the music, but you're if you only obsess over the look without doing anything different. Be yourself, it can be quite freeing.
