Tip 1: Tights Tights can very easily cut up and layered to create a gothic look to a simple outfit. I've found that using a method of pushing scissors into the tights and pulling on the holes to create ladders and rips looks much more authentic than snipping holes in them. You can also very easily take a pair of fishnets/sheer tights/coloured tights and turn them into a shirt by simply cutting a hole in the crotch (this will be your neck hole) and then cutting off the feet to put your arms in - I've found that cutting thumb holes can stop them from riding up your arms. Layering tights is really easy and looks amazing, especially ones with varying hole sizes. Layering different colours of neon tights and stuff looks really sick with cybergoth looks btw. Tip 2: Customising clothes (tops/bottoms) It can be pretty simple to create a faux corset top from some cheap materials. You can do this using ribbon and D rings (can find these in local craft stores and ebay) to create a faux corset top by sewing the rings into the shirt and attaching the thread. Alternatively, you can use an eyelet kit for a more traditional look. Furthermore, using belt buckles, D rings and other rings you could perhaps find around the house to connect vest straps and sleeves can look really cool and industrial. It's also super simple to cut up tops to instantly make them look more goth! There are tons of tutorials out there for weave tops which can be applied to the sleeves, back or front of any shirt to make it look awesome, this can also be done to skirts. Applying lace, different patches of fabric and handmade patches (see next tip) are also an epic addition: Lace can be bought for super cheap online/in craft stores and sewn onto the hems and sleeves of shirts (this always looks awesome) Alternatively, they can be clipped/safety pinned in if you can't sew! Random bits of fabric/textiles you find around the house can also look awesome on clothing. You can even walk into a craft store and ask if they have any black scraps of fabric lying around! Tip 3: homemade patches If you have denim, paint and brushes, I assure you; you can make any patch your heart desires! Start by taking denim of any colour and flipping it to the duller side. Paint it with white paint and allow it to dry (acrylic and fabric paint stop the edges from fraying) Trace anything you want on it Paint away and allow to dry! You now have your own patches for super cheap! Pin/sew onto your clothes to your hearts content Tip 4: Making black lipstick/eyeliner from scratch Black lipstick can be easily made by melting down any chapstick (or even vaseline) and then crushing black eyeshadow into it and mixing it. This is a pretty easy way of getting black eyeliner as well if the chapstick you use is waxy enough. This can be a cheap alternative to buying actual makeup + it's fun! Tip 5: layering! Leading on from my tights tip: layering can make or break any goth outfit! Purchasing cheap black pieces such as mesh undertops, crocheted tops and undercoats can really add to outfits! You can even crochet your own tops if you can do that! Tip 6: Bleaching clothes: This one can be a little bit dangerous so make sure you are in a well-ventilated area with the proper protective gear and permission from your parents if you're young! Using bleach on your clothes, you can create a yellowey/orange picture of anything you want The best outcome usually comes from using a cut out stencil which can be done with a piece of paper/card and an exacto knife or blade. Alternatively, you can just use a brush. This looks awesome on shirts with not much going on Tip 7: Accessories: Never underestimate the power of a chain on your clothing! Chains joining the lapel of a shirt looks super classy and they look sick on jeans too. Buttons/safety pins/lace/studs/pins look cool on everything :3 Tip 8: Don't restrict yourself and have fun! You don't need to dress a certain way to be goth! Nor is it meant to be expensive! Don't restrict yourself to these online goth-targetting shops because they simply perpetuate the idea that dressing goth should be expensive and fit into a certain aesthetic. Thrift, visit charity shops and work with what you already have! Buy second hand and for as cheap as you can (ebay and depop are awesome - although the latter can be a ripoff) Don't restrict your searches to specifically GOTH, try keywords such as black, mesh, PVC, lace, velvet, flowy, etc. Also don't go out of your way to look for standalone goth pieces, things can always be customised/layered to look more goth and to your style. Experiment with the different subgenres and pick and choose what you enjoy, have fun and express yourself to your hearts content! Be sure to add your own tips in the comments :)) Linked: DIY corset belt Great goth DIY site The sites DIY projects

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Gothic clothing DIY tips!! (for babybats and those budgeting) [pinned]

Posted by arlo atomickk

posted 1678311570
updated 1678478220

Forum: || The Goth Cave || Group

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Tip 1: Tights

Tights can very easily cut up and layered to create a gothic look to a simple outfit.

I've found that using a method of pushing scissors into the tights and pulling on the holes to create ladders and rips looks much more authentic than snipping holes in them.
You can also very easily take a pair of fishnets/sheer tights/coloured tights and turn them into a shirt by simply cutting a hole in the crotch (this will be your neck hole) and then cutting off the feet to put your arms in - I've found that cutting thumb holes can stop them from riding up your arms.
Layering tights is really easy and looks amazing, especially ones with varying hole sizes. Layering different colours of neon tights and stuff looks really sick with cybergoth looks btw.

Tip 2: Customising clothes (tops/bottoms)

It can be pretty simple to create a faux corset top from some cheap materials.

You can do this using ribbon and D rings (can find these in local craft stores and ebay) to create a faux corset top by sewing the rings into the shirt and attaching the thread.
Alternatively, you can use an eyelet kit for a more traditional look.
Furthermore, using belt buckles, D rings and other rings you could perhaps find around the house to connect vest straps and sleeves can look really cool and industrial.

It's also super simple to cut up tops to instantly make them look more goth!

There are tons of tutorials out there for weave tops which can be applied to the sleeves, back or front of any shirt to make it look awesome, this can also be done to skirts.

Applying lace, different patches of fabric and handmade patches (see next tip) are also an epic addition:

Lace can be bought for super cheap online/in craft stores and sewn onto the hems and sleeves of shirts (this always looks awesome)
Alternatively, they can be clipped/safety pinned in if you can't sew!
Random bits of fabric/textiles you find around the house can also look awesome on clothing.
You can even walk into a craft store and ask if they have any black scraps of fabric lying around!

Tip 3: homemade patches

If you have denim, paint and brushes, I assure you; you can make any patch your heart desires!

Start by taking denim of any colour and flipping it to the duller side.
Paint it with white paint and allow it to dry (acrylic and fabric paint stop the edges from fraying)
Trace anything you want on it
Paint away and allow to dry!
You now have your own patches for super cheap! Pin/sew onto your clothes to your hearts content

Tip 4: Making black lipstick/eyeliner from scratch

Black lipstick can be easily made by melting down any chapstick (or even vaseline) and then crushing black eyeshadow into it and mixing it.

This is a pretty easy way of getting black eyeliner as well if the chapstick you use is waxy enough.
This can be a cheap alternative to buying actual makeup + it's fun!

Tip 5: layering!

Leading on from my tights tip: layering can make or break any goth outfit! Purchasing cheap black pieces such as mesh undertops, crocheted tops and undercoats can really add to outfits!

You can even crochet your own tops if you can do that!

Tip 6: Bleaching clothes:

This one can be a little bit dangerous so make sure you are in a well-ventilated area with the proper protective gear and permission from your parents if you're young!

Using bleach on your clothes, you can create a yellowey/orange picture of anything you want
The best outcome usually comes from using a cut out stencil which can be done with a piece of paper/card and an exacto knife or blade.
Alternatively, you can just use a brush.
This looks awesome on shirts with not much going on

Tip 7: Accessories:

Never underestimate the power of a chain on your clothing!

Chains joining the lapel of a shirt looks super classy and they look sick on jeans too.
Buttons/safety pins/lace/studs/pins look cool on everything :3

Tip 8: Don't restrict yourself and have fun!

You don't need to dress a certain way to be goth! Nor is it meant to be expensive!

Don't restrict yourself to these online goth-targetting shops because they simply perpetuate the idea that dressing goth should be expensive and fit into a certain aesthetic.
Thrift, visit charity shops and work with what you already have! Buy second hand and for as cheap as you can (ebay and depop are awesome - although the latter can be a ripoff)
Don't restrict your searches to specifically GOTH, try keywords such as black, mesh, PVC, lace, velvet, flowy, etc. Also don't go out of your way to look for standalone goth pieces, things can always be customised/layered to look more goth and to your style.

Experiment with the different subgenres and pick and choose what you enjoy, have fun and express yourself to your hearts content!

Be sure to add your own tips in the comments :))

Linked: DIY corset belt

Great goth DIY site