As I stated in a previous blog, one of my fashionable-ignorant friends said, "I didn't know you were a Goth," when he saw me wearing black fingernail polish. I know we live in a world full of stereotypes, but this is a good reason for why we shouldn't.
Sure, Goths wear black fingernail polish. However, they also wear black clothes, dye their hair black, wear thick black eyeliner and usually have metal growing out of their faces. At the time of this judgment, I exhibited none of these other characteristics. And although this was an extremely poor assessment, I find it easy to understand why this misunderstanding is made regularly.
What most people don't know about Gothic culture, is that it contains subcultures. When the Gothic culture first began, it was described as the "Victorian cult of mourning." This culture can be found in the Victorian period as well as the Elizabethan and medieval periods. Then, in the 1980s, the new Gothic culture, the one most are familiar with today, erupted. The one described above. Black clothes, black hair, black makeup, black everything.
And although this is not my kind of style, it is a fashion.
Usually I do not get offended when people bad-mouth my style. But in my defense, many fashionistas wear black fingernail polish, including Lauren Conrad, fashion designer and Hills reality star. Also, although most fashion experts express how important it is to add color to wardrobe, black is always a safe bet when it comes to clothes. "Black is slimming" and "X is the new black" are only a couple examples to prove the popularity of the shade black. (Most people mistake black for a color, but having an artist for a mother, I know that black is a shade and white is a tint.)
Not only is black stylish, sexy and elegant, but according to Western fashion, it is also a symbol of power. This can be seen in professions such as lawyers and judges, priests and nuns. Japanese culture recognizes a factor of intelligence in black, a sign of nobility, which is why the highest level or karate is a black belt. On the contrary, white symbolizes youth. Graduation gowns are usually black.
In other cases, the symbology is reversed. Such is seen in the entertainment industry: movies, books, etc. Villains wear black, heroes/heroins wear white. Witches wear black, fairies wear white. Outlaws wear black cowboy hats, the good ones wear white.
Black sheep- unloved. Black cats- unlucky. Black magic. Black market.
Death and mourning.
The thing about black: it will never die. The expression, "X is the new black," refers to the latest trend based on the fact that black is and will always be fashionable.
It is amazing how one color (or shade for all you artists) carries so many characteristics, good and bad. My point in this blog, again, is to avoid stereotypes. Don't be afraid of them. Confront them. Dare them. Be yourself, and embrace your style. If you want your entire outfit to be black, wear it but rock it. My advice: pair your dark ensemble with some colorful accessories. Jewelry, purses, shoes, you name it. Note: I have portrayed this look before, so I will post a photo in the future.
My next post will go into pairing black with brown. Most believe this to be a fashion no-no, but that's my specialty, my passion. Throw the rule book out, and prove some fashion faux pas can actually work.
