Goths at both ends of the age spectrum – corporate Goths in a business environment, and baby bats negotiating their way through school – often have to make compromises in order to keep their sense of identity (and spooky fashion cred) and stay on the right side of the dress code.
In fact, most of the questions I am asked on my blog pertain to how we alternative types can fit in with a uniform or dress code whilst still retaining a suitably Gothy look. One of the tips I frequently divulge (when I don’t simply point the questioner straight to Sophistique Noir) is, "It doesn’t have to be black." No, stop looking at me like that, I am quite serious.
And never let it be said that I don’t practise what I preach.
All right, so my outfit here is perhaps a bit too… frilly… for the office, but my point remains. Smart, elegant clothes, a nice pair of boots, and some interesting jewellery will get you far in life – I try to collect pieces that can be dressed up for the weekend, dressed up even more for festivals and clubbing, or toned down for a slightly staid work environment. This blouse in particular fits the bill nicely, I think.
Of course, my favourite thing about this outfit is the price. Everything I’m wearing, with the exception of the headband, came from charity shops, so altogether this ensemble cost £15. Go, budgetgoth extraordinaire. ;-)
