Having watched The Craft far too many times, teenage me decided that she was going to be a goth.
It proved very difficult, mainly because my school uniform was navy blue. Attempts at satanic chic always failed to pack quite the ungodly punch - even if I swapped the navy tights for black ones. I spent weekends with my face caked in Spectacular’s white face powder and my eyes rimmed with black glitter pencil. Come Sunday evening my chipped black nail polish was removed and my face returned to its natural rosy shade.
The girls in The Craft had it easy. They went to a Catholic school (rosaries = a stylish accessory and a classroom necessity) with an incredibly lax uniform policy. You never saw Fairuza Balk having to roll down the waistband of her pleated skirt when the head of year walked past.
No, I was a crap goth. Mainly because I didn’t like getting in trouble and the requisite amount of sullenness didn’t suit my sunny disposition. Don’t even get me started on the music! Cradle of Filth? Not for me. There was also the fact that I had to close my eyes during large parts of The Craft because they truly terrified me.
Throughout my teens, I experimented with various goth substyles of my own. My favourite of which was beat-goth: knee length pleated skirts, black polo necks, Dr Marten mary janes and pale lips. In my mind I looked like a cool creative type, until my Dad declared that I resembled a “depressed Velma from Scooby Doo”.
From top left: Skull Earrings - Topshop, Bat Sweater - JW Anderson x Topshop, Blouse - Vero Moda, Lace Vest - Monki, Dress - JW Anderson x Topshop, Velvet Shorts - Topshop, Leather SKirt - Warehouse, Skinny Jeans - Miss Selfridge, Patent Boots - Dr Martens, Studded Bow - Miss Selfridge, Boots - New Rock.
With such teenage style traumas behind me (HA!) and Halloween just around the corner, I’ve been rediscovering the joys of goth girl style. My 2012 take on the look involves dark nails, shiny PVC leggings, baggy black tops and clompy heeled ankle boots. There’s also something alluring and darkly scandalous about JW Anderson for Topshop’s French Maid dress.
I may have ditched the studded leather wristbands and chokers, but big silver jewellery will always reign supreme in my jewellery box. Stacks of chunky rings permanently adorn my right hand. I’m also falling back in love with deep rouge noir lips. They look magical teamed with the merest hint of pale gold eye shadow and spidery lashes.
From top left: Hypnotic Poison - Dior, Black Sparkle Nail Polish - Barry M, Yung Rapunxel Lipstick - Mac x Azealia Banks, Foundation - Dainty Doll, Eye Pencil - Smashbox, Black Sparkle Eyeshadow - Nars
With my grown up goth girl armour, maybe I’ll be able to sit through all of The Craft’s snakes and scary bits with my eyes wide open? Alternatively, I could just sit down with a cup of tea and watch Downton followed by the Great British Bake Off final. Yes, that sounds like a plan.
Main image via Wikimedia Commons