Gothic Vs Punk

Punk and goth are two distinct and powerful cultures and genres, which are often confused by people, and often misunderstood by the mainstream.

Both goth and punk are much more than dark-colored clothes, and through this article, we will highlight some of the key aspects of both goth and punk cultures, looking at their beliefs, their fashion, their differences, and their similarities.

What is Goth and Punk:

Many people struggle to tell the difference between goth and punk, and before we delve into the detail of the differences between the two, it is important to define both goth and punk.

Goth

Goth culture itself has existed in different forms for centuries, however, it became popular in the western world in the 1980s. Ironically, goth culture became prominent as the antithesis of punk at the time.

Goth culture means different things to different people, but it is often synonymous with an appreciation of darker aspects of life, and dark clothing.

Punk

Punk is a subculture that originated in the United Kingdom in the 1970s. Punk is synonymous with crazy hairdos and bright and whacky dressing styles, but it is much more than just clothing. In the 1970s, many of the lower classes in the United Kingdom faced great economic hardship, and rebellious culture emerged. One of these was punk, which became an anti-establishment subculture.

The essence of Gothic and Punk

Above we have offered some of the most commonly used definitions of gothic and punk. At its simplest, gothic is a unique aesthetic full of contradictions and conflicts. Whereas, punk is rebellious, angry, and anti-establishment.

Goths believe in and have an appreciation for the darker aspects of life. Goths do not have a set religion or church, but the subculture is characterized by an emphasis on creativity, individualism, a dislike of social conservatism, and a tendency toward cynicism.

Punks believe in anti-corporatism, non-conformity, anti-authoritarianism, anti-corporate greed, and direct action, and are against "selling out".

Clothing is an important aspect of many cultures and subcultures, and gothic and punk are no exception. In fact, it is likely that when you think of gothic and punk, you will probably think of the style of dressing, before you think of their mindsets and desires. So, let's take a look at some of the key elements of gothic and punk clothing.

Elements of Gothic clothing

When you think of gothic clothing, you will likely think of dark clothing, often using leather or velvet. While it is correct that most gothic clothing is dark, to complement the darkened gothic view of life, there is much more to gothic clothing than just color.

Like most fashions, gothic fashion has changed over time, but the key characteristics of gothic clothing include:

• Asymmetric design
• Silver Jewelry
• Velvet
• Lace
• Leather

Silver jewelry is a key part of the goth culture. Silver is used as it is the moon metal, and therefore reflects the aesthetics of the goth culture well. Most goths will not accept any gold or yellow metals, as this is associated with sun and daylight.

Asymmetrical designs are designs where one side is not the same as the other. Goths believe that this style goes against the norm, and therefore matches well with the culture.

Velvet is commonly used, as it is a heavy and robust material, that literally swallows the light, and can appear dark and mysterious. Elastic and soft velvet is used in women's gothic clothing, as it can provide a lot of freedom. Whereas, in men's fashion, a firmer base for velvet is used to provide a masculine look.

A popular item of clothing for female goths is a black gothic velvet shadow flower blouse. This provides a classic gothic look and includes a detachable ornate gothic gem brooch.

Maxi skirts are another popular fashion item as part of the goth culture. The Black Gothic Frill Lace Fishtail Hem Velvet Tight Maxi Skirt is a gorgeous mermaid lacy maxi skirt, which compliments many different gothic outfits.

V-Neck shirts are a prominent type of clothing as part of the gothic culture. The V-Neck Lace-Up Front Chest Frill Lantern Sleeve Lace Cuff Wine Red Gothic Velvet Shirt has many of the features synonymous with gothic fashion. Not only does it has a V-Neck lace-up front, but it has many little details, such as cuff sleeves, and crimp velvet. It can be worn as tight fitting, or loose-fitting to match your style.

Leather pants are a popular choice for gothic men, and the Glossy Pattern Drawstring Lace Decoration Black Gothic Slim Ment Pants are made from light patterned material, with a decoratively designed false girdle.

Elements of Punk clothing

Some punk clothing can be bright and vibrant, whereas others use dark colors, and look very similar to gothic clothing.

If you are asking yourself, what do punks wear? we have provided some of the key information for you below. The key elements of punk clothing include:

• Piercings
• Leather
• Metal
• Ornaments
• Holes

Being anti-establishment is one of the clearest views of punks, and piercings are one of the clearest examples of this. Now, when talking about punks' piercings, we are not talking about subtle earrings, punks will have bold and very obvious piercings. Original punks would also buy clothes cheaply from second-hand stores, and customize them with metal ornaments, and patches.

Magic Wardrobes' Punk Knitting Irregular Sexy Cross Rope Hoody Show Waist Top, shows how punk clothing can be similar to gothic clothing in many ways, but is very different in other ways. Like gothic clothing, this hoody is dark in color, but its irregular shape, slim fit, and shorter cut make it a classic and sexy punk item.

Chains are synonymous with punk clothing, and the asymmetrically spliced mesh broken holes rivet removable chain black punk tight pants from Magic Wardrobes is a classic example of punk trousers. It has a variety of fabrics stitching, rips and holes down the left leg, and chains that can be removed. To add variety, the left leg can be completely removed.

The Worn-Out Long Sleeve Elbow Leather Strip Lace-Up Brown Punk Hooded Coarse Knit Sweater, has elbow stitching with leather straps and has corns studded and tied with rope, for a great punk look.

The Splice Mesh Leather Bandage Rivet Broken Holes Brown Punk Pants, have a variety of fabrics sticking, are hand painted, and worn out with a black dirt effect.

Goth and Punk - The Similarities

While Goth and Punk are two distinct cultures, they do have several shared characteristics.

Goths and punks can share some values, such as creativity, and being true to yourself. As they both promote self-expression, both cultures are thought to encourage diversity.

Some believe that you can actually be both punk and goth, which shows how similar the two cultures are.