How to Build a MALL GOTH Wardrobe

A little deep dive on the mall goth aesthetic! This one is interesting because it's not actually considered goth and it actually started as an insult to "wannabe goths" before becoming its own subculture!
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As always, thanks for watching!
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
00:00 intro
00:39 brief history
02:17 clothing essentials
05:18 where to shop
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Check out my blog:
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MUSIC (from KZbin Audio Library):
Sunshower - LATASHÁ
A Caring Friend - Bad Snacks
Board Games for One - Single Friend
It'll Be Alright - R.LUM.R
ABOUT DRESSRELIEF
My name is Mariel, and I started getting into fashion in the past few years and am learning so much about it. I'm drawn to fashion as I believe it is an art form that not only allows individuals to express themselves but also creates a history and record of different time periods and generations. I've had a lot of fun learning how to put together outfits and use different styles to tell a story through the way I dress. I started this channel to share what I learn along my fashion journey and hopefully help others learn and find their style as well.
I post videos at least every other week, mostly regarding fashion but may include a few beauty/makeup and lifestyle related videos as well. If you're interested in this content, please give my channel a shot and subscribe!

[@videohorror9139]

As someone who’s in the goth scene, this is pretty cool! I like some nu metal bands myself and mall goth is a pretty rad sub genre imo :))

[@j1430]

honestly even with ACTUAL goths in mind in the subculture, back in the 2000s several of them also dressed like this! (minus the nu metal band tees and striped stuff) a lot of goth bands in this time period had the same type of outfits! i think it shows that fashion in subcultures definitely adapt to the times, or at least goths.

[@dolphinman9896]

Literally. It's unfair to assume as much as hey have imo, plenty of people, myself included, that dress like this also listen to goth music and such :'0

[@MTCopyright]

I'm glad more people are embracing this fun style

[@Goatythemeow]

"Don't get caught up in labels" this is just really good advice in general. I'm trying to not label myself and just take influence from different aesthetics, if you don't it can really be limiting. Just look how you want, it doesn't have to conform to anyone's idea of what "goth" is if it's an entirely new thing only you've created! I also haven't really known what to call myself in the first place because I enjoy emo, goth, nu metal, metalcore, and lots of other genres of music and all thier corresponding fashions lol

[@Excsta]

I'm glad that mall goth is still a thing. I work at hot topic and I see mall goths everywhere it's a nice sitting. Ps I'm in that sub genre still even tho in in my mid 20s. Still pretty cool the trends still going on. Reminds me of Avril Lavigne

[@meggie8293]

i also work at ht and consider myself mall goth!

[@waqiahchowdhury4856]

I've been really into this aesthetic for a few years now, I think it's really cool. I love the style, it fits with all the dark styles I like which makes it really easy to incorporate into my wardrobe. I just didn't know what exact pieces to get. I don't know why I never really looked into it, but now that I know what to buy, I'll be looking out for pieces like that. Thanks for the help Mariel! As always, great video :)

[@dressrelief]

Of course, always glad i could help 🥰

[@dieselotte]

As a teen goth in 2003 I'd mix and match dark secondhand clothing, stuff I made or altered myself. I only owned a few things that were marketed as explicitly "goth". That stuff was unaffordable for me. So the mix and match approach was the norm, at least in my friend group.

[@dietailgaterscum]

As much as I love people getting into new styles and exploring themselves as life is short and all, the price of 90s and 2000s alternative brands has skyrocketed into absurdity, remember being in middle school and scoring a tripp nyc maxi skirt for $40, brand new with the older hot topic tags and everything. That same skirt goes for $230+, people say its demand over supply but these brands aren't high fashion, clothes depreciate especially old tripp pants that look one wear away from the trash can. I think it's a matter of the people selling them and how much of a profit they can make from the fact that they are vintage and essential deadstock. I argue this because prior to Tik-Tok, most of these brands were selling for reasonable prices because it was older goths and other alternatives who were trying to find homes for them or just get rid of them. I appreciate you addressing that not everything needs to be labeled and categorized as fashion is just fashion at the end of the day. Most of the people you showed in your photos were and are probably goths who just dressed differently from the all black mortica aesthetic or deathrock/trad style as many goths including myself find those styles to be extremely limiting. I think looking outside of labels and common tropes and allowing yourself to like things while still listening to the music is essential for any subgenre as conformity looks like what Killstar sells lmao. I think it's really weird to see people who were never interested in being alternative, buying up alt clothes in mass hauls, but hey, got to start someone I guess lmao. If you really care about supporting 90s brands and being in that crowd please look into jeannie nitro. one women owned business that's been around forever, especially around/during this time. I own a lot of pieces from her and still continue to support

[@dolphinman9896]

This!! As a goth of almost 10 years now, I can say that I remember the old depop, and irl thrift stores, the prices and deals were so good, ever since it got trendy though... It's been ruined for us real goths, who also had to or still do struggle w buying clothes and such.

[@Sweetinfernalcreature]

I’m a goth in my early thirties now and I remember this style. It’s so nostalgic and I love to see it, despite not being a nu metal person.

[@idk-ru7tx]

you could find a ton of great goth items at random stores, you j have to look-my favorite gothic skirt is from target

[@lolsubb6515]

fr! one of my favorite pieces of clothing is also from target. another from walmart. and all my most favorite pieces were all thrifted! more goth that way anyways B)

[@squeeegu]

i listen to goth music but i am more into the mall goth style :)))) ty 4 this vid btw!

[@LadyAhro]

This is interesting as someone who is active in the goth subculture.

[@dressrelief]

Ooh would love to hear your take on it! Do you still think of mall goth as “posers”?

[@LadyAhro]

@@dressrelief The answer isn't strictly yes or no here for interesting reasons. As much as there's still something of a kneejerk reaction from some to call people posers (and from some mall goths and less irreverent individuals to call everyone else gatekeepers) the "problem" that defines part of why there was ever an issue is still kinda happening today on social media. Some of the "problem" being that if goth soley becomes fashion based, or perceived as such from within rather than by average onlookers, the people who don't dress 'goth enough' or 'the right type of goth' get mistreated and the origins of the scene forgotten. This perhaps seems silly until you realise this is currently happening to people in the subculture. Or certainly was on a certain clock inspired platform before more and more goth accounts (sometimes including notable members from the scene irl and online from other platforms) started cropping up and pushing back against the grim treatment and weird sexualisaton/rage that some people weren't 'hot enough' or 'interesting enough' to be goths. To go back to your initial question, eh, it mostly depends on what outlook any mall goths have. Overall most seem happy enough to acknowledge that it diverts from the scene a bit. When people say the music and the history of the scene absolutely doesn't matter, it's all just clothing (again, acting as if this is what matters most), then this is where issues arise. To very loosley quote Angela Benedict "Goth doesn't hold a monopoly on dark themes", you can be a darkly inclined individual into gothic things (a lot of crossover with goth but not the same thing - technically speaking the term predates "goth" by a lot - think the architecture, Dracula and Frankenstein and in modern times other dark imagery and music akin to Evanescence) and not be goth because technically speaking the term does have parameters. Saying that words have meaning isn't what I'd consider gatekeeping. When people outside of the scene say goth has evolved beyond the music I don't agree with them. Especially because goth music is still being made by new bands with a particular sound. Lil Peep saying he's Goth because 'words change' ain't it. (I do think Angela Benedict's video on It's Hard To Be Goth Now is pretty interesting and worth a listen, especially looking at the comments section too. Very much covering one of your points. The label of goth, merely as is, has been tied to the subculture, going labelless is perfectly fine, nobody is policing what people enjoy, only that using the label incorrectly raises eyebrows at the minimum)

[@LadyAhro]

On a personal level, it really can feel like a gut punch when people say that goth should only be fashion based. And the idea of what the fashion should be is almost always so limited (and frequently comes with more sus expectations of thinness, whiteness and ironically, conformity). As a music based subculture with gothic based interests and dark clothing as additional fun layers, it's so much more open, accessible and accepting - or should be. No firm lines on appearance, or necessarily favourite media (I dislike almost all horror), just a wide variety of things to listen to that fall under the umbrella and even then it doesn't have to be the only thing you listen to. ..... Now this is a mostly separate point I've wanted to make that's soley style talk, but it might be mildly interesting as an under-featured aspect of dark dressing. I've mentioned before that my style is very "Sorceress inspired" and partly falls under a not specifically goth style of dark dressing, although it is popular with goths. It's sometimes called Dark Romanticism, but mostly goes unnamed. It also intersects with what I can only describe very badly as the current "trendy" silhouettes mixed with traditionally alt elements. Like the "Dark Feminine" aesthetic with a lot more gothic elements. Dark Romanticism features a good amount of historic inspired fashion (typically Victorian/Edwardian or medieval inspired) with minimal inclusion of traditional goth brands but emphasising dark details. And again, leans romantic looking with a focus on flowing silhouettes and interesting textures. The jewellery brand "Bloodmilk" is pretty well-known for the sort of vibe, as are brands like Nuit Atelier, Shades of Silence, Church of Sanctus and I Do Declare for the overtly romantic clothes. But shops like Noctex, or more often, buying black clothes with the right silhouette/materials from literally anywhere you want makes up the other end of the unnamed 'gothic but fashion' movement popular with many goths. Chelsea Wolfe, a musician I and many other goths are fond of, though not a goth musician herself (and I'd recommend her song Flatlands to everyone), has often straddled the line between both styles. These are some examples of the vibes/accounts that favour the styles or a mix of both from goth and non goth individuals on Instagram (and most are also on tiktok) @grimvr, @thedarkwitcht, @svrvinissvn, @in.herbones, @aiemmaes, @metroapero, @wrenmarette, @brooke.x.elizabeth, @shop_kalma and a lot of others I'm probably drawing a blank on terribly.

[@dressrelief]

You make some really great points! Though I’m not a part of the goth community myself, from what I’ve learned I definitely agree that music is such an important part of the subculture and it shouldn’t be based solely on fashion. I’d be offended too to hear people completely disregarding the music and origins of the subculture. I’ll have to check out the “It’s Hard to be Goth Now” video too to learn more about this! I also love the style you described and I think Dark Romanticism is a great name. I love romantic silhouettes and dark color palettes, so this sounds right up my alley and definitely gonna follow some of those shops & accounts you mentioned. Thanks so much for your input, it’s great to hear from people who are active in the subculture!

[@lolsubb6515]

@@dressrelief i'm goth, have been for 5 years now, and imo it depends. they can be and can't be. it depends on the person. i've been dressing this way for years, and listen to mall goth music, but i also listen to a ton of goth music too. it rlly just comes down to whether they listen to the music or not. if they dress this way and claim to be goth but don't listen to goth music, then yes. but if they dress this way and don't claim to be goth, or they do claim to be goth and also listen to the music, then no, they aren't posers.

[@katyp564]

Way late comment! The look back in the day didn't seem very femme-friendly. The girls at my school who rocked this never wore skirts, only big baggy black JNCOs that matched their long, straight black hair. But the mallgoth/skater crew at my school was heavily male in general, just like the music they listened to. If you did wear a skirt, you wore it with horizontal striped tights, usually red and black. Red and black were THE dominant colors. Also throw in some matching arm warmers.

[@discoqueenmom]

Love it as i just like wearing all sorts of core clothes and don't care if im not hard core 😁

[@dressrelief]

Hahah yess just wear what u like 😌

[@evangeline77x]

omg, @2:51 That's Dorian, Of Herbs and Alters! Wild to see them here lol.

[@elizabethteixeira2089]

Don't know how they'd feel about being the face of mall gothery... Yikes!

[@dressrelief]

Not putting anyone as the “face of mall gothery”, i was just talking about hoodies lol

[@Isla.222]

i really wish we had a hot topic in the uk

[@pinkabsinthe1226]

Same tbh, I feel like we're missing out

[@lolsubb6515]

if you're looking for mall goth clothes, then yo are and aren't. they don't have much when it comes to mall goth stuff, or really any goth stuff. (or at least the ones i go to don't) rly the ony good things they have are their tights ad socks, some of their band tees ( and even then they most just have a bunch of different versions of korn & slipknot so not a lot of band variety) and their jewelry is pretty good too. especially earrings and rings. but they do have a website! maybe you could order from em if they deliver to you :)

[@Silly_willy_69]

Just Incase people are stuggleing with this I am "mall goth" and when people ask what my style is I say that I'm alternative or somtimes 2000's alternative its just better if you don't wanna be called a poser goth lol I usually don't use labels but if somones asking thats what I tell them.

[@zoxo101]

Yay ur vids are just awesome 🤩

[@dressrelief]

Aw thank you!

[@Isla.222]

love ur vids

[@Sindollx666x]

I'm the red head in your thumbnail

[@ay3duh374]

ur an icon 😍

[@Sindollx666x]

@@ay3duh374 ❤️❤️❤️ thanks luv!

[@bluBlaq33]

Mall goths were kids which meant they couldn’t always afford the cool Goth shoes, so hilariously they wore chunky skate shoes also. I’m 31, and sometimes still rotate this style in with my darker aesthetic for nostalgia.

[@yessica5231]

This is what middle school/high school me dressed like!!!!

[@MelodyFigs]

Hi I'm asking again for a video on a 90s wardrobe ( girl next door kind of 90s lol)

[@dressrelief]

Sorry i have a lot of video ideas to get through but it is on my list of ideas!

[@zzoooy]

whoop whooop at 3:39 mmfwcl

[@artblack01]

Goth came from the death rock culture, which was a subset of punk and new wave. Though, many "goth" bands in the 80's never called themselves goth, many of the quintessential goth bands were actually death rock. Bauhaus, The Mission, Lords of the New Church, Echo and the Bunnymen, Red Lorry Yellow Lorry.

[@artblack01]

Hot Topic didn't come about till the 90's the term Mall goth came almost a decade later. As far as I am aware.... never heard the term Mall Goth till 15 years ago.

[@elizabethteixeira2089]

You did NOT just put in Dorian as an example of a Mall Goth looool. I don't think they'd appreciate that. I'm lowkey insulted on their behalf!!!

[@dressrelief]

Sorry i dont mean to offend anyone, im not putting them an example as mall goth literally just needed a hoodie example

[@dressrelief]

Ok i blurred their face if that helps (changes still processing) 😅 would have replaced the pic but KZbin doesn’t have that option. But seriously was just talking about the clothes, i never said anyone in this video IS mall goth but that the clothing can also be worn in the mall goth fashion aesthetic

[@elizabethteixeira2089]

​@@dressrelief No harm done dudette, I wasn't actually mad but appreciate things come across different on the internet! It was nice of you to blur their face though (just in case). You might have seen the video I'm talking about, but for context, one goth KZbinr (can't remember who, but likely Angela Benedict or Of Herbs and Altars?) did a video about being goth in the age of columbine and how mall goths/ poseurs basically ruined things for actual goths just trying to live their lives. (Mall goths capitalised on the school shooting to go on power trips and intimidate others, basically giving goth a bad name). That's why some of the elder goths who were teens in the 90s hate the term etc.

[@em6644]

I didn’t know that history, thank you for sharing!! Maybe it’s because I’m not really into goth aesthetic or music but I honestly assumed it was a you used to make fun of me for this type of attitude, which is fair enough, but maybe taken too far in some cases. But this makes it make a lot more sense!!! That’s honestly really awful

[@davidcross701]

True Goth culture is based only on MUSIC. NOT fashion. Anything else is, SECOND. Metal rockers are not goth.

[@gravevampy]

It's just the name.

[@MrJoyoverkill]

my culture is not an outfit, gen z!!!!!!

[@feverpitch.8]

Skill issue

[@atotallynormalduck]

Skill issue

[@AltGirlie1]

Personally, I’m not into goth music. But I love dressing mall goth/alt 🖤🩶🤍

[@DR4CUL4444]

Mall goths listen to nu metal