Goth to me allows me to delve into myself and cause my outside to more resemble to who I am on the inside. It allows me to express myself. It also has served as a "barrier" of sorts to keep outsiders away (primarily through ages 14-19ish or so). Nowadays as long as I'm up for it, my doors are open.

Despite intense introversion, I am actually quite friendly. I have my occasional snarky douchebag moments, but who honestly doesn't? If people are turned "off" by my sense of style, then fine. They are free to be that way.

As for a "mask of power", I do feel empowered by my look. It gives me confidence, and since I tend to gravitate towards "vampire goth", I have that cool factor as well. Some might scoff at the idea of rocking a vampire-inspired goth look, but I pay them no mind. All I am doing is correctly representing what I believe my soul looks like. When I find the money and especially the ability to not have to hold down a conventional job, I may actually modify my body in order to further represent myself as what I truly believe I am. For those who are curious, I'd get elf ears and my canines either sharpened or caps put on.

It's for me just a natural love of all things occult, unknown, foreign, mysterious, and supernatural, and the romanticism of such. The embrace of the shadow.

I still don't feel I've had to "become" goth, or that the "look" has ever given me anything. I just think it's all natural, and THAT is what I find empowering!!!

Goth to me is just a way to describe my love for the darker side of life. It also helped me cope with my bad childhood. I admit I do cling to it; it's a big part of who I am and I'd feel of piece of me is missing without it. I also have a fear of blending in too much because when I was faking "normal" growing up, I was practically invisible; I'm a shy, timid, socially awkward introvert who wasted years (miserably)trying to hide it. Without looking somewhat alternative, I can disappear easily and I over all just don't feel "right" when I'm dressed in mainstream fashion.

This kind of ties into my comment about it being similar to washing my face before going out. It's how I feel comfortable and presentable.

I don't see it as a mask of power, in ways it makes you more vulnerable to the average arsehole, who's going to hurl abuse (and the occasional object) in your direction. I see it more as being the person I want to be, and dressing in the prettiest clothes there are, wearing what I want to wear, and not what the fashion industry dictates is right, being able to listen to the most beautiful, haunting melodies I've ever heard, instead of the rubbish churned out on the radio, and being able to be creative, without people seeing you as strange because of the things you write about or draw. I do think you have to be brave to stand out in the crowd, but I see Goth as being a comfort blanket, as something that makes you fell like you're not alone, no matter how lonely you feel, because there's someone else out there going through the same thing. Goth has helped me grow as a person, and it's helped me realise who I am, and that there's no shame in being different and not fitting in.

Totally agree with this. I often question whether I am using Goth a mask, which leads to a cycle of rejection and then acceptance of the label. I was bullied at school for not dressing trendy (I'd be wafting round in frothy skirts and ballet pumps , not noticing all the girls in jeans and trainers - till they pointed it out to me)and I occasionally wonder if I reject the mainstream before it rejects me, by way of
projecting a Goth label, as a form of self-preservation.

But I realise that its not actually the case. Its just that Goth was my very first 'clique' at 15 and I never explored any other scenes (till later), it felt like my default. In actual fact I am drawn to this aesthetic, always have been since I was a child. Its an easthetic that includes much that is dramatic- be that Gothic, Femme fatale, Fetishy, Action etc. Dressing this way makes me feel Goddman sexy, and when I feel sexy, I feel powerful.

I have a theory that we are drawn to images and projected images of qualities that we feel deficient in and wished we had.(and we also critique in others areas which are most sensitive to us) For me it's true- I feel powerless and unsexy/unattractive (learned emotions from my past)- dressing this way helps me to be the person I want to be. (I also critique peoples dress sense most) But, like most people I don't dress conciously everyday- i don't get dressed for work feeling sexy and powerful- i grab whats clean and vagualy presentable LOL!

Like the OP I enjoy combining my various influences and dress to reflect the modd of that day. I also enjoy wearing colours. This qupte form Illamsquas fall line sums up my esthetic nicely.

"“Descend into the riotous scene of erotic adventure that is THE THEATRE OF THE NAMELESS, nocturnal den of the dissident leaders of underworld subcultures. Exotic dancers rub shoulders with expressionist actors and performers; nudists and Boot Girls openly compete for the Conférencier’s eye; and all participate in the Club’s endless, pleasure-seeking rituals, immersing themselves in a heady world of sensual delight …Teased by the sweet, pungent tang of opium, the air throbs with the electric shock of lovers’ flesh. Dare to feel the intensity of the club’s intimate caress, and abandon yourself to the glorious wonders of unfettered night-time"

I am pretty much in agreement. For me, being a Goth is simply who I am, and trying to appearing "mainstream" or "normal" feels very unnatural. But that being said, I am far past the stage where I feel compromised if I do not dress Gothed out at all times. There are occasions when, for practical reasons, I simply wear something else, but this doesn't change anything.

I'm in the same camp as both of you. The only thing is I have such a diverse goth wardrobe I could still be that way and fit into any situation that calls for a look.

As for any of it being a mask. When I was a babybat I think it was. I just wanted to be the complete opposite of where I was from. I adopted a tough deathrocker/tomboyish look to seem mean and unafraid. In reality I was scared of my area and people. It worked with some folk, but I was actually a coward.

I think for me it's been a natural evolution of my character - I was always the one who didn't quite fit, no matter how hard I tried and eventually I stopped trying. It was only when I stopped trying to fit in and stopped caring about other peoples perception of me that I really discovered myself both internally and externally.

I'm painfully shy and insecure about a lot of things and have never really felt part of a group... just kind of on the edge or looking through the window at what's going on inside. It never helped that academically I've always been told that I'm gifted and never really had to try - I was always envious of people having to really work hard at the academic stuff. Basically I was already labelled as a 'freak'.

I never termed myself goth in my younger days as I didn't really have a clue about subcultures as such, I just kind of did my own thing. Only later did I realise that the way I lived and the things I liked were termed 'goth' by other people. I guess like many others here I use my clothes and makeup as a way of self-expression, but in self-expression I mean expressing to myself who I am, rather than creating an image for those around me.

Being in New Zealand now has been quite hard for me as I'm so shy I literally don't know any other people other than my housemates. I really need to work on that! It also doesn't help that there just doesn't seem to be the 'scene' here like there is more of in the UK. In the UK I didn't struggle to find a bar/club where I felt amongst more like-minded people, whereas here I really do feel not only like a foreigner, but a strange foreigner at that. I also can't for the life of me find any decent clothes shops, so I've had to get a bit creative/thrifty with my 'look' - but it's not my ideal or what I'm used to.

So yeah, goth as a mask of power? Possibly. Goth as empowering? Possibly. For me it's goth as self-actualization.

One of the things I hate about "Blair Witch 2: Book of Shadows" is the ignorant redneck sherrif yelling:

"You think the black clothes and the makeup give you power? Underneath that, you're just a scared little girl"

to the cute Goth chick.

So no, I don't think Goth is just a mask of power, at all.

There are no "rules" to follow for you can be goth. For me, goth is a state of mind. You can wear bright color and still be goth.
Don't think that just because you are goth, you have to follow the "rules". There are no rules. Just be who you are, and label yourself the way you feel more confortable.
Be happy