Outfit Inspo: Edwardian Goth

Someone on redditt/FemaleFashionAdvice recently posted an inspo album that deeply appealed to my newly awakened “goth” sensibility. These two photos in particular caught my eye:

What do we call this? Vaguely Edwardian goth dandy? Is that a thing? Let’s make it a thing.

Typically, I don’t like to put together outfits that are literal copies of someone else’s; I like to add my own spin on things, if only because that way I’m less likely to be disappointed if I don’t end up looking as cool as the original. [Sometimes, it’s not so much that I want to dress like someone one, as it is that I want to be the person I imagine them to be. Know what I mean?] This was an exception. My first thought was “damn, too bad I don’t have a cane and top hat” because, yes, I wanted to wear this literal outfit immediately. Since that wasn’t option, my next thought was to try to figure out how I could get as close as possible using the pieces I have in my closet.

Attempt No. 1 was fairly predictable, if you’re at all familiar with my closet.

My AllSaints ruffle blouse was a natural choice. The Sarah Pacini tunic thing was a good match, because the stretchy, deep V-neckline allows the blouse to shine; the bottom half of the tunic also adds some volume and texture and angles when layered over my Aritzia Johan skirt. [Sidenote: that skirt has become one of the cornerstones of my wardrobe. I probably wear it once a week which, given my wardrobe numbers, is quite a feat.] To further emphasize the waist, I added a wide obi-style belt.

I liked the result a lot, but it had one drawback. To account for the lack of sleeves and the weather, I had to add a cardigan before leaving the house, and that kinda spoiled the effect I was going for. Oh well.

Attempt No. 2 was a much less literal interpretation.

The skirt and shoes are the same, but I substituted a simple silk button-up shirt (Equipment) in place of the fancy ruffle blouse. I buttoned it all the way up to emphasize the collar. In a stroke of inspiration, I added the cropped faux leather top (Zara) for a bit of extra texture and edginess. [Sidenote: this cropped top is also becoming a key piece in my wardrobe. It’s shockingly handy for adding interest to outfits.] Then I threw on a sharply-tailored blazer (Smythe) because I was going to the office, and wanted to look extra badass.

I wish I had taken a photo of the outfit sans blazer as well, because it looked very cool both ways. This was an outfit I loved, and it received quite a few compliments at work as well.

Attempt No. 3 was a kind of compromise between the two previous ones.

Here, I used the skirt, blouse, belt and shoes from the first outfit, but subbed in a long coat (Boss) for the tunic. The higher neckline of the coat allows less of the blouse ruffle to be seen, so the effect is more subdued. However, the coat sleeves add their own bit of drama.

This was a fun little exercise in outfit-making, and I plan to use this photo for general inspiration when out on my thrifting adventures. Who knows, maybe I’ll even find a cool cane one of these days.