Why Patience Really IS A Virtue Sometimes

I know how it feels: You've just discovered this amazing new subcuture that describes you in every single way, and you want to completely immerse yourself in it in every single way, and you want everyone who sees you to immediately recognize you as a member of it. I've been there. I'm still there, as a matter of fact. But it takes time to look as ooky-spooky as you are inside. For a long long time (It's been almost a year for me) you will simply look at best vaugly alternative. Why? Because Goth clothes are expensive. You have to collect clothes over time, until eventually every outfit you own screams 'different'. 

You can speed up this process a little by not going on that 'just discovered this amazing subculture' shopping trip. Instead save up your money slowly, treating yourself occasionally to something beautiful. Whilst saving up, charity stores are the place to be. Here you can buy anything cheap, and then mess around with it to your hearts desire. Buy a cheap, nasty fabric first to practice on. If you don't have a sewing machine, hand sewing is always an option, although of course it takes a lot longer. If your school has sewing machines, asking if you could use them at lunch or after school is also an option: Most textiles teachers will be thrilled that you have an interest in DIYing your clothes, and they might even offer you tips on DIY. 

Yeah, really short post today, but I can't think of anything else to write. 

-Aisling 

TBBS, or Timid Babybat Syndrome

Sorry for my absence over the last two days, yesterday I was ironing whilst watching Titanic on T.V and forgot about the time, and the day before I was reeeeeeeeeeeaaaalllllly tiered. 


This post is probably going to be written in short chunks, because my left arm hurts a LOT from getting my jabs to stop me getting illnesses when I go to India for Christmas (soooo exited! :) )


This is basically a sort-of response to this post by Cherish on her blog Babybat's Blog.       

Right. Many of you will be wondering what the hell TBBS (Timid Babybat Syndrome) is. Answer: I just made it up. Obviously. It pretty much covers all the timidness a babybat may encounter when joining the Gothic subculture. It can be split into two types: TBBS A and TBBS B. TBBS A covers timidness encountered when around other Goths, such as someone might feel when entering a Goth club for the first time, even if they aren't a babybat. TBBS B is when someone becomes afraid that they may be a Poseur. There is no known cure for either type.

Situations in Which One May Suffer from TBBS A

• When going to a Goth club for the first time
• When bumping into another Goth in the street 
• When chatting to a Goth who is 'of a higher gothiness level' (by this I refer to the way we babybats are scared of goths who aren't babybats)

 Situations in Which One May Suffer from TBBS B

• When experiencing the feeling (un)professionally known as the 'Victorian Walking the Dog', where you feel the need to dress in your best for even the most mundane of tasks, and worry you may be a poseur by refusing to dress ungoth.
• When you find yourself liking bands others class as 'defiantly-not-goth'
• When encountering a not-a-goth and thinking that you're only Goth if you proclaim your ungothiness
• When discovering you don't like The Cure's music

Question: Do you/have you suffered from TBBS? If so, what type, and why? 

How to avoid being a MallGoth (rubbish title but I can't think of anything else to call it)

I've read a lot of advice on this and have put together all that I think is helpful on how to avoid looking like you woke up and went 'I'll be a goth today' without having any knowlage on how to dress and be goth

1) Don't act deppressed all the time. I'm sure you all already know this, but goths aren't deppressed, suicidel, self-harming people! Most goths are happier than people who are constantly pretending to be happy, because they acknowledge that life won't be one big happy time, so the sad times don't hit them as hard. Not that I'm saying all goths are happy, everyone's different.

2) Don't pile on the white make up and black clothes. Of course, you think goth, you think white faces and black clothes. But don't, please don't, paste whatever you use to make yourself paler messily over your face and put on any black clothes you find. If you like the pale look (like me :D) do it carefully. Pick a foundation a few shades lighter than your skin tone and blend it into your face and neck. Blend is the key word here. And as for clothes...just because it's black doesn't make it goth, and just because it's not black doesn't make it not goth. Look at clothes. Are they nice? Would they go with your wardrobe? Could you alter them to make them nicer? If yes to at least 2 out of 3 of these questions, buy it. If not, sorry, but it probably won't work. And jewel tones, such as deep red, are some of my favourite color clothes. These colors are also good for accents on clothes. You can go ice goth for a while and wear only white. Goth is about expressing yourself, not pulling on anything that's black. Although black is the main color of goth clothing...

3) Learn about the history of it. Goth started in the 70's. Learn about how it began, some of the original singers of goth music. The Ultimate Goth Guide has a lot of information on it if you look back through previous posts

4) Listen to the music. No, I don't mean Marilyn Manson. If you like him, fine, but he's not goth. Some of my favourite artists/bands are Emilie Autumn (I <3 you Emilie), Tori Amos and Love is Colder Than Death, but there are hundreds more out there. Again, The Ultimate Goth Guide has some artists to start you off (Guess which blog I recommend for everything? Correct, it is The Ultimate Goth Guide). But don't force yourself to listen to music if you don't like it. There are so many different genres of Goth music, if one isn't for you there's plenty more

Those are my four main points, but if anyones reading this, add more, because I know I've only covered a tiny amount. I may do a guest post soon by Juliet's Lace that's much more detailed on how to avoid the 'obvious newbie' look

Welcome

Welcome all Baby Bats

I am Aisling, and I've no idea what else to post...I'm a 12 year old baby bat and I'm always struggling on how to get into the Goth culture so I thought I'd start a blog recording my journey into Gothdom as a guide for other struggling baby bats. I'm going to provide guest posts (if I get permission) to pages that I found helpful and genrally try and help you others out there. This works two ways though, anyone reading this has to help me with any tips that they have as well :D...I'm also doing this to look back on when I'm an eldergoth and laugh at fondly. Right, let the blogging begin :D