Fashion

10 Tips For Creating A Pastel Goth Style

10 Tips For Creating A Pastel Goth Style

Are you looking to try a new style? If you’re a fan of dark, alternative aesthetics, then the pastel goth look is just the thing for you. Combining elements of punk, goth and pastel-hued fashion, pastel goth style is a unique look that allows you to express your individual personality. Here are 10 tips to help you create a pastel goth style.

Looking to create a pastel goth style? Pastel goth takes some traditional gothic imagery and pairs it with cute and colorful elements. Pastel goth is sometimes confused with the (very similar) style of soft grunge, and refers to a style that mixes the hard edges of gothic fashion, with the soft pastels more commonly associated with Kawaii fashion subcultures.

Pastel goth clothing is a relatively new trend, but it appears to be a lasting one. You only need to check out Pinterest and Tumblr for tons of inspiration on how to creatre a pastel goth look! New alternative trends come and go, but pastel goth looks like it's here to stay - which is a pretty good indicator that it's a great style to adopt if you want to update your image in 2018!

Read on for some updated tips on how to create a kickass new look this year. With these tips, you’ll be looking pastel goth from head to toe in no time.

1. Choose Your Pastel Goth Colors

10 Tips for Creating a Pastel Goth Style

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Pastel goth is all about color! 

Unlike the traditional goth style, pastel goths welcome color, but there’s still plenty of black as this forms the the base color in pastel goth style. Add in some pastel pinks, blues, purples, and greens, and don’t be afraid to mix and match with different hues. The combination of pastel colors, black, and edgy gothic accessories make for a great pastel goth style! A notable addition to this style in the last year is holographic fabrics - so look out for these elements to be incorporated into a pastel goth look!

 

 

2. Play With Patterns

10 Tips for Creating a Pastel Goth Style

LAZY OAF

Patterns are great for adding texture, color and detail to any pastel goth outfit! Some popular prints are sugar skulls, bats, crosses, or even stereotypically 'cute' things like cats or candy. A pair of patterned leggings or a graphic printed t-shirt is agreat base item to build a soft gothic look from.

If you’re less into patterns, try something more subtle - maybe a pattern on a cute scarf or a hat.

 

 

3. Always Accessorize 

10 Tips for Creating a Pastel Goth Style

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Accessories are crucial to the pastel goth style, as they can add color to a dark outfit, or conversely 'darken' up a cute and colorful one.

The most common accessories seen in pastel goth style are hair accessories. A bow in your hair - especially in a pastel color - will look stylish and add to the contrast of dark vs cute styles. Chokers are also very popular. You could wear a classic black choker or you could wear a more colorful one, it’s up to you. Chunky or beaded bracelets, gothic necklaces, and rings are also very popular with the pastel goth style. Arm warmers are also great for accessorizing and staying warm, and look great with short-sleeved or strappy dresses.

4. Style Your Hair (Pastel Colors a Plus!)

10 Tips for Creating a Pastel Goth Style

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Many pastel goths dye their hair, with pastel pinks and blues being some of the more popular colors. There are no real rules when it comes to hairstyles to go with a pastel goth aesthetic; you can wear your hair long or short., but it's safe to say that a long, choppy style is very common. If you don’t want to dye all of your hair, you could consider dip dying it. That way, it’s less damage to your hair. You could also try wigs if you want to change it up often, and get a striking gothic pastel look instantly! Synthetic wigs are great for this particular gothic look, because they often come in brighter, less natural tones than wigs made from real human hair.

Hair accessories are great too especially if you can’t dye your hair - as they can add in the pastel colored tones that you really need if you're going for a pastel goth look. Skull or raven clips, or even flowers and bows look great - especially when you mix hard tones with softer colors. 

5. Wear Contrasting Makeup

10 Tips for Creating a Pastel Goth Style

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Pastel goth makeup has a strong foundation in traditional goth makeup; black lipstick is popular, but is often offset with bright eyeshadows. remember - pastel gothic outfits are all about the contrast between dark and light! for example, a light pink or purple will add the soft color to your look, but contrasts well with heavy winged eyeliner and a defined brow. 

You could also do more natural, everyday gothic makeup look with a twist. Try neutral eye makeup and wear a rainbow highlighter and a bright colored lipstick, such as turquoise or blue. You can also try out colored contacts to give your look a much more striking effect! 

6. Find Some Stunning Shoes

10 Tips for Creating a Pastel Goth Style

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You can have a lot of fun with shoes! Any of the classic goth shoes will look good - creepers, chunky heels, and boots. If you want, you can add colorful laces to a pair of black shoes you already own. Of course, you could also get a pair of platform boots in a pastel color of your choice - a look that is pretty popular when it comes to the pastel goth aesthetic.

If you’re not into chunky shoes, you could instead rock for a pair of flats with pentagrams or skulls on them, and pair them with knee high socks for a more kawaii edged pastel goth outfit. This type of look also harkens to the Harajuku style, so don't be afraid to borrow ideas from different alternative fashion subcultures as you build your pastel goth style.

7. Wear a Cute Pastel Goth Top

10 Tips for Creating a Pastel Goth Style

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There’s a lot of variety in pastel goth tops - so the possibilities are endless.  One thing to remember is that it is best to look for tops that are wither straight up gothic (to be combined with pastel accessories), or are pastel colored or otherwise cute and 'Kawaii', to be combined with more traditional gothic items.

For a more traditional look, wear a corset top in black, and pair it with pastel accessories. Alternatively, look for a graphic printed tee shirt, and goth it up with some traditionally gothic or 'dark' accessories, such as a goth choker or leather arm cuffs. The key is to create a contrast - so find pieces that clash, and make them work together!

8. Look for Pastel Goth Dresses

10 Tips for Creating a Pastel Goth Style

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Dresses are an easy way to make a pastel goth outfit - as they can be used to form the centrepiece of your look. 

For example, you could wear a pastel peter pan collared dress with black tights and tall pink boots! For a quirky style, find a pastel goth dress with printed patterns - such as cute ghosts, hearts, or bones on it. Most pastel goth dresses have a modern style to them, with cartoon style prints and bright colors taking centre stage. Fit and flare dresses or short A-line dresses are popular, but Hi-lo dresses with pastel chiffon detail work well, too. 

9. Add Earrings and Body Jewelry

10 Tips for Creating a Pastel Goth Style

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Statement earrings are another staple in pastel goth fashion. Large hoops, or pastel colored shapes are great. Gauges are also popular in the pastel goth world. If you like piercings, wear pastel goth jewelry that matches your style! Lip piercings and septum piercings are popular in the pastel goth community.

You can wear more dainty and cute jewelry like a small stud or a flower, or you can go bold with spikes and studs. If you don’t want to commit to a piercing just yet, look for a fake piercing! You can find fake septum clickers very easily.  

 

 

10. Tie It Together With a Jacket

10 Tips for Creating a Pastel Goth Style

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Finally, tie together your outfit with some awesome pastel goth styled outerwear. Cardigans are a great addition to your wardrobe, and come in many different styles and colors that can pair perfectly with this particular subculture.

But if you want to make a bold statement, look no further than leather! Leather jackets in pastel colors such as mint green or baby pink add an instant touch of pastel goth glam to any outfit - so watch out for these! Denim jackets are also very popular in pastel goth fashion; a lightly tye-dyed denim jacket or a bleached denim jacket will complete your outfit - and offers a perfect opprotunity to experiment with some fashion DIY. Add studs, safety pins and some cute patches to build a pastel goth look that is truly unique!

Now you know how to create a pastel goth style. What’s your favorite tip?

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About the Author

Haleigh Missildine