My 13 year old son wants to become a Goth. Does anyone know where I can kit him out without going broke?

Answer 1

I know what it's like, my son's been a Goth for years.

Try this site out, it's well worth it.

www.daregothic.co.uk

The owner, Fayley, is so nice and helpful that most of her customers become friends (whether you order on the net, by phone or go to her shop).
Her prices are very reasonable (actually very cheap in comparison to a lot of shops). Some of her clothes are gorgeous....and I'm a 48 year old NON Goth. There's also plenty i wouldn't be seen dead in.....but your son would love them!

Check it out and have fun!

I've just read some of your other answers, and felt i had to edit mine just to tell you of my experiences of Goths.

As i said, my son has been a Goth since his early teens (he's now 21). Admittingly at first i wasn't too keen on the idea that he looked different from the majority of teens, and he had to put up with a lot of stick from the 'townie's'. Anyway i respected his need to express himself and dress the way he wanted.
My son is and always was, a very kind, thoughtful and lovely young man. He's very sociable and doesn't have a mean bone in his body (and i'm not just saying that because he's my son). He's never done anyone any harm and never been in trouble with the police.
All his 'Goth' friends i've met are all the same as him...very pleasant, nice well adjusted young men.
Nowadays though, my son only dresses in Goth gear on the occassional night out when it's apt.
I think you'll find that it's the so called 'normally dressed' kids that hang around the streets all day and night are the ones you have to be wary of, NOT the 'Goths!

Answer 2

Hi there! This is the son of Julie B here! She told me about this and I felt I should pop on and say hello and to help explain some things.

First things first, iritadragon? I don't know what her problem is, as Mum has already said about my friends and I, we have more respect for people than most others, we don't judge other people, we don't go around sacrificing small/large animals, knifing people, picking fights or anything. We have a different look to others, so what? Why does that harm others and why should the way we dress have anything to do with going out and harming people when as said before that would mostly be the townies. I say I don't judge, and this is true - I am not contradicting myself here - just saying that any problems I've had with people, they have been the narrow-minded idiots who think it's fun to pick fights. So iritadragon, just because your daughter went a bit wayward, that does NOT mean that all goths are the same, far from it. Have you ever thought that it could have been the area, people she mixed with or even her upbringing? Just putting ideas into a pot, don't always blame others... Look closer to home.

Quote time! - "Don't forget that Goth is all about death and dying, finding out about their "dark" side and living life as close to the edge as they can come" Rubbish!!

Goth is often related to the macabre true, but we just talk about issues often taboo to people. And in groups of our 'necrotic horde' *sigh* we have the freedom to talk about what we like. As townies like to talk about seeing how much one can drink and how may people they can pick fights with.

Anyway, the goth culture is nothing to be scared or wary of. We are just like anyone else and funny enough, your son may actually be safer among goths than he would amongst townies/chavs.

http://www.daregothic.co.uk/devilution/250806/30july06%20001.jpg
Have a look! We're not evil! Just enjoying each other's company. Browse the site...
Thank you. Josh

Answer 3

If he wants to try this as a lifestyle, I would definitely not "help" him. Have we already forgotten that the earliest school shootings were undertaken by "Goth" kids?

My youngest daughter "went Goth" when she was 15. She quit school and moved downtown to live on the streets, or doss down with other street kids 20 to an apartment. It took her two years to outgrow this phase. A lot of her friends didn't stay alive long enough to outgrow it.

Goth is not just black makeup and clothes. Don't forget that Goth is all about death and dying, finding out about their "dark" side and living life as close to the edge as they can come.

Answer 4

Traditionally, I think you're supposed to scream things like freak!, weirdo!, and not-in-my-house! while slamming doors a few times. If the goth-to-be is really committed to the idea, they'll figure it out from there. And, as a bonus, you'll have given him his first emo tale of angst. You can't be a good goth without a full repertoire of angst.

When my daughter was leaning in that direction, I used to tease her about wanting to be like all the other non-conformists.

Or suggesting that if she wanted to be really different, then she could be the goth who refused to wear black.

Answer 5

get him loads of black & deep purple gear from charity shops then alter everything to how he likes it, do it together he will love the involvement & appreciate your understanding of what he wants to do & it will also be nice for him to create new gothic designs...my oldest daughter is goth & has been since 15 & she now 28, thats what we did and she loved it, okay boys don't sew as a general rule but at least he will play an active part in designing what HE wants to wear. Tell him NOT to look at the clothes that you get from charity shops as they stand ask him to imagine what they will look like when you have both doctored them...have fun doing this

Answer 6

I;d try ebay first, then probably oasis markets (in birmingham tho), i'd also try flea markets and second hand clothes shops (tell him its vintage!!) Internet is good too, some awesome american sites which can work out cheaper than shops as goth clothing tends to be quite expensive

Answer 7

charity shops are great for finding goth clothes, also tk maxx have some really unusual stuff on their clearance rails.
a visit to kensington market would be good if you are near London, or St Nicholas Market in Bristol.
Fair play to you for being supportive of what he wants to do to express himself! there are lots of narrow minded eejits out there who think that looking a bit different is something to be scared of.
I know I would much rather my child was a goth/punk than some idiot who wants to be a gangster and thinks its cool to be disrespectful to others.

Answer 8

If you want to avoid the whole thing - pretend that you think it is a great idea and do it yourself - wear all black clothes in the house and weird makeup and play goth music and dye your hair or get a wig!! Pretend that you want to do it all as a family!! See how quickly he changes his mind!!

Answer 9

Afflecks Palace, Manchester.

Answer 10

Get some black fabric dye from shops like Woolworths. Make sure it's the right one to put in the washing machine (buy salt too, you need that in the machine). It is a cheap way to turn his clothes gothic! Black hair dye is cheap if you by the shops own brand (i.e Boots)