Corporate Goth: Look Nice at Work Without Selling Your Soul

For most, especially the younger crowd, being "goth" is just a phase that one will grow bored of over time. The novelty of shock value will wear off and one will retreat back into normalcy, wincing whenever their mother brings out old pictures of them in black lipstick and a Marilyn Manson shirt. For others, this is just who they are. They move past the mall goth phase and into a darker style mostly influenced by how they feel, not what Hot Topic is pushing. They enjoy the darker side of living and stay with it through out their life, not for the shock value, but because that is who they developed into. Some may own clothing stores, record stores, DIY for a living, write, teach... Goths are able to do anything any "normal" person capable of doing. Which means they even hold corporate jobs in the city or a retail position that requires a little bit of dressing conservatively on a daily basis. To some goths, this is an idea that makes them shiver thinking they may have to give themselves up for the Man. The important thing is that as long as you feel goth, whatever that may be for you, you still will be a goth- even if you decide to wear color one day. Once you realize that, you can still assimilate within the corporate world, yet still add a little of that dark flair you possess to that button down. Whether you're a goth fresh out of school and into your first job, or a goth with a job that's tired of the same boring suit from day to day, you can incorporate dark yet conservative pieces into your work wardrobe. It's a quiet subset of goth known as "Corporate Goth", a less shocking version of you, a dark yet refined you, that will get you that job or promotion without selling out to
the Man. The following are a few ideas to get you started, whether you want to keep your personality
among the hum-drum of bad suits and pleated khakis, or you're just tired of wearing those bad suits and khakis.

Start Off Conservative.
This may sound counter intuitive to the whole article, but this is important. It's not about shocking the employers at the interview or making the whole office stare at you every morning when you walk in. You want people to recognize you for your work, and not to distract them with the way you look. You want to be remembered for being a quality employee and as you gain the trust of your supervisors and management, you can start slowly adding the darker things as you go along. But until that moment, give people the chance to remember your name, get to know you, and notice that you're amazing at your job instead of them just focusing on your look. If you jump in with the look first, that's all they'll be tempted to talk about, but if you focus on work first that's what they'll notice. Then you can slip some of your favorite jewelry, your favorite boots, or *gasp!* black nail polish in because you've earned it.

Consider Something Other Than Black Lipstick.
Make-up is something that can be easily used to keep your dark side happy, but still say to your office that you can be professional. The trick is to keep it minimal, so if you're a guy who likes eyeliner, you may want to keep it at home and reserve it for nights at the club. Ladies may want to keep their make up simple. Try neutrals such as greys and browns for the eyes instead of black. These soften your look a little and make you approachable, but still can be layered on for a nice smokey eye effect. If you're the type with a love for bright colored eye shadows, those also do better on the weekends unless used in moderation. If you're unwilling to give up your purple, green, or blue shades, consider the richer shades and just use a little around the eyes. As long as you don't feel like you look overdone, then you should be fine for the office. As for lips, leave the black lips at home. There are dark shades out there that won't be as outrageous as black, but keep you happy. Deep reds and burgundies are nice shades to swap in, as are golds and neutrals. These days there are funkier shades that are becoming more acceptable, so get out there and try a few until you come across something you like. A general rule
for your consideration: If you're going to do heavy eye make-up for the day, keep your lips light and vice versa. This is a surefire way to keep your make-up tame for the Corporate Goth look.

What Does corporate Goth Hair Look Like?
Crazy dye jobs may be a thing of the past now that you've landed yourself a job in corporate America, but that doesn't mean hair has to be boring! If you're a guy and you like your hair long, I see nothing wrong with keeping it the length you like as long as it's clean and you look well groomed (this is a good rule of thumb for ladies too). Your facial hair may have to be toned down though, which varies between companies and their policies, but if you work somewhere that will allow it just remember to keep it clean and maintained. If you're a lady with long locks and you love them, by all means keep it long. A low ponytail or bun works for those days you want to keep it out of your face. Remember to keep it sleek, no teased death rock/Robert Smith looks. Those looks don't translate well into the office. If you're a short haired lady like I am, go for a versatile cut. A-Line cuts of all lengths are great and offer an edgy look without going too overboard. Even Victoria Beckham's longer bang cut with the short back can be dressed up for work or dressed up for a night at the club. Rhianna's short cut works well, the long bangs let you keep your aura of mystery, yet looks sophisticated enough for the office environment. As for colors, you may have to give up the fire engine red. Black will never go out and has never, in my experience, been considered too harsh. I've even seen some platinum hair goths that look very polished for the work place. If one color is too boring for you, consider a natural highlight; dark natural reds with dark hair and some darker blonds to break up the platinum. There are even some red and burgundy dyes out there that give you a color that stands out, yet doesn't take away from the conservative look of the professional environment.

Dog Collars Are For Dogs... Except On The Weekends.
Body piercings and tattoos may have to be hidden. It's an unfortunate fact that they may have become more popular among young people, yet they still haven't been accepted within most workplaces. The best piece of advice is to cover your tattoos and put a spacer in your piercings if you have to. Ear piercings are usually okay and there's plenty of styles out there that will comfort your dark side. Chandelier earrings and big hoops are usually very tasteful and can have a Victorian feel to add to your look. If you have gauged ears that aren't stretched beyond all belief there are loads of plugs that have stones or designs that make it look as if you're wearing a large stud earring and no one would know any better. If you have multiple ear piercings, small silver hoops or studs can look very clean, and all black ear jewelry is an option. But what about the rest? Big rings? Necklaces? Big rings with big stones can look good as long as there isn't one on every finger. Keep it minimal, but one that makes a statement can add just enough to your look. The same goes for necklaces. Look for a vintage style or a piece that makes you happy. The 1920's line carried by most large retailers offers a lot of looks for a goth that are both tasteful and dark. I also suggest checking out Alchemy Jewelry on the internet. Some of there stuff may be too much for the normal work place, but there are some nice rings, bracelets, and necklaces with the usual assortment of skulls, bats, and dragons that are subtle enough for the office. Just leave the spiked collar and loads of bracelets with the rest of your club wear. Less is more when it comes to work.

Do I Wear Black, Black... or Black?
Corporate Goths have a good advantage when it comes to work wear. Black looks good. It's sleek, polished and not frowned upon by most employers. But all black everyday can be boring. Invest in a few very nice black suits (this goes for women too) and add a little color to it. Don't be afraid of color! White shirts are always a nice staple, along with shades of red, blues, greens, and purples. You can get all of those colors in a very nice button down. Or you can use those colors to accent the outfit with a tie. Ladies can follow those colors also, but instead of a tie there are always scarves. If you're not the pant suit type of lady, pencil skirts look great in the office! Just make sure if you choose a skirt or dress, it's not too short. Make sure it is work appropriate, check out what other people are wearing around the office and add your own goth flair to it. Button vests are back in style also, and you'll find some great styles for both men and women. And never rule out pinstripe anything. Pinstripe is
still a very classic look. A rule of thumb is to not get dressed as if you're going to a club: leave the vinyl, fishnets, arm warmers, lace skirts, and corsets (unless coupled with a suit jacket) in the closet for Saturday night.

Combat Boots and Six Inch Heels... What Do I Wear On My Feet?
The men may be able to get away with Combat Boots in the office, but why go through all the trouble of finding a nice suit to just throw it off with big boots. There are some nice dress shoes out there for men. You'll find a style that suits you if you just try everything on. No, they won't be your favorite boots, but you can still get a pair that screams "goth" to you, yet looks acceptable in the office. If the boys have to leave the boots at home, so do you girls. I agree that the right boots can look nice with a skirt, but your employer may not. Shoes are getting edgier these days. You can find any pair of stilettos is patent black and even a red. Red gives a nice pop of color and breaks up an all black ensemble. Never rule out white either. Just don't wear your six inch heels out, you don't want to break an ankle in the office and those are better suited for a night out. If you're not into heels, there are a lot of flats out there in many colors. They're comfortable and they can have a little bit of your taste with work in mind. Mary Jane's are always an option too, they're always very classic and look great with pants. And if you're still dead set on boots, shy away from the combat, platform type and go with a small heel and only as tall as the knee if you must. These are usually seen in the office and look good with a longer skirt.

Remember, being Corporate Goth is still being yourself with the workplace in mind. You want to wow your employer with your work before you do with your look. You don't have to completely compromise yourself for the office, but you do have to be presentable. With these tips you can do just that. At the end of the week, it'll feel extra nice to put on those big boots and corset and dance the night away- because you earned it and the money you made (despite your tiny compromise) allowed you to buy that killer outfit and a round of drinks.