@@p40v1der13look in charity shops/thrift stores or make your own! but I’m sure you look awesome anyways, the looking “dope” thing doesn’t actually matter that much as long as you have fun with it
another thing is that alt can also include brighter styles such as decora kei, gyaru, fairy kei, or anything associated with stereotypical harajuku fashion. its all about dressing outside of popularity, and being pro inclusion :)
those are some of my favorite styles. i naturally gravitate towards more saturated colors paired with ones across the color wheel, and i also absolutely adore the maximalist accessories of decora
i love gyaru fashion omg no one ever thinks of it as being alt because a lot of it is cute looking but it was literally a rebellion against the beauty standard like !?!?! cuteness has always been a political statement in japan and i love it
Usually the weirdest and most interesting people wear basic clothes anyway. That's what I've learned, people who dress crazy are usually very boring persons.
@@ItsOKtobeNormalor idk people are just people? As long as your nice and not a dick then you're fine. I usually find people who express themselves outside of the norm are very interesting and fun and nice people. Doesn't mean dressing in a more basic or mainstream or as you would say "normal" way is bad or means your boring. Nothing wrong with dressing either way despite what you might think
@@ItsOKtobeNormalIdk why we have to put down "weird" people to uplift "normal" people. Tho you are queerphobic, so that's kinda y'all's whole MO lmao
@@rainbowdashsailormoon6005if they don’t know a single harajuku style yet claim that alternative is just emo, they don’t even know the definition of alternative and why it exists 😭
I'm 60 years old. Back in my youth, I was into punk. I liked the Dead Kennedys, Circle Jerks, Black Flag, etc... I wore some AWESOME clothes. LOL Ah... the good old days.
love all those bands. keith morris from the circle jerks is in a new band now- OFF! they’re pretty good. i have been to a few of their shows. i wish i had a punk grandma or mom lol. 🖤
I personally use the term “Alternative” whenever people ask me what my aesthetic is because I blend elements from different subcultures, and not a single one feels right. I like incorporating some gothic elements, but gothic music isn’t my main main music. I like some emo music and elements, but I’m not emo. I love some grunge fashion, etc.
Friendly reminder that you can dress however you like BUT if you're gonna claim a label like "grunge", "goth" or "punk" pls research the subculture and realise it's centred around music(and quite often politics and moral values) not just clothes. - If anyone wants some music recommendations from one of those subcultures tho let me know :)
Yep. I consider myself punk and sometimes I dress grunge to be more comfortable. At least appreciate the music and values behind the style before claiming the label :)
Another thing! You dont have to dress alt all the time or stick with just 1 style! Personally, i rarely get alt-ified if im not going out! I also switch between emo, grunge, and punk ALL the time! Im currently working on a crust jacket :)
Thats very true. I just Choose to dress emo and goth (I'm both, actually), because it makes me feel beautiful for myself. (My reply notification is turned off since 2 years btw)
Honestly, the only reason I still look goth at home when doing nothing is because I buy everything I wear to match, so all my clothing, including my home/night clothing, is black or my chosen colours: green, brown, burnt orange, wine purple or red. I’ve been stuck between “whimsigoth” and trad goth for almost 2 decades though, so I guess my tastes don’t alternate much. 😂 Good luck on the jacket, enjoy DIYing! ✨
As an alt person who’s been alt since I can literally remember (I wanted to start being like the emo kids at 9 yes old and I just never left the alt vibe and values), this is the best explanation you could possibly give you explained EVERYTHING… PERFECTLY!!!
@@visioncake0222 A K was talking about Punk, not alt as a whole, alt fashion in its current status is for music and/or fashion that differentiates from the norm, making it an alternate option for people who don't like the norm. A K also doesn't seem to understand that certain subcultures have different forms that tend to either exist at the same time and fight over the label, develop over the years with slightly changed values or completely rework themselves over the decades.
Alt roots are in the punk movement of the late 70s and early 80s. OG punks were pretty active in social movements revolving around racism, injustice, fighting the suppression of the lower classes, etc. (especially in Germany). Which is why today's alt movement still has a lot of this incorporated into it's general vibe. Goths came around the same time, and although they did have their own brands of activism, and some absolutely joined in with the punks. For the most part it was a rebellion against mainstream fashion, and music, an appreciation for the darker side of life and aesthetics, which had its own fights. I'd check out Angela Benedict if you want another elder goth's historical perspective on the alt subculture.
this is honestly a great explanation of alt style and culture and it’s in a very positive way! i’ve seen other people explain it and shit on other subcultures under the alt umbrella
when i discovered that alt fashion was… idk, allowed? i suddenly stated seeing a bunch of styles that made me feel joy. i didn’t know that feeling joy over everyday clothing was possible until that moment, in my very late teens. now i wear a culmination of like 5 alt styles 💀😂
Omg yes!! I’ve always liked the characters that are alt or something like that. When I found out I could wear cool clothes like that I was so happy and I am always so happy to get new clothes
THANK YOU! Istg people be getting so fucking pressed when you call something punk alternative or goth 💀 they’re always like “THATS NOT ALT THATS GOTH” 🤣🤣
yyayyyy!!! I love when people not only include but teach about being alternative. I’m emo and it makes me so happy that other people are actually educating themselves about it and not just overlooking or bullying alt people. Thank you Ange!!
Another point is that even things such as cottagecore, dark academia or old-fashioned styles can be considered alt, not just punk/goth/emo Edit: so apparently I gave really bad examples but my point was that "alt" just means alternative, so anything outside of the basic "status quo" can be considered alt
You’re right! Alt could be anything at this point, but I think it can still be described as an “alternate” way of doing things, just living how you you want without worrying and just vibing.
Though I think there is a difference between those and the ""classic"" styles like punk, goth and emo, since those are centered around music genres, while for example dark academia and cottagecore have other things they are centered around (disclaimer,, I'm not saying this to exlclude them from the alt umbrella, just an interesting observation, why they still seem like sorta different sub-categories of alternative to me).
@@Deeegenerate true, they came from different backgrounds so while theyd be considered alt now I suppose they're not what we would originally consider to be "alt"
@@angemariano97 ive seen so many people who either grew up or had parents who grew up with older alt subcultures who say that it’s more than just the music and fashion and ideology also play a very important role
some styles r indeed mostly music based, like u can’t be emo or goth without listening to the music, and u can’t be punk without believing in the politics, but most don’t have those limitations, i don’t really think it’s gatekeeping as nobody’s saying u can’t be those things, if we didn’t have rules than anything could be considered emo, goth etc
bigg yes BUT… here certain alt subcultures (goth/emo) are entirely music based. i’m goth but i don’t dress goth. you can wear the clothes but theres a difference between that and BEING goth
girl it is just about the music lmao you cant for example say youre goth but not listen to goth music, same for grunge, punk etc. just say you’re offended that you can’t be a poser and move on lmfao
Let’s not discourage people that want to be alt but can’t shop exclusively at small businesses. Small businesses are expensive af and sometimes shady, I recommend starting by upcycling old clothes or going to your local thrift store. :)
True that, it's not that tempting to support small businesses (at least the online stores) with their prices, no free shipping, no returns etc. Also little fuckups in quality are covered with "every piece is unique🥺"
As a goth I 100% agree with this. In the 70’s and 80’s there weren’t any specific stores for Punks and Goths to get their clothes from so they took whatever was in their wardrobes already or thrifted and DIY’ed it.
I disagree, there are plenty of small businesses which are just as affordable if not moreso than bigger stores. For example, I don't like going to goodwill because I disagree with the wages they pay their workers, and they've marked up items considerably at many locations near me now that thrifting is trendy. I've found that smaller local charity shops have better prices, and I feel good knowing that the money is going to fund services for the good of my community. You are right that many artisan/handcrafted/small batch goods and consignment are more expensive than what you can get at a larger stores, but "supporting small businesses" also can mean things like going to the locally owned icecream shop instead of the dairy queen, or buying a book from a local shop instead of ordering it online. I agree with the sentiment of "you don't need to buy your clothes at a specific kind of store to be alt," but depending on the area, there could be a lot of affordable ways someone can support a small business.
@Night Slasher please test anything you buy from Shein for lead, if you can. A Canadian research group found some of their clothing uses dyes that leave behind amounts of lead that exceed the safe standards for clothing. I understand many people can't afford to buy from more expensive brands, but please try to be mindful of the risks that come to your body from the chemicals in clothes made by fast fashion companies like Shein and Romwe.
As a trans lil emo boi, I THANK YOU FOR THIS- and the accuracy you put into this is incredible and not poorly discripted , more people need to see this
I have a bit of a Lolita/fairy core/kawaii aesthetic, and I support and love all of these. I’m eleven and an aspiring fashion designer and you’re my biggest inspiration! I really want to make models feel GOOD about their outfits and make them feel better with their bodies! I’m all for body positivity, and pro rights! I love this and I love you!!
Acknowledges musical roots, also acknowledges that the fashion isn't necessarily linked to the music anymore, also acknowledges that the heart of alt is political, also acknowledges that alt is a giant umbrella term. Why is this a better description of alt than most in-depth guides I've seen.
thank you for this! this is my first time seeing this but it's an amazing explanation. I'm glad you pointed out that alt is inclusive cause I've been told I'm not alt before😭😭
This is why I feel safe with alt people. They are just normally ‘my people’ even though I don’t look alt. I look like a straight laced, teacher’s pet, straight girl. I am really an LGBT+ Christian who is deeply in the closet. But when I see someone who looks “different”, it feels like a ‘welcome home’ sign that I never felt in the cliques I was expected to be in (like the pastor’s kid clique, or the good Christian girl, or the straight A student, etc). It’s comforting knowing y’all are just yourself, and will accept me when I don’t fit into the boxes I am assigned.
I absolutely love pretty much all genres of alt fashion (meaning I can’t think of one I don’t like) and I LOVE that a lot of them like scene and punk incorporate wearing tons of accessories like pins and layered jewelry and chains, I love the maximalism!
I’ll never forgive brands like dolls kill for making people think that dressing alt was expensive. Punks literally made their clothing out of actual garbage at one point 💀
Thanks for including the scene subculture here!! As a scene kid we can sometimes be left out, so this was really nice from you! Also, you don't need to dress the subculture to be a part of it: You need to be fully submerged in the music and values of the one you picked, and THEN you can choose to dress it or nah, that's optional, really. Is like having a fabric flag on you at pride, you can have it or nah, just by being there with one painted on your face and screaming for equality with us, you show your support, fancy clothing or not.
I’m a grunge little goblin with my fashion and love either colour explosions or looking like a snail, and the fact that alt is such an inclusive term really brings together people of all styles, thanks for covering this style! :)
I’m a huge mix of alt lol. Going through styles such a emo/scene, soft goth, lolita, himekaji, decora, ryosangata, jirai kei mainly in that order (a lot of overlap) with jirai being the most recent (pretty new style in Japan). I don’t think I could ever just stay with just one style.
The good part: you don’t have to choose just one! Explore your tastes in fashion, music and lifestyle and enjoy every second. Have fun by being your most true self!
thank you soo much for mentioning how alt is an umbrella term because i've seen people get mad at certain subcultures for not being "real alt" but it's all under the alt umbrella!!
Im so glad you actually showed what alt fashion was instead of just settling for random pics of tiktok egirls that are just normies with eyeliner and hair dye
Haha that's honestly pretty cool! :) now you have opportunity to shock everyone with your olds pictures or alternatively claim you don't have any (assuming you look totally different)
@aleksi k I realized I was repressing parts of myself, making me depressed, and how I dressed was a reflection of that. As my mental health improved, I didn't feel like wearing the clothes that reminded me of that depression. It was actually a dress-up game (Love Nikki) that made me look up Lolita fashion, and I realized I could actually wear the beautiful ruffles and not just look at them~ Now I go to local meet ups and we have tea parties together 😊
YES. As an alternative person this video is just perfect. I will be sending this to anyone that asks about what alt is because I’ve never been able to explain it better than you just did here.
If clothing were free and society didn't have norms, we'd look like a cesspool of different fashions ranging across so many decades (myself falling in the Y2K and 2000s fashions). I also fully believe that clothing stores and thrift stores would be absolutely empty if the purge was ever real
my sister and i are very different flavours of alt. shes into goth and metal and dresses very gothic, but is very prejudiced and buys all her stuff from fast fashion stores and shein. on the other hand, many of my clothes are from charity shops and im trans and bi, but i really only listen to a few different bands (ive got that sameness loving mindset)
Thank you! I loved alt when I was younger, and this is how I understood it to be. But mainstream made me think that maybe it has changed, and I've gotten too old. It's good to know I'm not too late to get back into alt again.
Thank you for adding that it can be a bunch of different styles. I’m wear alt clothing as my whole wardrobe is almost all pastel clothes and it feels like a lot of the time the brighter or lighter colored alt styles get ignored!
exactlyyyy, I hate how many people think alt is just that one style that was popular on tiktok in 2020, that style is alt but theres SO much more I describe my style as alt for example bc I dont have 1 specific style I like and Im often not sure which outfit is which style, I just love so many of alternative styles and will dress in them!
i've been dressing (or at least wanting to dress) alt since 7th grade when i first discovered alt music, and it ramped up to 100 in 8th grade when i was introduced to ✨mcr✨ i still love alt fashion to this day 💖
i love alt style sm but you have no idea how scared i am to dressing different and in a way that can attract attention il generally just stay listening to alt music bc it slaps
I normally wear fancy @ss dresses (normally black) but I also have a bunch of normal clothes for school trips or when I don’t have the time. But I think that falls under alt since my style normally is… unique
Im so glad she wasnt like “alt people like black and death and loud ass music and being overall pieces of shit!” This was actually informative and helpful. Tip to new punks goths emos etc do a bit of research find someone whos been in the subculture for a bit. Its a lot deeper than some people take the time to talk about.
Thrift stores are your friend not hot topic not saying I don't like to get band shirts and s*** like that there but I keep them until they have holes in them and then they're cool this one I have is from when I was about sixteen and I'm 33. Best way to make your clothes look vintage is to wear them out yourself 😉
Or we just let people wear what they want and not make such a big deal about it, especially when you literally admitted to finding articles of clothes you still buy there 😂 thrift shops underpay their works while jacking up their prices on items based on brands. There is no ethical consumption under capitalism. Even if you make the clothes yourself the fabric you buy probably wasnt ethically made either.
just a reminder, the place you get your clothes from doesn’t matter as long as you feel comfortable wearing it 💕 when i first started dressing alt, i initially went to shein and romwe because i was scared what people would think and alt clothes weren’t easy to come across irl for me (okay, maybe thats because i was looking in forever 21, but we don’t talk about that). then i found out hot topic and spencers existed and i started going there a lot :) now i still shop at those places, but i try to find any hidden gem small business on etsy or online. its all a matter of what’s most accessible and comfortable to you! don’t let anyone judge you based on where you shop
Wear whatever the hell you want. If you want to dress in a more punk style don’t let Pinterest or another person who thinks they know better tell you want that means. It’s a little different for everyone. Do whatever you think looks best for you, makes you comfortable, and fitting into the punk community and whatnot will follow. It’s abt the vibes
THIS Queen, I think you dropped this because you're literally spitting straight facts: 🏆👑 I just wish more people (especially on TikTok and Pinterest) would understand this instead of just straight up bullying alt people (mostly minors who just began experimenting with different styles) who are anything other than punk, scenemo or goth.
Anyone can dress however they like but it's important to do the research on styles with political origins! You can't be punk and pro capitalist for example. This comment isn't meant to be gatekeeping or mean I just want to spread awareness! Have a nice day everybody!
Have you heard of n*zi punks and ancaps... I'm a punk and while yeah I hate both those groups we still are branches from the same subculture. Don't talk about shit you don't know about
I would honestly love to see you talking about J-fashion! I personally am part of the community (specifically, decora kei) And would absolutely adore to see someone talk about it! I feel like you would like a lot of the styles!
This makes a lot of sense and i alrdy dress alt! Its cause my style can vary quite dramatically, i typically go for a more edgy, gothy all black style, but then some days i can flip to the opposite and wanna dress in all colour harajuku style all rainbow maximalist pins in my hair, then another day im girly fairy pinky cute lace bows princess teddy bears etc. i always wondered how i could like such contrasting styles, guess most my styles fall under alt so i just truly be wearing whatever the f i want and being my true self!
LITERALLY THIS. Alternative fashion and culture are made of a million different things, and a million different individual unique people. You also don't have to stick to just one, or dress up super intensely all the time, or stay within a "checklist". I'm scene but hell if im styling my hair for 3 hours just to have it go back to curls in 3 minutes, lol. Be yourself is the most important rule.
Thank you for pointing out alt people are accepting of everyone! As a goth girl ive never met an alt person that didn't believe everyone should be able to do what they want if they're not hurting anyone. We get a bad reputation for just being "edgy" but we just want to be able to express ourselves and have fun with it!
The one positive about alt becoming main stream is that when it’s not main stream anymore, the “posers” will leave and many people that have genuinely become interested will stay! Like I learned lolita fashion from alt becoming main stream
YESSSSS THIS so many forget what it really means to be alt!!! I'm goth in particular and it's crazy what mainstream media has reduced this label to. to me, a goth is someone who listens to goth music first and foremost, and probably someone who is anti consumerism and capitalism and is a big suppirter of marginalized groups. it's someone who opposes this restrictive society and will actively be themselves in the face of a society . goth is community, meaningful music exploring the darker topics in life, a fashion style that is bold and an expression of your true self, and it's a subculture with decades of history to mainstream media, goth is just an e girl with eyeliner and listens to lil peep it fucking sucks how such meaningful identities and communities are being treated, but then again, I guess the cycle is just continuing. people misunderstanding the alt community, having no idea what we truly stand for, and grouping us all together as depressed weirdos
Thank you for showing sweet lolita as an example 😍😍 a lot of people think alt is "black" or "edgy" and a lot of people excluded me from being alt for wearing lolita clothes
