Nitya Bajaj’s jewellery line, Gothology, sets the trend for Gothic accessorisation; (top) Nitin Bal Chauhan’s Spring-Summer 2010 collection is full of digital prints inspired by Gothic architecture

Want to connect with your dark side and make an intriguing fashion statement at the same time? Think black — in terms of your outfits, war-paint and even accessories. Even as some Indian designers play with the Gothic look on the catwalks, fashion conscious women are flaunting the look in structured and layered black outfits, dark nail-paint and thickly-kohled eyes. Men for their part are getting hooked to chunky metal finger-rings, thick-soled boots and outfits embellished with chains and rivets.

Goth may have always reminded you of gloom and darkness but it’s a look that is sure to turn heads.
“Goth is a big trend internationally and it’s now trickling into India as well,” says fashion designer Varun Sardana. He adds that globally, Gothic is more like a cult movement.

“But in India, Goth is neither a cult nor even a sub-culture as it is abroad, but you will find
people borrowing elements from it to suit their fashion sensibilities,” says Sardana.

“Since it has a lot to do with black, you’ll find hints of Goth in almost everybody’s wardrobes,” says designer Nitin Bal Chauhan whose collections are replete with Gothic
elements.

Designer Nida Mahmood says that youngsters are not shying away from wearing Goth in moderation. “You’ll see elements like rivets and spikes on wrist-bands while neck accessories also have pointed metallic embellishments apart from bracelets and brooches,” she says. 

Asymmetrical dresses and shades of charcoal and grey are part of Rohit Gandhi & Rahul Khanna’s Autumn/Winter 2010 line

According to Chauhan, “Symbols drawn from churches — like stained glass windows — are a major part of Goth.” His Spring Summer 2010 collection is brimming with digital prints inspired by Gothic architecture and the stained glass church windows.

According to him, Goth often goes from elaborate layering to a structured look. “For instance, a multi-layered skirt in different shades of black or even a structured garment with ruffled collars and bodices with overlapping cuts qualifies as Goth,” says Chauhan.
Designer Rahul Khanna’s Autumn/Winter 2010 collection has its own interpretation of Goth highlighted by the global recession. Asymmetrical dresses and a sombre colour palette with shades of charcoal and greys dominate the line. “The economic downturn meant that people were feeling low and wanted to wear black to
reflect that mood,” says Khanna.

Sardana’s Autumn/Winter 2010 collection too screams Goth with an emphasis on structure, layered garments in black.

Varun Sardana’s Autumn/Winter 2010 line flaunts Goth-inspired layered garments in black teamed with thick-soled boots

The war-paint too is a crucial element in completing the intensity of the Gothic look, says make-up artist, Jojo. “Emphasising the eyes with kohl, an application of dark eye-shadow, black nail-paint and dark lipstick is the way to go,” he says. Slip into a black dress thereafter to bring out the Goth inspired look.

Since accessorisation is a huge part of Goth, rosary-inspired neckpieces, chunky chains and rings, bags printed with symbols taken from churches and even skull motifs all point to Goth. 

Young designer Nitya Bajaj offers Gothology, a line of fashion jewellery dedicated to Goth. This collection is high on black oxidised materials, braided chains and metal rings used to symbolise Goth. A choker called Fishing has a huge oxidised metal dead fish. “Death is associated with darkness and the dead fish reflects the dark side while other elements like chains and stones add a fashionable edge to it,” says Bajaj.

You can also go Gothic with tattoos of crosses, crucifixes and symbols like daggers, silver bullets, bats, dragons, coffins, demons, skulls, skeletons, barbs and spikes. “These dark-inked tattoos highlight the Gothic elements with symbols inspired from the church or variations of Christ on the cross,” says Khanna.

But before you reach out for black outfits, crosses and skulls and bring on the dark eyeliner, a tip from Mahmood: “Be it Goth or any other look, don’t go overboard, but let it enhance and compliment your sense of style.”