GOTHS IN HEAT: A GUIDE TO ALL-BLACK SUMMER STYLE

Though your love of dramatic, eerie clothing may be ideal for the autumnal chill of the colder months, the most dedicated goths would never get caught slipping in the summer months. As the heat approaches, you, too, won’t need to compromise on your air of mystery and morbidity.

After waiting two hours to get into the hottest abandoned warehouse in town (or, preferably, on the edge of it), a successful night of losing yourself in the repetitive blasts of industrial, coldwave, and EBM requires endurance. Keep it comfortable—but not casual—in a skin-tight bodysuit with plenty of ventilation that reminds you why you were invited to Trent Reznor’s VIP section. Try a pair of leather shorts and a platform boot to allow for maximum rave activity while preserving your sullen and grim demeanor.

Being goth has its advantages—even in the summer heat. For the keepers of the dark arts in search of the year-round fair complexion, a generous application (and re-application) of only the best-known formulas will do. Shiseido Ultra Sun Protector Lotion in SPF 50 lets goths freely enjoy a strappy bathing suit, without the risk of stubborn, nonsensical tanlines. Oversized shield sunglasses from Acne Studios or Rick Owens, the prince of darkness himself, are essential to pair with fetish-inspired swimwear to keep it kinky surfside.

In goth subculture, love, passion, and romance are just as essential as black lipstick and mega-hold hairspray (just look at Robert Smith and Mary Poole). Your favorite alternative couple—she’s a burlesque dancer, he’s a session saxophonist—are getting married this summer, and you and your plus-one are happy to celebrate this macabre matrimony. Accessorize a sharp, black double-breasted suit jacket with a notched lapel and surgeon’s cuffs from 424 with silver details for an elegant but mysterious look as you enjoy the vegan option for dinner. Diamante earrings slick with black resin accentuate the neckline, while a severe slingback stiletto make a sexy statement.

Communing with nature is essential for an active goth lifestyle. And form does not need to be sacrificed for function. This season’s designers offer practical activewear that will sustain your morose attitude and accommodate movement. The dramatic aura of a black cathedral veil is preserved with the Black Sheer Hood by Rick Owens, while even the smallest details are kept in theme with the all-black self-cleaning water bottle from LARQ.

Can I get a little more in the theremin? This is going to be the summer that your band, Miriam’s Velvet Echo, gets hired as an opener for a band your parents used to listen to on their fourth comeback tour. The Black Sierra Minidress from Vaquera is the perfect easy silhouette to practice your melancholic wails with all the despondence of a Lynchian leading lady (think Patricia Arquette in Lost Highway). Extra-high platform sandals from Eckhaus Latta recall the classic mall goth look, while a distressed tee from PALY paired with the classic Maison Margiela Replica sneakers in black pay tribute to the originals before you (your older brother’s band that went on tour the next state over).

Light the candelabra and retrieve the black roses from the armoire. Set the tone for an evening of adoration and devotion with your Peter Steele or Siouxsie Sioux with daring outfits that put no stoppers on sensuality. Channel certified loverboy Gomez Addams kissing up his darling cara mia’s arm in a sheer racerback tank top from Random Identities to make your feelings transparent. The Underwire Corset Maxi Dress from Dion Lee is an homage to the subversive fetishwear that is a signature in goth style. Cue “Lovesong” by The Cure on the record player: there’s no dedicated lover quite like a goth.