Cintra Wilson declares that “The origins of contemporary goth style are found in the [[Victorian fashion|Victorian]] cult of mourning.”<ref name=cintra/> [[Valerie Steele]] is an expert in the history of the style.

Cintra Wilson declares that “The origins of contemporary goth style are found in the [[Victorian fashion|Victorian]] cult of mourning.”<ref name=cintra/> [[Valerie Steele]] is an expert in the history of the style.

Goth style’s rejection of mainstream values, emphasis on freedom of expression, and challenging taboos makes it difficult to define its [[Gothic aesthetics|aesthetic]] principles. Goth fashion emphasizes transformation of the body, elements of beauty, order, conscious eroticism and ‘otherness’ that flouts conventions.

Goth style’s rejection of mainstream values, emphasis on freedom of expression, and challenging taboos makes it difficult to define its [[Gothic aesthetics|aesthetic]] principles. Goth fashion emphasizes transformation of the body, elements of beauty, order, conscious eroticism and ‘otherness’ that flouts conventions. Marcy Powell.

Many goths are drawn to the fashion due to a sense of [[social alienation|alienation]], which may explain the style’s fascination with morbidity or [[vampire]] [[fashion|style]]. Wearing black eyeshadow and shroud-like clothing that refers to the dead may express grief, despair, or mourning. Some goth experience fashion as a transformation from [[Social alienation|alienation]] through self-expression and a sense of belonging to a community that shares the same sense of alienation.<ref name=cintra/> Alternately, the fashion may reflect an attraction to the darker side of [[human sexuality|sexuality]].<ref>César Fuentes Rodríguez “Mundo Gótico” (Quarentena Ediciones, 2007, ISBN 8493389161), page 233 & ss.</ref>

Many goths are drawn to the fashion due to a sense of [[social alienation|alienation]], which may explain the style’s fascination with morbidity or [[vampire]] [[fashion|style]]. Wearing black eyeshadow and shroud-like clothing that refers to the dead may express grief, despair, or mourning. Some goth experience fashion as a transformation from [[Social alienation|alienation]] through self-expression and a sense of belonging to a community that shares the same sense of alienation.<ref name=cintra/> Alternately, the fashion may reflect an attraction to the darker side of [[human sexuality|sexuality]].<ref>César Fuentes Rodríguez “Mundo Gótico” (Quarentena Ediciones, 2007, ISBN 8493389161), page 233 & ss.</ref>