Goths wear black because:

[darkmartin82]

oh jep, a long time ago I bought black pants, found them usefull, comfy, and it suited with most other colors (as far as I got those back then). after that I found myself in a theatre production at school, wearing all black at stage and found it to be nice. hardly changed it, accept that I incorperated blue pants and shirts and the gray or red sweaters.

I don't wear black to be the darkest or so, I just like dark colors for although they make me whiter (and I already am pale) it beats jelow, or some other sick color. jelow, green, green and brown make me look rather dead, sick or just weird.

oh yes it also can make you look smart.

[chloegoth]

I voted "Other", and here's the requested explanation:

If I wear all black, it always matches. I can dress in the dark and it looks good, every time, as long as I make sure I match the textures and all my clothes fit me.

Seriously, though... I wear a lot of black with a little bit of color, because I feel that the color stands out that much more if I don't cover myself in it.

[Icarian Decoding]

Why do I wear black?
Because I can blend in with every other guy who wears black.
Then when they ask the question, "Alright, who did this?", I look like every other guy out there. ^_^

[Godslayer Jillian]

Damn!
That was so funny I don't even know what to do!!
And I'm not being sarcastic. I don't know how did you do it, but you hit a spot on me that thinks that was so funny that laughing is not enough, so I'll just say:
That was funny!!

[Corpus_Draconis]

Good plan Icarian.

By the way Icarian, your name makes me think of ice bergs.
And Icarus, but that's a little more obvious.

[Cicero]

I vote other - Ask 10 different goths why they wear black, you'll get 10 different answers (just like you'll get 10 different answers when asking what goth is ). This is simply because everyone chooses why they do things for different reasons.

My own reasons for wearing black are thus:

I've never been very good at picking which colours go well together, and my solution, ever since I was old enough to choose my own clothes, is to match every colour of the rainbow with black.

Besides the ease of choosing what to wear, I like the way black contrasts with the colour of my skin, just as I like the dark shimmer of black velvet and the faint patterns visible in black damask. It's beautiful, and it's easy - it goes with anything and is available everywhere.

[Corpus_Draconis]

One thing I like to do is have a black-and-one-colour theme. For example, I'll wear black pants, black shirt, but with a neon green tanktop, green sash in my hair, green eyeshadow and a green belt or something.

But I wear black because it makes me comfortable. I feel like it suits me. I don't feel self-conscious when I wear it; I even feel more confident, even when someone gives me a full-on stare.

[A Simple Poet]

Goths wear black because it is smart, and Goths are smart, and it smarts for a Goth to look at pastels in the day time, and also because Black is unapologetic, indomitable, and sophisticated. Black conveys power, intrigue, and intelligence simaltaneously.

And Lord Byron loved black...

[end.of.eternity]

Black clothing makes look more skinny.

[Icarian Decoding]

Icebergs?
Wtf?

Anyway.
This thought occured in my head:
What color are suits? Black.
What color are most T-Shirts? Black.
What color are most dress pants? Black.
What color are most leather jackets? Black.

O.o Wow.

[Virulent Dryad]

Goths wore black because back in the day the common fashion was either glam rock style (David Bowie anyone?) or Punk rock style, both of which involved colour and such. Goths just went for a dry, bland look which just so happened to be black (occasionally put alongside white), as it was different at the time.
But now it's come to the point of being just plain lame to wear only black and I think the corsets look better with lace and other colours against the black.

[Draconysius]

Well, you just have it all figured out, don't you? You must be one of the original members of the subculture! Seriously, we all have different opinions on why the subculture wears a lot of black.

[Blushing Heliophobe]

I regret ever posting in here and I wish it would go away.

[Flyttamouse]

I don't always wear black but it's my default colour. I feel like there's no pretence when I wear black...if I'm feeling bad it matches my mood, and if not then I reckon my positive feelings show up better against the black. I agree with what a bunch of people have said about protection...wearing black exposes my emotions but that somehow makes me feel safer. Maybe because being misunderstood is the worst thing. Aside from having your eyes pecked out by ravens.

[marianne faithfull]

I think black it makes me feel good and it looks good that why I sometimes wear black.

[marianne faithfull]

Sorry I wrote that wrong Okey let me just write that again I wear black because it makes me feel good and it looks good on my I'm a big fan of black leather.

[Virulent Dryad]

Originally Posted by Draconysius

Well, you just have it all figured out, don't you? You must be one of the original members of the subculture! Seriously, we all have different opinions on why the subculture wears a lot of black.

Well, it's in the history of the Gothic subculture. I'm pretty sure another reason there's a lot of black is because it's not so easy to buy gothic clothes in other colours, unless you're in Japan or you're a cyber goth. Our options for clothing colours are limited. Just a thought.

[Sobeh]

Educate yourself. This is a short little read, nice, succinct...

[Draconysius]

You go, Sobeh! That is indeed an interesting article. Where the hell did you discover it?

[Virulent Dryad]

Well no one ever said it wasn't classy. Damn it don't these people have smileys?

[the_cure]

Okay confession time. I started wearing black as a trend. But as time passed,(roughly 6 months) I found it suited my artistic/morbid tendancies. Plus it slims me down, and matches the blues and reds I love so much.

[Sobeh]

Originally Posted by Draconysius

You go, Sobeh! That is indeed an interesting article. Where the hell did you discover it?

I found this article a long time ago; whether it was on this site or not I don't recall, but at any rate this is what set me off on the right foot way back in the day, and prevented such faux pas as, among other things, pretentously trying to be depressed all the time, or tucking black jeans into black K-Mart steel-toe boots. It's an awesome read.

[An Eccentric Cellist]

I was asked this today.... and the answer is I'm comfortable in it, it's slimming, you can wear outrageous colors and not clash, it's hereditary my mum does the same thing, and it is a security blanket. My infamous Rainbow Jacket got too small, so I took to wearing black because the jacket was my security so it was replaced by majority black. All hail the Rainbow Jacket!!!!!!!

[Sobeh]

Thanks, Joseph.

[Elder]

Originally Posted by Manimal

I don't know what it is about black clothes but... well I haven't worn too much black in recent years but it's calling to me in a big way. Kind of the same "return to your roots" calling that led me here I guess...

Yup, part of the feelings I been getting lately.
Been away too long.
They say you can't go home, but maybe you can just go back.
I think it was finally buying a black car that did it for me.
It reminded me how good simple on it's own black looked.