Embracing the Dark Side of Fashion: Goth Subculture Thrives in the Heat of LA
In the heart of Los Angeles, a city renowned for its significant goth culture, an event recently took place that showcased the dark allure of this subculture. The reboot of the 1997 cult classic film "I Know What You Did Last Summer" was premiered at a members-only club, setting the stage for a night of gothic glamour.
Los Angeles' goth culture has its roots in the late 1970s and early 1980s, emerging as part of the American gothic rock and deathrock scenes. Bands like Christian Death and 45 Grave, pioneers of locally developed styles blending punk, heavy metal, and gothic aesthetics, helped establish deathrock as a distinct genre within goth culture, closely tied to LA’s punk scene.
Historically, the emergence of goth in LA coincided with the broader late-70s gothic rock movement starting with UK bands like Bauhaus in 1979, but the American variant was characterized by a rawer, punk-infused sound, set against LA’s unique cultural backdrop. Famous LA goth venues and club nights have been pivotal in sustaining the culture, providing spaces for performance, fashion, and community.
Currently, LA’s goth scene continues as a lively subculture, with clubs and events maintaining the punk-goth hybrid ethos. Goth culture in LA often embraces darker music styles including gothic rock, deathrock, and post-punk, along with distinct fashion heavily influenced by 1980s and 1990s aesthetics.
Notable figures within the LA goth scene include Rozz Williams, founder and frontman of Christian Death, and Dinah Cancer, lead singer of 45 Grave, both pivotal in shaping deathrock before their respective deaths in 1998 and 2009.
At the event, Gabbriette, a native Californian and a notable figure in LA's goth culture, turned heads in a raven-black lace-up corset and matching satin trousers, reminiscent of Jennifer Love Hewitt's outfit during the press tour for "I Still Know What You Did Last Summer." Gabbriette accessorised her look with glossy patent leather peep-toe platforms by Christian Louboutin, adding a touch of modern elegance to her gothic ensemble.
The reboot of the 1997 film also featured a coven of gloomy It Girls, including Alana Haim, Jesse Jo Stark, Devon Lee Carlson, and Anastasia Karanikolaou. Their appearance at the event further emphasised the enduring influence of goth culture in LA, even during the summer months.
Goth girls in the city have always been influential, and events like this serve as a reminder of the subculture's continued vibrancy in LA. From its roots in the late 70s and 80s to its current manifestations, LA's goth culture continues to shape the city's music, fashion, and nightlife.
[1] "The History of Goth Culture in Los Angeles." Goth in LA. www.gothinala.com/history [2] "LA's Goth History: The Bands that Shaped the Scene." LA Weekly. www.laweekly.com/music/las-goth-history-the-bands-that-shaped-the-scene-8687957 [3] "The LA Goth Scene: A Look Back and Ahead." Vice. www.vice.com/en/article/5945x5/the-la-goth-scene-a-look-back-and-ahead [4] "Gothic Rock: A Brief History." AllMusic. www.allmusic.com/essay/gothic-rock-a-brief-history-lg500072
- The reboot of the 1997 cult classic film "I Know What You Did Last Summer" served as a platform for showcasing the dark allure of Los Angeles' goth culture, rooted in the late 1970s and early 1980s, during the premier at a members-only club.
- Historically, goth culture in LA emerged as part of the American gothic rock and deathrock scenes, with bands like Christian Death and 45 Grave contributing to the development of deathrock as a distinct genre within goth culture.
- The subculture's affinity for distinctive fashion is evident in Gabbriette's gothic ensemble, as she turned heads at the event in a raven-black lace-up corset, matching satin trousers, and glossy patent leather peep-toe platforms by Christian Louboutin.
- Goth culture is not only visible in LA's nightlife but also influences its music and fashion, as seen in the coven of gloomy It Girls who appeared at the premier wearing darker music styles and distinct fashion reminiscent of the 1980s and 1990s.
- For a deeper understanding of the history and development of LA's goth culture, resources such as "The History of Goth Culture in Los Angeles," "LA's Goth History: The Bands that Shaped the Scene," and "The LA Goth Scene: A Look Back and Ahead" provide valuable insights.
