How To: Goth up your Office Look

All Images Courtesy of Pinterest. I own nothing.

Halloween is right around the corner and that means my inner Goth is itching to come out. She often manifests these days as the occasional dark lip or bat print socks, but by October 1st the spook factor is in full swing.

So how does one add little touches of the macabre to their work wardrobe without looking like they waltzed out of Hot Topic? Easy - just tap into the genius that is Corp Goth. While I'm not recommending that you step out the door in latex pants and a striped blazer sharp enough to slice a man's head off, there are definitely some edgy silhouettes and styles that are still perfectly appropriate for the workplace.

1.) Accessorize.

If you want to keep it really simple and toned down, letting just a little of your Halloween spirit peak out, I would suggest incorporating one or two Gothic pieces of jewelry. A rosary style necklace is a subtle and classy touch, but if desecrating religious imagery isn't your speed, you can always enlist the ever beloved cameo necklace. Metal rings, bat earrings or maybe a spider-shape pin are also nice, minimal touches.

2.) Spooky Prints.

Unless it's the 31st and you want to raise all the eyebrows in your department, you should probably only rock ONE spooky print at a time. So take your pick of stripes, spiderwebs, skulls, etc and keep the rest of your slate clean.

3.) Up Your Eyeliner Game.

If you normally rock a winged eyeliner look, take it up a notch by blending a dark matte color into your crease. Add a few extra coats of mascara to your top and bottom lashes too.

Alternatively, you could keep your eye makeup neutral and rock a dark lip instead. It's the perfect time of year to find all sorts of berry, red, and purple shades in stores.

4.) Darken Your Locks.

I'm not talking about dying your whole head black, but if you're feeling adventurous I won't stop you. If you're a redhead, opt for a burgundy shade. Brunette, pick something with a purple undertone. And if you're blonde, pretty much anything goes - wouldn't some streaks of black look fabulous in a messy updo?

You don't have to permanently color your hair for this look, there are a ton of options out there - from temporary dye, clip-on hair pieces, and hair chalks.

5.) Make it Black.

When all else fails or you simply don't have (or want) anything else that's remotely spooky in your wardrobe, just wear black. It might not be terribly Gothic, but it's season appropriate and always looks sharp and powerful. Just channel your inner witch and you're good to go!


Do you dress for the season in any particular style? Tell me all about it in the comments.