101: How to Dress Alternative When the Sun is the Enemy

Sunlight, ice creams, boredom. Summer is coming and with that comes a huge problem for alternative people: heat.

Alternative fashion usually contain many layers of clothing, accesories, and big hair. It tends to have lots of black (but other colours are also welcomed!) which is not an ideal colour to wear in summer.

If you're also in a place where summer is basically hell but still want to at least try to wear your style... here's my "tutorial" on how to! (with a main focus on goth)

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-1: Upper part

A really obvious option is big shirts. Band tees, tv show tees, any big shirt with a cool design is perfect! If you don't have one, my advice is to buy a plain simple big shirt and DIY, if it's black, you can do it with a white pencil, clothes paint, or, my favourite one, bleach; if it's white, use markers, clothes paint... You name it!

Tops, especially loose with a big space between the armpits and the top, are great for the summer. It would be preferable if the top wasn't black or not 100% black since its more likely it will make you sweat. Something like black with other colours (purple, green, blue, red, etc) or a grey one or even white.

Crop tops that aren't really close to the armpits work for a nice (quite minimalist tho...) alt look.

-2: Lower part

SKIRTS!! A good, nice flowy skirt is a must! I would recommend a long skirt since, in my opinion, is more alternative due to the long shape it gives you. With this one it doesn't matter if its pure black since the flowiness of it gives you a breeze.

If you're going to wear a short skirt (which I can't blame you for) its better if it isn't fitted and has some layers to it.

(Tip: to make anything more "alt" add safety pins, chains, pins, etc)

If your option is shorts, go for either really short or really long. Black, grey, blue, or dark red are the best colours for them. Add belts (preferably more than one) so as to make it more alternative.

If it has a hole anywhere it would also look nice!

If you're more masc, with pants it doesn't differ that much from shorts. Only taking into account that they need to be quite baggy, otherwise you'll sweat a lot (unless summer isn't that horrible in your country, in that case I'm so jealous).

-3: Shoes

Sandals time! (omg who would have thought) Black sandals will always do the trick, especially if they're platforms. A personal favourite are heels hehe. Add spikes to them if they feel too basic and you're good to go!

In the case where you can wear socks, just wear your normal shoes for your outfits. Big combat boots, long boots, tall heels, huge sneakers, etc.

-4: Accesorise!!

Details *make* an alternative outfit. An insufferable amount of silver necklaces, as many rings as your fingers can handle, BIG earrings with many details and shapes, bracelets covering your arms instead of your sleeves, chains and pins everywhere to fill the empty holes!

Big sunglasses, rectangular or triangular, go perfectly with summer.

Try using sharp and long shapes with edges and no soft parts for the "rudeness" that alternative fashion carries.

I think this one is the easiest step since accesories barely increase your body heat.

-5: Hair

If you have long enough hair: ponytails, pigtails, braids, buns... Tease any free hair and spray some setting spray for it to hold throughout the day. If you have layers, embrace them! Use a straightener or curler if you will to make them more prominent.

If you have short hair: tease what you can or do some liberty spikes, they'll immediately give you a cool af alt look.

For the curly haired people: brush out those curls. No more comments. Just trust me.

Unfortunately, I can't really give advise to those with afros since I don't have one myself and cannot fanthom how hard it is to handle. Nevertheless, I can say that lliberty spikes and braids/locs with silver jewellery look amazing!

If possible, dye your hair! It's summer, the time to be carefree and rebellious! AND. ADD. ACCESORIES.

-6: Makeup

Makeup can't be as heavy as usual because of the heat, but you can still wear eyeliner, eye pencil, and eyeshadow. Kohl is supposed to protect your eyes from the sun but I can't really say since I've never used it and can't recommend any specific brand... oops

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And that's it! I'm obviously not that experienced, I just thought to share my knowledge to anyone out there in case it was helpful.

Byebye my fellow alt ppl, I *might* post this on Substack too for anyone who uses it (where there's pictures! I didn't manage to put them here it was kinda confusing sorry I'm like a grandpa) so yeah that okay bye