I Miss the Old Hot Topic

I miss the old Hot Topic with its neon red angry letter storefront. I miss all the Tripp pants, Morbid Threads, Lip Service, Demonia and other gothy adjacent brands. I miss the old Body Rage jewelry. I miss the platform boots. I miss the old platform boots and shoes section. The last thing I bought from Hot Topic was a Corpse Bride Beanie and a Sally the Nightmare Before Christmas perfume. I miss the old band tee wall. I miss all the Emo, Scene, Goth, Mall Goth, Alternative kids that use to frequent and also work there. I miss just going to the mall to hang out with my friends.

When I was in my 8th grade year I was on a trip with my family, and we went to the City Mall in Los Angeles. While I was there, I saw my first Goths. They were outside Hot Topic with trenchcoats on, and one guy had two different contact lenses. They were clad in Demonia Boots and smoking clove cigarettes. I was mesmerized. They looked like Rock Stars. I went home that weekend and went to my first thrift shop where I bought a black floor length skirt and black shirt with a red star on the front. I was at a new Christian school, and they didn't like my clothing choices. Neither did my parents. But I stuck with it going to more alternative clothing stores and storing up on black clothing. We used to have a punk rock clothing store downtown in my town called Dick Jane and Spike. That is where I bought my first Lost Boys tank top. I must admit I haven't seen the movie but after I bought that shirt I went home and watched it. I love Lost Boys still till this day and find it a most nostalgic movie.

Hot Topic was around for my formative years, and I often frequented my local Hot Topic but, I also thrifted a lot of my clothing. I used to DIY with rips and safety pins and fabric. Mall Goth was seen as an insult back then and anyone who wore Hot Topic clothes was seen as a poser. I'm glad I'm an adult and the once insult I can now use as my Spacehey name. I'm taking back the insult and the word Poser.