Goth
Post-punk dress drew on darkness, romance and theatrical imagery. Its expressive range included patterned and embellished clothes as well as the familiar black wardrobe.
Skeleton-print skirt suit
Sarah Whitworth for New Masters · 1983
A bolero and bustled skirt carry a raised print of skeletons and broken glass. Designed for the New Masters boutique in 1983 and exhibited in the V&A’s exploration of 1980s club fashion.
Materials: Cotton sateen; ensemble record also includes nylon
Explore the original record © Victoria and Albert Museum, LondonAbout Goth
Goth took shape around post-punk music and clubs in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Dark clothing, dramatic make-up and references to death or the supernatural gave it a recognizable visual language. Lace, velvet, leather and torn fishnet could combine historical romance with punk’s confrontational edge. Wearers, independent shops and small labels developed the look together. Sarah Whitworth’s 1983 skeleton-printed suit shows one contemporary interpretation; Goth was never limited to a single designer or an entirely black wardrobe.