How to Be Alt: Finding Your Alternative Aesthetic & Style Identity

"How to be alt" is a question people are embarrassed to ask because the alt community has a reputation for gatekeeping. But most people in the scene remember not knowing what they were doing when they started — and most of them had help.

This is the honest guide: not how to dress alt, but how to actually become alt. The distinction matters.

The most common mistake people make when "getting into alt fashion" is starting with the clothes. They see a look, they want to replicate it, they buy the pieces, they put them on — and it feels hollow. That's because the clothes are an output, not an input.

Alt identity is rooted in values and sensibilities: a preference for darkness over brightness, for edge over softness, for subculture over mainstream, for authenticity over trend. The clothes follow those values. If you have not developed those values, the clothes feel like a costume — because they are.

The good news: the values can be developed. And the way to develop them is through culture: music first, then art, then community.

Alt is an umbrella. Under it sit distinct subcultures with different sounds, aesthetics, and communities. Finding which one resonates with you gives your dressing direction.

Ask yourself: what music pulls you in?

Dark, atmospheric, romantic — melancholic bass and reverb? You are leaning goth. Listen to Bauhaus, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Cure, She Wants Revenge. The aesthetic: black, silver, velvet, lace, dramatic silhouettes. Read more: What Is Goth Fashion

Fast, aggressive, politically charged, three-chord urgency? You are leaning punk. Listen to The Clash, The Ramones, Bad Brains, Dead Kennedys. The aesthetic: leather, studs, patches, ripped denim, DIY everything. Read more: What Is Punk Fashion

Raw, anti-polished, flannel-and-distortion anti-fashion? Grunge. Nirvana, Soundgarden, Hole, Alice in Chains. The aesthetic: flannel, ripped jeans, worn-out layers, deliberate un-stylishness.

Emotionally confessional, mid-2000s, eyeliner and poetry? Emo. My Chemical Romance, Dashboard Confessional, Brand New. The aesthetic: skinny jeans, band tees, studded belts, dark hoodies.

Most people end up in a blend — punk-goth is common, emo-grunge is common, dark academia exists at the intersection of goth and literary aesthetics. The blends are fine. The point is to have genuine roots in the culture.

There are two approaches to building an alt wardrobe and neither is wrong — but they produce different results.

Building slowly means starting with one or two high-impact pieces and wearing them constantly until they feel natural. This is how most people in the scene built their wardrobes — gradually, over years, as their identity deepened. The result is a wardrobe that feels coherent and personal because every piece was intentional.

Going all-in means buying a full aesthetic at once. This can work if you are confident in your direction, but it often produces a wardrobe that feels purchased rather than developed. If you go all-in, start with the most cross-versatile pieces — those that work regardless of which specific sub-aesthetic you end up in.

Use code RIOT10 for 10% off your first Velvet Riot order — and start with pieces that work across every alt style.

Some pieces are so foundational that they belong in every alt wardrobe regardless of sub-style. Start here:

Black cargo pants. Punk, goth, emo, dark academia — the Black Cargo Pants ($55) work in all of them. Utility silhouette, hardware details, the right weight and texture.

Fishnet top. Layers over a black bralette for a goth look, under a flannel for grunge, under a band tee for punk. The Distressed Fishnet Top ($28) is the most versatile texture piece in alt dressing.

Skull ring set. Silver skulls work in goth, punk, and emo contexts equally. The Skull Ring Set ($22) — multiple rings that cover the hand without buying them individually.

DIY stud kit. The DIY ethos is shared by every alt subculture — punk invented it, but goth, emo, and grunge all borrowed it. The DIY Punk Stud Kit ($24) lets you customize anything into an alt statement.

Community and identity: What Is Alt Fashion | Alt Fashion Playbook | Alternative Fashion Guide

Alt communities are more welcoming than their reputation suggests — especially to people who are clearly there in good faith. The gatekeeping is almost always directed at people who are using the aesthetic without engaging with the culture.

Attend shows. Follow the music, not just the aesthetic. Talk to people. Know the names of the bands on the shirts you wear. Engage with the art, the literature, the films that define the culture you are entering.

The irony is that the people who say "you can't just become alt" are wrong — everyone started somewhere. But they are right that alt is not just clothing. It is a culture, and cultures require participation to be authentic.

Start participating. The clothes will feel right once you do.