Gothic Fairies

Gothic Fairy - Dark Thoughts
Renee Bierepfel

At first the idea of a gothic fairy might seem to be a contradiction in terms. We usually think of fairies as bright, cute creatures of the light - not the dark. A typical image is that of Tinkerbell: a pretty thing full of brightness and laughter.

In reality, not all fairies are quite that pleasant and there are many tales where the fairy kingdom is home to the dark fae of the unseelie court.

One only need think of the changeling tradition to realise that fairies aren't always good. That's a modern picture - in the gothic tradition fairies were often dark and many people today still like to produce and buy gothic style dark fairy art. It seems that the more forcibly something is presented as light and good, the more we feel a need to explore its dark side.

Fairies, like people, come in all shades. Even when they aren't completely dark, they need not be totally light. They are often described as mischievous trouble makers. Which brings us back to Tinkerbell. She was a fairy - but no angel. Her sense of "fun" quickly turned to serious jealousy. Despite her appearance there was definitely something of the gothic fairy in her nature.

Modern Fairy Goths

The goth look - along with its associated accessories and, sometimes, decor - is very popular, especially amongst younger people. One subclass of goth is known as the fairy goth.

There are no clear cut definitions of goth sub-cultures. However fairy goths are usually thought of as being slightly lighter and more whimsical than most of their counterparts. As well as the usual black they might have splashes of brighter colours such as pink in their wardrobe. Some even like to go the whole way and buy not only clothing and jewelry but the complete dark fairy outfit including wings and accessories.

The term "fairy goth" is sometimes classified as a sublass of glitter goth.

External Links:
Gothic Bedroom Ideas

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