Elegant Gothic Aristocrat

So what is an "Elegant Gothic Aristocrat" ? well it's me apparently !

No, it is a clothing style that stems from the Japanese Gothic Lolita fashion. According to Wikipedia "The term Elegant Gothic Aristocrat was originally coined by Mana, a fashion designer and former band leader of Malice Mizer, and is used to describe his brand of clothing carried in his store Moi-même-Moitié. EGA gained momentum on the Japanese fashion streets in the late 1990’s when their onstage rock-idol attire spread like wild fire among his fans." 

Well Ok so the name may have started with Mana, but the look didn't as I have been dressing like this since long before the late 90's. The film Bram Stoker's Dracula may have helped to popularise it at that time.

So what exactly is it? well just like the name implies really, elegant aristocratic and Gothic. Victorian inspired Long black skirts, tailored jackets, long shirts with sleeves, ankle boots etc. More refined than the Gothic lolita or basic Gothic punk.

The thing is, I only just discovered that there was a name for this look and an entire subculture to go along with it ! I just dress this way because I do, and mostly have from my early teens. I just called myself a Goth for all those years, I was not actually aware that there were different types of Goth styles.

So there you have it and if you have been living under a rock as I obviously had, you can be ignorant no more. Now you know what an Elegant Gothic Aristocrat is.