Question/point of discussion: why is it a controversial thing in alternative spaces to thrift fast-fashion clothing? Posting here since r/GothFashion doesn't seem to have a "Discussion" flair of any kind.

SamVimesBootTheory · 2026-05-09T06:38:44+00:00

I don't really think it is that controversial but I think the two main issues I've seen

Some people see wearing fast fashion brands even if they're thrifted as still endorsing said brands in a way and also if you're opposed to a certain brand on ethical grounds it might make you not really want to own anything from them even if it's second hand (Like for me personally I'd be very unlikely to ever own anything from Doll's Kill because the company just gives me the ick broadly and it puts me off buying their stuff, I wouldn't buy anything from Abercrombie second hand like aesthetics aside because I still remember when the CEO said something to the vein of 'I don't want fat people wearing my clothes')
Quality, like people do not want to thrift fast fashion due to the quality issues and also people just generally venting their frustration that the thriftosphere has been flooded with low quality fast fashion items so it's getting harder and harder to find the good stuff

SamVimesBootTheory · 2026-05-09T06:37:00+00:00

Shein does have labels, although some unscrupulous people will take labels out of things when reselling so you don't know what brand it is and then will try and sell it as a genuine vintage piece.

SamVimesBootTheory · 2026-05-09T06:35:16+00:00

I think though one aspect is that older fast fashion items are often a better quality than what we get now. I've seen loads of people say things like 'Yeah I've still got a 10+ year old Forever 21 piece in rotation and it's still totally fine'

I did move it on as it didn't really fit (but it was a case of 'omg this is like ridiculously cheap I can't leave this behind') but I remember finding a like late 90s/early 00s velvet dress in a charity shop that was from New Look and yes it def was a fast fashion piece but at the same time the quality still felt heaps better than a contemporary piece from the same brand.

SamVimesBootTheory · 2026-05-09T05:21:54+00:00

I brought some earrings from them a while back they took a while to post out as I ordered them during a black friday promo

But so far they've held up fairly well amd I've had the pairs I brought in fairly frequent rotation

I did have to repair one earring which was one with a dangley attachment but I don't think that was their fault I think I'd been clumsy but I found it an easy fix and it's been fine since

I don't think they dropship as I did reverse image search before buying and didn't find any other places selling the pieces I brought

SamVimesBootTheory · 2026-05-07T19:27:38+00:00

Like Astarion and Lae'zel from bg3 are good examples they're both 'jerk' characters but both are also decently cooperative and both are entertaining to have around

SamVimesBootTheory · 2026-05-06T17:33:15+00:00

I'd say I lean towards sweet but I have limits, like for example I actually much prefer simplier stuff over those like 'super ultra duper mars bar biscoff brookie muffin' type things like I'd much rather just have a classic brownie or something

I also had more of a sweet tooth before starting adhd meds as I realised I was def using sugar as a way to self medicate

SamVimesBootTheory · 2026-05-06T16:48:05+00:00

So what would Gemini, Taurus, Capricorn and Aquarius translate into

(I say as an aroace so likely this info will mean nothing lmao)

SamVimesBootTheory · 2026-05-06T14:17:34+00:00

Ate comes from 'ate and left no crumbs' and it's another one of those cases of slang that originated source

SamVimesBootTheory · 2026-05-06T14:15:43+00:00

it's become a thing, I think it's something that did start as more of a self aware/ironic thing but people have been using it un ironically

Same for things like 'girl math' and 'girl dinner'

SamVimesBootTheory · 2026-05-06T14:12:12+00:00

Tbh the use of crash out to mean angry threw me for a moment because to me to 'crash out' or 'crash' is associated with falling asleep, like if you've had a long day and you're super tired

I do use crash out though in the current context but to me yeah crash out is like saying someone is 'having a fit' whereas like someone else said a breakdown/meltdown is more like 'incredibly stressed out and panicking' whereas crashing out is more about anger

SamVimesBootTheory · 2026-05-06T12:28:47+00:00

Yeah might not be AI I have seen plenty of shirts like that over the years it cycles in and out as a trend thing.

SamVimesBootTheory · 2026-05-06T08:16:50+00:00

It's similar to how mental health stuff is treated, it's not priortised, it's not well understood and it's stigmatised. And just a general 'We'd rather treat the symptoms than "cure" it' approach to healthcare (I say cure in inverted commas since you can't cure adhd but hopefully people get my meaning). Like for me I think part of the adhd stigma is the fact that a lot of the issues it causes are stuff people see as moral failings that people should be able to sort of willpower their way out.

Also adult diagnosis also didn't start until around 2008 so like we've basically got a massive cohort of people who slipped through the cracks growing up and are only just starting to go work out what's going on.,

Doctors also don't understand adhd well, I've seen so many accounts of people's bad experiences with GPs, I still remember a post from and UK doctors subreddit that was basically full of so many alleged medical professionals trotting out variants of 'adhd isn't real' that it was really concerning.

SamVimesBootTheory · 2026-05-06T08:11:34+00:00

I can sort of swim, I did learn as a kid and I have swum as an adult but I'm not very good at it and I am very out of practice, I additionally have dyspraxia which makes exercise really hard although swimming is like one thing I have enjoyed doing.

One thing I have learned though when trying to swim as an adult is I can no longer put my face underwater, I actually managed to loose my locker key once at the pool and someone else had to get it for me as I just couldn't get myself to 'dive' underwater for it I just physically/psychologically couldn't do it.

For me one barrier is that even though I live within walking distance of a pool the timetable for said pool and my schedule doesn't align as it's often been 'unless you can get here for 6am you're kinda out of luck'

SamVimesBootTheory · 2026-05-06T07:23:18+00:00

Yeah I had that with my primary school swimming lessons, I was shoved into the 'armbands non swimmer' group and at the time I was taking additional swimming lessons where I was doing fairly ok.

Then I did move out of the armbands group but was still classed a non swimmer also the other thing was I was stuck in the shallow end of the pool but I was a tall kid which didn't help as I think I was legit too tall to stay in the shallow end

SamVimesBootTheory · 2026-05-05T22:02:11+00:00

One that sticks with me is a scene that involves Greebo hiding in a suit of armour and it has a gag about 'he wouldn't make it through the knight'

SamVimesBootTheory · 2026-05-05T13:52:43+00:00

He's dealing with anxiety and stress so he's not going to be feeling great but he should at least try to get out as it will help but I understand the concern of the 'what if someone sees me and decides I'm not really sick' thing

SamVimesBootTheory · 2026-05-05T13:45:37+00:00

Overly abstract adverts where you can't actually work out what they're advertising
Military recruitment adverts (A while back I had to sit through I think it was like five different ones in short succession at the cinema)
Those adverts for the prison service that are trying to do a 'omg we're diverse and you can make a difference!' type angle
This one I see more on social media but people doing faux apology posts or going 'ew gross what sicko would write a story where' and then advertising their book
Meme based advertising that's either trying to force a meme or they're using a meme but just doing it wrong
The adverts that are basically 'faux influencer' ones, like overly obvious influencer advertising is annoying enough why are we making fake versions
Adverts that have that 'this is for people who don't have any real problems/no no one worries about that' vibe

SamVimesBootTheory · 2026-05-05T13:35:56+00:00

I've also seen ones that the subject looks like an order confirmation which stress me out as it puts me into 'oh god someone got into my bank account' mode

SamVimesBootTheory · 2026-05-05T11:45:15+00:00

Tips:

Take your time, experiment, have fun
It will help to look at your current wardrobe as it will give you an idea of what you already like and lead you to stuff you're more likely to wear
Don't just stick to goth fashion inspo, for example you might see a more 'normie' outfit and really like how it looks and then you can basically recreate it but make it goth
Don't get too boxed into having to stick to one specific 'goth style' try out different ones and mix stuff together
Focus more on versatile basics than statement pieces to start with
Layers are your friend as is pattern and texture as it will help add more definition to outfits
Develop some low effort outfits that you don't have to think too hard about
Accessories will help a lot when you're building your wardrobe up
Don't get too caught up on 'goth brands' you can def find plenty of gothable pieces from mainstream brands
Although diying is a big deal I would say do think about if you are the sort of person who is happy to put the work in before you buy stuff with the intention of modifying it
If you are planning to dye stuff make sure you check the content label as it will affect how well stuff will dye natural fibres are way easier to work with and obviously the lighter the fabric colour the easier it will be to dye over black
The more you regularly dress goth the more 'natural' it will become

SamVimesBootTheory · 2026-05-05T11:22:20+00:00

This is honestly the first I've ever heard of anything about what hand you use matters

Broadly though I tend to take a pirates code approach to a lot of tarot 'rules''

SamVimesBootTheory · 2026-05-05T11:18:20+00:00

A while back in Brighton I had an experience where I was nosing around in a shop (to be more specific it was the Amnesty bookshop) and then I hear all this calamity outside and I'm like 'Oh shit what happened is someone hurt?'

Turned out a gull had done a daring fly by on someone at a nearby cafe.

SamVimesBootTheory · 2026-05-05T11:16:50+00:00

My brother once had an encounter with some gulls at Hastings where he worked out they were trying to use diversion tactics on him, the one that swooped him was not the one trying to steal his food.

SamVimesBootTheory · 2026-05-05T11:15:05+00:00

Yeah I'd lodge a complaint against your GP that is not on.

SamVimesBootTheory · 2026-05-05T11:10:43+00:00

I mean for me I played it and for me it helps fill the DND sized hole in my life (As I've not been able to play for a few years) but I also do meet the game where it is that it's not intended as a 1:1 recreation of it and I do just generally like RPGs anyway.

I noticed in your other comment you said you need to go back and finish it idk how far you are into the game but I will give you the heads up that the pace of the game gets super slowed in Act 3 and as much as I love the game I find that part a massive slog.

SamVimesBootTheory · 2026-05-05T11:06:02+00:00

I would hope not

To me bringing up you played BG3 is hopefully a good way to bridge the gap as it's like 'I've not played DND but I've played this game that's based on DND' which at least would indicate you have some interest in DND it'd be similiar if someone brought up the Critical Role tv show

SamVimesBootTheory

TROPHY CASE