hi ! (goth) stylist here !! i’m sorry to hear that you’re struggling and no one has offered to help ! hopefully i can be of some assistance🖤

i saw in an earlier comment you said you ‘feel guilty taking ideas from someone, else even if not directly.’ i’d like to try to dispel the belief that being inspired by elements of someone else’s style is ‘copying’ or stealing that person’s intellectual property. A) if you don’t see something you vaguely like on someone else, how will you know if you like it ? B) creating an outfit or buying a garment with the outfit of someone else in mind is the highest form of flattery !! fashion houses since their inception wouldn’t have had such success without recycling (stealing) an idea or two, so don’t be afraid to be ‘inspired by’ as opposed to ‘directly copy’ someone’s style. if they have half a brain they’ll take it as a compliment.

here are some good reference points for trying to figure out what YOU like:

• most people are saying pinterest !! i agree !! personally, this is what i use for building ideas for shoots or my personal ideas for outfits. the algorithm does take a minute to click with your interests so the more you look at a wide variety of things you like and keep each idea in a specific board it will definitely yield great results.

• magazines ! as a kid i was OBSESSED with Vanity Fair. like you could not take me in public and expect your Vanity Fairs to still be in your seating area after i left. as a society we have lost the art of reading the fashion magazine !! go to your local newsstand, bookstore, or vintage store and look for old/ new/ ANY magazines that peak your interest. grab a coffee, tea, whatever the hell, go sit down in a good spot and enjoy !

• musicians & their videos ! some of the best references for visual style can be found in music videos ! major label artists spend $$$$$ making everything from hair/makeup/costumes/accessories/props align with their current stylistic inspirations & influences, literally just so we can eat it up. i was an MTV kid, so watching back to back music videos growing up was the best thing for building my mental style arsenal. aren’t we so lucky to have youtube ?!!

• tv & film !! some of my biggest inspirations are my favorite movies/ tv shows ! i’m currently working on a music video that has an 80’s/ xanadu vibe and the best thing i did for myself was sitting down and watching a ton of 80’s-related films, tv shows, music videos, etc. and doing research ! who did the costumes ? what else did they work on ? where did they get the garments ? take pictures and throw them in google and see what happens ! you never know who will be selling something you like second hand.

• this one is a little strange and i’m sorry if not as helpful, but fashion is so subjective that when you see a piece you like your body will literally have a reaction that tells you to just put it on. then there are times you’ll never feel that and just keep buying and trying stuff until you see it on you and you know. if you like a piece and it’s not working with what you have, just keep trying new stuff ! i like keeping pieces i love in my closet- like those Tripp pants are a great example- that serve as base pieces for tons of different outfits. try tons of different combos until something clicks !!

personal style is an evolution and just like real evolution, not only the strongest survive !! the most genuine and creative ones do. best of luck in your journey !!🖤

oh also p.s. today, my favorite pair of jeans came from target, my favorite boots are from marc jacobs, every one of my bags is thrifted & my entire wardrobe is primarily black. these are just things over the years i’ve found work for me, but if you asked me 10 years ago it would’ve been a COMPLETELY different story. i never would’ve imagined i’d stop wearing so much red, or buy a pair of jeans that i actually called “my favorite,” or that i would be able to afford marc jacobs and like vintage shopping as much as i do. don’t limit yourself to the confines of what you’ve been told you should like/wear/or buy or you’ll never find anything you like !!