Why Do We Call Them Gothic Coats?

This goes back to the days of the Goths, who were a tribe of people that were part of the East Germanic subculture which was influential in bringing down the Roman Empire. In the middle ages, the Goths were considered uncultured and barbarian by people of the Renaissance period whose standard of living had greatly improved. Now what has this got to do with gothic coats you may ask.

Well, the Renaissance people's thoughts on the Goths continued on until late 18th century when Horace Walpole wrote a romantic novel about the Goth culture which glamorized the Goths and people started to think more favourably about them. The book was morbid as well and referred to grave yards, vampires and ghosts and other things that the modern day "goth" culture is fascinated with.

During the mid 1900's a spate of movies and TV series emerged that featured the types of people that Walpole wrote about. These characters from The Addams Family, The Monsters and Count Dracula all had one thing in common; they all wore gothic trench coats.

When punk music first started in the 1980's a dark culture began with it and this was the beginnings of the modern day Goth. Being more affluent at this time, Goths could afford better quality clothing and they began wearing leather gothic coats and leather gothic coats for women were very much in demand. The jackets have become a trademark of the Goth.

The image that Goths try to promulgate is one of darkness and gloom and they add to their black clothing with the use of black make up, especially around the eyes. Another specialty of Goths is piercing. Pierced ears, eyebrows, noses, lips and even cheeks and they all have rings or some other metal item attached.

Mens leather gothic coats can be distinguished by the slim fit, extra length and it is black; it's supposed to make them look attractive. The aura which they try to portray makes you wonder if modern day Goths really understand where their gothic coats and associated apparel really come from.