Extremism or Expression?

Witten by Nell Schwartz / Artwork by Yasi Akyurek and Bianca Franco

Shockey Sanders speaks on her gothic style and breaking norms in fashion

“I have to ask myself, is my fashion sense extreme, or is the general population just too benign?” says Shockey Sanders, a Syracuse University sophomore as we discussed her selfdescribed “fluid fashion” and what is considered extreme nowadays. “Because I am kind of goth and vamp with my style, it usually takes people aback at first. They think I have a crazy style,” says Sanders, “but I really don’t think being goth is extreme!” Sanders spoke on how society labels uniqueand different fashion as “extreme” but in reality, so much of the general population thinks that because they have been conforming tostereotypical fashion for as long as they can remember. It is hard to be unique; there’s no denying that. Hours are spent scrolling through Instagram and TikTok, seeing the samehomogeneous figures that society idolizes as the embodiment of current fashion and beauty. At some point usernames mash together, designer fashion items are made cheaper to appeal to a wider audience, and with the help of fast fashion, everyone starts to look the same. This begs the question, what happens when people don’t conform to what is traditionally considered beautiful? It seems that in our current society, everyone is preoccupied with staying on top of the trends that they have veered off the path of individuality. Why is anything that defies the norm viewed as an act of deviance?

Take Dennis Rodman, the cross-dressing basketball player who defied all fashion stereotypes, or Prince, the king of genderbending himself. While they may have faced criticism and judgment, they shared one thing in common, being unapologetically authentic when it came to their personal style.

These highly influential people embodied what fashion is; freedom and personal expression. Yet, so much of the current population only follow basic trends and conform to a style that is not necessarily their own. Is this what fashion has come to? Sanders doesn’t think so and chooses to dress in her own style, completely disregarding popular current trends around her. While she typically wears all black or other dark colors, Sanders understands that many view her as someone who breaks fashion norms and expectations. “I think in the environment I’m in, people view my style as extreme and goth, but it’s just me dressing how I am most comfortable,” she says.

Her iconic goth style comes from the architectural works by the Gothics in Europe. The style of art transformed into the fashion style we know of today. The dark nature of the gothic style stems from the use of horrifying figures to create a sense of individuality and helps people stand out from the crowd. The most usual gothic style uses dark colors to contrast with the standard pale makeup and skin tone. The idea is to resemble ghosts or the undead.

What comes to mind first when envisioning gothic fashion might be the likeness of Wednesday Addams, whose sinister and childlike style comes to life through her staple braids and black on black dresses, or Lydia Deetz from Beetlejuice who embodies gothic fashion through her spiky hair and all-black outfits. Yet as trends have evolved, so too have well-known classical fashions. In 2021, the gothic style takes a new form as it allows individuals to express themselves freely in any manner. From chains to all-black outfits, gothic style can be used to accessorize or fully encapsulate day-to-day style.

Inspired by creators like melovemealot and poppy who are characterized by their abstract art and funky makeup, Sanders says her usual style can be called “cyberpunk streetwear with a gothic twist” but added that “My fashion and sense of style extends past the need for a label. I think fashion is fluid and can be changed every day. If I want to go goth one day and punk or vamp the next, I just go for it”.

However, Sanders admits that she didn’t always dress like this and says listening to music every day while rocking her favorite outfits helped her find the confidence to be authentic. “Every time I step out of my dorm and have my headphones in blasting music, I walk and carry myself like I’m on a runway. This practice took a while to get used to, but once I started walking confidently everywhere, it overall increased my confidence as a person,” she said.

Everyone needs to take a page out of Sanders’ book and not be consumed with what others may think about their style. More people should reject the idea that they must follow what is popular and trending in the fashion world and instead start freely expressing themselves through their own unique style.

It may be hard at first to break free from the norm and go against the grain, but practice makes perfect. No matter what, society is a judgmental place, and that’s not going to change anytime soon. So put yourself first, wear those chains, rock that monochromatic look, and just be authentic. It’s high time for people to stop conforming to the latest trends and pick up on the newest styles. In a world full of diversity and experimentation, what about the people who choose to be unique?