What do you think about the statement that presenting alt is inherently more interesting than 'bland' clothing like skinny jeans and T-Shirts? It isn't directed at you particularly, but mostly what I've seen from Alt Tiktokers/Tumblr is insinuating that dressing in what most people can afford boring. How do you feel about some equating identity to a certain presentation?
Thanks for the question, it's pretty interesting.
Let's start from saying that everyone should dress up how they prefer.
I dress like this because I feel comfortable, I found my personal space and I love to create outfits and such; personally speaking, I get everything from Vinted and second hand stores. For example, in the last picture posted: the pants where 5 bucks, the coat 20, and the shirt 20. The price tag is similar to a "casual" outfit with shirt, jeans and sport shoes.
I don't dress up like that because I don't feel like it-ive been doing it for my entire life before transitioning, and it was bad, because I literally wore everything as long as it was clean. But there are days when I just take a band shirt, a random pair of pants and I'm ready to go.
Also, being "cool" or "boring" is extremely subjective. I'm not into "casual" clothes at all, it's just my personal taste for MYSELF and my own way of presenting.
I'm pretty sure I can look boring or weird or whatever for a lot of people, and that's ok because taste is different and can change over time.
TBH, with the same price tag, you could create a lot of different outfits: it all depends on what you get and where.
Let's always remember that, back in the old days, alt people made a lot of DIY with their clothes.
I do it too with studs, chains etc etc, starting from stuff I got somewhere else.
There's no need to spend 500 bucks to get fancy clothes: creativity also comes from transforming a piece of cloth in a kickass gothic dress.
EDIT: I guess that you also referred to people that make “collabs” with techwear, cyberwear and goth clothing brands.
Some of them are just dropshippers; you can get the same stuff on Aliexpress for 1/3 the price, because it is actually the origin of a lot of these products.
Today trift shops re-open for the first time in this pandemic. I'm dipping from my online lectures to go buy some overalls. This is going to be my "ye ye yeehaw🤠" era 💅
I remade two flannel shirts I found at a second hand shop to a high waisted skirt. The fabric is really soft and cozy I also added some lace on the bottom edge.