u/thewallispretty

I don't know what possessed me to sew the top the day before without really planning ahead, but I really like how it turned out :)

turns out clubbing can be nice when you can actually be yourself

Edit: I linked more general advice at the end from people with different lived experiences.

First of all: alt fashion shouldn't be a costume. Yes I've bought pieces that "looked alt" before, but if you only look for that, you're not using your own brain a lot, which kind of defeats the purpose of being alt in the first place. It's about how you combine pieces and accessorize them that usually makes an outfit look good. If your top is cool but you don't put in any thought into styling because it "already looks alt", you'll just look like a poser, which honestly, at this point, you are. Make your outfits your own instead. Try new things just because you feel like it.

I get the urge to buy cheap. Even my examples show some stuff I got from Amazon when I was 17. But I've found that the pieces on there are rarely unique enough to not be found elsewhere. Haven't shopped there since.

Now that's out of the way, here's how I find my stuff:

old stuff

You never know what you find in your own or someone else's closet. Like I said, pieces that "don't look alt" can look amazing if you know what to do with them. Be creative.

(online) thrifting

I mostly thrift online, as you can see from all my Vinted stuff. (Disclaimer: This is not an ad. It doesn't need to be Vinted specifically, I just use it to find sellers and buy off-platform, since it is the most popular place for that where I live.) I either look for specific pieces (like a lacy black kimono or a maxi skirt) or just look at what people uploaded in my city. I set the price range to something I'm comfortable with (usually 5€ max when scrolling casually, adjusting depending on what I'm looking for).

Unfortunately, thrifting has a problem with people uploading or donating their fast fashion crap everywhere, but it still beats buying that shit straight from the source yourself.

DIY

Here's where you can combine the previous two sources to make something cool. I stole my mom's sewing machine a few years ago, maybe you can gain access to one as well. Generally, not only in alt fashion, it's good to know a few basic hand-stitches to mend something or attach hardware (e.g. chains). It doesn't need to be perfect, just learn a few basic techniques and you're good to go. Mostly learning by doing. You will fuck up sometimes, but that's part of the process.

A few affordable basics I think look good on most people:

- DIY mesh top from cut up tights (hole for your head in the crotch, cut open the toe seam and add thumb holes or whatever)

- DIY fingerless gloves from stockings or tights (I have fishnet ones)

- thrifted harnesses or belts

- DIY studded stuff

I hope this can help some newbies. If this is too much effort for you and you still want to buy from brands that are terrible for the planet and our society, you're simply not alt. It's not about what you dress like, it's about how you do it.

Links to comments about plus size and more general advice:

• >some really good advice from a 3XL person (also includes general advice like crafting, which I highly agree with!)

• generally take your measurements and save them on your phone. ask sellers for measurements of garments when you can

• no seriously, always consider the measurements

• opt for men's options for different fits

• try on stuff, even if you don't think it'll fit or if you don't think you'll like it

• general irl shopping and modification

• more online thrifting options

• learn basic sewing! especially when plus sized (my tip: learn about "darts" in sewing to accommodate curvature)

Also included the cost of everything because I'm so happy about how it turned out

I already posted me practicing this look a month ago. This is the final version that made it out to the party. I got compliments from women every time I went to touch up and guys left me alone. I love this ><

Motto of the party was "Area 51"

planned this for weeks, did everything last minute anyways, still worked though, don't need to learn any lessons >:D

First pic is me trying to quickly fake short hair, pics 2-4 are examples of my current hair and style, 5-6 are the sort of vibe I wanna go for (last one is very low res but I hope you guys get what I mean). I think it's going in the direction of short shag/bixie/textured messy medium hair, but I'm not sure what exactly to search for when looking for reference pics :/

I know my current hairstyle is pretty safe, which sometimes just feels off to me, but I don't wanna force "looking alt" for the sake of it. I'm kinda tall for an afab person (5'9") and I want to avoid looking dominant, since my height and everyday confidence often get mistaken for that. Also, obviously, I want it to look good on me. My concern is that my features and more femme outfits could be too soft for it. On the other hand, I've thought about getting messy short hair since I was 12 or something like that and I simply don't know if I'm just too attached to my long hair rn

Looking forward to your honest takes + advice and maybe the name of the cut I'm going for 🖤

I used a necklace to add a chain to my belt because I felt like something was missing there. Love the mesh top and boots, really happy I found them \^\^

Added a close up of the earrings because I think they're cute too (also because I want to show off my piercings lol)

Thinking about getting contacts, but worried about fucking up my eyes even more, plus my wallet has suffered enough ,_,