#i don't post a lot and i'm still figuring out alt text etc

[thatonebabybat]

Being Masc & Goth

This blog usually isn't fashion-focused, but I was thinking about alt fashion and how it's sometimes a struggle to figure out how to style things in a masc way if you're interested in darkalt fashion, but you don't want to go too casual or basic with it. So I thought I'd throw together some tips, link some DIYs, and maybe throw in a few moodboards. I want to preface this with one thing: You do NOT have to adhere to traditional gender roles. Fuck anyone who tells you that you do. If you're a guy and you want to get into alt fashion don't let anyone tell you that you can't pull off a skirt or a dress or a strappy top. Literally the whole point of being alt is Doing Whatever The Hell You Want Forever. However, not everyone feels comfortable in that (I made this post because I'm transmasc and sometimes the long gothic dresses make me dysphoric), and not everyone is safe to do that ( as much as it sucks ass, if you live in a conservative area sometimes it can be genuinely dangerous for guys to wear makeup and dresses in public, and your safety should always come first), so I thought I'd lay out some tips on how to dress alt and masc from my own experience. I'm still learning so feel free to leave your own advice in the replies or reblogs! General Styling Tips: - Jackets. Jackets, jackets, jackets. Something about a big jacket always seems to give an outfit a more masc energy, and adding a cool jacket to an outfit can be a great way to elevate it and add some extra visual interest. I like black blazers, leather jackets, and black denim jackets in particular, but vests (formal menswear ones or more casual denim or leather ones) can work well too, especially in hot weather. - Any basic black pair of jeans will look 100x more alt if you loosely attach some chains to the pockets or belt loops. Also, pants with wider legs tend to look more masc than tighter fits. not sure why. Slacks can also be a really good and underrated option. - If you want to find good headwear, cool sunglasses have never failed me. You may be able to take some inspiration from Ouji fashion as well, but that's just my personal taste. - If you have a basic piece around, you can add pins, patches, safety pins, etc for a more casual look, or if you're going for something more formal, trims and lace details and embroidery can really add interest and elegance to it. (if you can't sew, you can order iron-on embroidered patches online or find them in craft stores that'll do the trick just fine.) This can take your pair of slacks or plain black blazer and turn it into a piece of formal gothic menswear you can make a staple of your wardrobe. - Find inspiration in your favorite goth artists. There's a lot of really cool goth music out there and a lot of those bands get really innovative with their looks! Figure out what you like about their style and try incorporating a few things in, it's fun! - If you have an alt wardrobe already but it just seems like something's missing or it could use some interest, try switching up the silhouettes or adding an extra layer! Seriously, don't be scared of playing with textures and sleeve shapes! I see a lot of dudes who just wear a band tee and a pair of jeans all the time, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that, that can be a great look! But I think a lot of dudes just genuinely think that that's their only option and that everything else just "wasn't made for them" and that makes me a little sad. shred up some shirts and layer them, wear some bell sleeves, throw some extra safety pins or studs on, have fun! No one said masc fashion couldn't be fun. Unisex/Masc DIY Videos I Found:

... And Some Inspiration!

[These are all goth music artists, I wrote the band/artist names in small text on the images that were not already watermarked for those who are curious]

[heck-theo]

ROTTMNT Pride Flag Icons

The response to my last post about these was very encouraging so I finished them! Here are some examples using popular headcanons and/or headcanons that I like (so hard to pick cause there are so many great ones).

Below these examples are some rules for use and then below that are the blanks with the green flags for you!

Rules: First I wanna acknowledge that there's nothing I can really do to stop people using these however they want, and while I would disapprove, I'm not going to get mad and fight you about it. I won't give you the attention.

If you have any good faith/genuine questions or criticisms about these rules please let me know.

TLDR:Keep it respectful and PG.

Who can use these? I don't mind anyone using these if it follows the rules. Please credit me in some way if you use (even if it's just a text post), and don't claim that they are your own. If you would like to use it in a way that isn't specified here or with a flag not mentioned, feel free to ask.

Editing? I don't mind if you want to add small details, adjust colours etc, but I'd rather you didn't make large adjustments that could really change the overall picture.

How do I use these? I actually have no clue how to mask over a colour in a flat image, these are all clipped over the flag colour layer. If you do know please feel free to leave a comment. If you would like to request a specific flag go ahead and ask. If I only get a few requests I probably won't mind doing them for you. This is not a guarantee though, and it just depends on what I have going on and how I feel at the time.

What flags can I use? This is intended for flags that represent or support LGBTQIA identities. To be clear this does NOT include anything like TERF, MAP or Zoo flags. Also please don't use any flags representing kink and stuff.

Country flags? That is not the intended use and I'd really rather you didn't, however in the end as long as the flag isn't being used in a way that supports war, genocide or bigotry I'm not toooo fussed.

I really hope I'm being paranoid and this won't be an issue but I feel the need to say it cause I've been on the internet long enough to know it's full of trolls, grifters and creeps. If you see anyone being problematic, bigoted or disrespectful with these feel free to let me know. Free block list.

One last thing: There is a more "fem" leaning/alt version and a more "masc" presenting version. I tried not to get too carried away with changing their designs in the alt version. Also I'm still trying to figure out this style so it's not perfect but I was flattered that you guys were interested so I wanted to finish them off. Also they were designed to read well on a small scale so a lot of choices were made specifically to try and increase readability when they're itty bitty and some things might look slightly odd on full scale? Anyway.

Ok without further ado here are the blanks (I hope you can get some use out of them and enjoy ^^):

[oloreandil]

hello i saw you talking a bit in the tags of the cane post you reblogged from me hehe, you mentioned you might make a longer post about the use of canes for balance, figured id send an ask so if u wanted u could put that in the answer. im really interested to learn more about it — im currently writing a character who uses a cane for balance reasons and i might have to use one someday since i live somewhere that gets gotdamn icy in the winter, so im interested to hear how best practices differ from using a cane for injury/pain

hi ! very happy to infodump about (my) cane usage, after this post. i'm adding this one which has incredible advice on tons of mobility aids. prefacing this with "ymmv, varied sources help because everyone does different things", as usual ^^

cane usage can be about distance or span of time you need to walk / stand up. this depends on why you need the cane and if certain situations trigger it more

for me, walking is better than standing up still, because i'm not weighing down on any body part long enough to cause pain. leaning on the cane hurts even if i switch hands regularly. crutches (especially forearm crutches) are more efficient, but not indefinitely

for long visits and similarly tiring activities (lots of still time + starting / stopping movement), a wheelchair is way more useful. otherwise the heterogeneity of the movement will hurt in itself

canes are a huge help with footing if the terrain slopes, gets uneven or is a little unpredictable. however if the terrain is muddy, extremely crumbly / cracked, or slippery, you may need tip attachments to make the grip better

you need more space to move around, and have to be careful not to knock into people / objects when you move and turn, but poor spatial awareness or muscle control will mean you still bump into things frequently

i lean on everything if i'm inside and don't have my cane ready, if i need something stable which doesn't depend on my ability to hold it, or if my legs / arms are giving out

the rubber tip reduces the aftershock of the stick slamming into the ground, especially if you have trouble measuring your strength. else, the tapping will genuinely hurt your arm + shoulder and also everyone in a five mile radius will hear you walking around

the handle needs to fit your hand (larger hand = larger handle etc). there's slide-on handles to help reduce the strain if closing your hand tight hurts. ataxia / tremors can make you drop your cane or clutch it even tighter and needs to be accounted for (softer grip, wrist strap)

any new mobility device is gonna hurt in the beginning as your nerves get used to constant pressure in a new shape. this was worse for my crutch than for my cane, possibly because the crutch came first. wheelchairs hurt in unexpected ways but i have less experience

when you stop using the cane, your hand can hurt from the sudden change in pressure on your nerve, and the rest of your body too as the limbs readjust. if you have paresthesia (clinical "pins and needles" basically), holding the cane can make it worse. i don't know how orthotics would interact with that

misc

foldable canes are very good because they can fit in your bag, instead of falling over or stabbing you in the chest when the vehicle suddenly stops. it also means you don't forget them if you have to leave quick and you're distracted

me holding my beloved foldable cane and showing the opening swoop (my favourite part). ID in alt text

using a cane slows you down... usually. the energy of a character will still affect their speed. i have always walked like a maniac which means i clack-clack my way along, out of breath + tired at the end. i can't run anymore though, so catching up with / escaping someone ranges from difficult to impossible

hidden features of the cane would work best if they don't impede its use (no additional weight, no need to take it apart / off the ground): storage of data, small items like needles, something that incorporates the tapping of the cane or its material...

stairs are difficult. how i do it is put cane two steps above me, and repeat every time i reach that step (less arm movements, easier on my shoulder). i have read vastly different methods, so my takeaway is everyone has their rhythm and the amount of training to find what works / focus implementing it will vary. brain fog, emotional deregulation and physical pain set you back