How To Get Alternative Clothes Without Breaking the Bank

So, I'm seventeen years old and I don't have a license, a car or a job. (I know, I'm a deadbeat) Sometimes I feed my neighbors' cats while they're away? That's kind of a job, right? (It's not.) But anyway, I don't have a stable source of income, so I can't really afford extravagant clothes and $50 shoes from dollskill or killstar or etsy or whichever alternative fashion websites are around these days.

So how do I dress the way I want to with the little money I have?

Image from the Garment District's website

First of all: Thrift stores. Lots and lots of thrift stores.
I go to thrift stores and I pick up anything I like and everything black, meshy, lacy, etc.
Most of my favorite clothes are from thrift shops, they're where you can find really unique and vintage clothing that isn't for sale anymore anywhere else.

If anyone lives in the Boston area, my favorite thrift shop is called The Garment District in Cambridge, and they have a huge pile of clothes that you can pick whatever you like out of, and clothes are $2 per pound, or $1 per pound on Fridays! They're also connected to Boston Costume, which also has costume clothing (read: goth year round clothing) such as fishnet sleeves, bone tights, and more. They also sell manic panic, if that floats anyone's hair dye boat.

Secondly: Online!
Ebay, Amazon, and SheIn honestly have some cool and cheap clothes, especially things meant for costumes that are available year round. Look online for wholesalers, too!

Third: Costume and Halloween stores!
Now is the perfect time of year for someone like me to get new outfit pieces.
One of my favorite necklaces (blood necklace, anyone?) is party city couture. The only problem with this is that it's seasonally based, and the clothes have that... Cheap plasticy smell. And aren't very good quality. And the jewelry will turn you green. And the earrings will probably give you an infection, so avoid that. But if your fishnets get holes in them, you'll just look edgier, so give it a shot!

Lastly: Do it yourself!
Never underestimate the power of the DIY. You can dye white clothes black or purple, cut the sleeves off things, spraypaint designs onto your clothes, the world is your oyster!
I'm currently working on a project where I'm cutting the back out of one of my t-shirts and replacing the back with lace from an old skirt my art teacher gave me. This is one of my favorite methods, it's loads of fun and you end up with a unique garment in the end! It's awesome!

There are also tons of videos on goth and punk DIY-ing on youtube including these two by one of my favorite youtubers. (Warning: videos may contain curse words, and are pretty long!)

Creep it real!

Si