Sophistique Noir is proud to present a guest outfit post! Today’s Work Outfit is brought to you by Amy of The Ultimate Goth Guide. Enjoy!
Goths at both ends of the age spectrum – corporate Goths in a business environment, and baby bats negotiating their way through school – often have to make compromises in order to keep their sense of identity (and spooky fashion cred) and stay on the right side of the dress code.
In fact, most of the questions I am asked on my blog pertain to how we alternative types can fit in with a uniform or dress code whilst still retaining a suitably Gothy look. One of the tips I frequently divulge (when I don’t simply point the questioner straight to Sophistique Noir) is, “It doesn’t have to be black.” No, stop looking at me like that, I am quite serious.
And never let it be said that I don’t practise what I preach.
All right, so my outfit here is perhaps a bit too… frilly… for the office, but my point remains. Smart, elegant clothes, a nice pair of boots, and some interesting jewellery will get you far in life – I try to collect pieces that can be dressed up for the weekend, dressed up even more for festivals and clubbing, or toned down for a slightly staid work environment. This blouse in particular fits the bill nicely, I think.
Of course, my favourite thing about this outfit is the price. Everything I’m wearing, with the exception of the headband, came from charity shops, so altogether this ensemble cost £15. Go, budgetgoth extraordinaire. 
Wooooooooooooooooo~! Oooooh, so amazing~! [you're so popular now, ah, remember us little people, the both of you, when you're off making your own fashion line for work friendly Gothic.]Just as Amy-san says, I do believe if you need to compromise but struggle to find away, remember that rules are made to be broken, or in the very least, bent sideways. It may seem off, but if done well it will still be recognizable~
I absolutely agree: It doesn't have to be black!Love the outfit!Great guest post.
Even though I'm not a Goth, what I admire about the style is the romance that is sometimes evident — I see that in your outfit above. Very pretty!
Love the outfit, Amy!I guess I'm lucky that I can wear whatever I want
Though I probably wouldn't wear pvc corsets and a tonne of make up, 'cause I'm too lazy and my jolly personality can only do so much to set the colleagues at ease 
I'm glad you guys enjoyed the guest post! I'd like to do more of these in the future, but of course I will need volunteers…
You know, those clothes are so naturally goth that I didn't even think about them not being black until you pointed it out. Good work!
Lovely guest post! And it's so true – you don't have to dress all black to get that mysterious, gothic inspired look. The pictures illustrate it perfectly! Beautiful!
Sad that I didn't catch this post before. Sounds like fun, I'll be willing to try if you need more volunteers ^_^
I guess I'm lucky that I can wear whatever I want
Though I probably wouldn't wear pvc corsets and a tonne of make up, 'cause I'm too lazy and my jolly personality can only do so much to set the colleagues at ease :
You're so very right! It doesn't have to be black. I love romantic, flowy clothes like the ones you're wearing in the pictures. Sometimes I even wear all white, or pastel colors. But it still has that romantic feel. And a pair of boots and the right accessories can take a frilly outfit and make it edgy—those are my favorite outfits, the ones that have a balance of both extremes.