Infest festival made a historic move from Bradford to Manchester, my beloved hometown, this year. I decided to get conceptual with my outfits and curate three looks inspired by my “baby bat” beginnings in the 2000s Manchester Goth scene 🖤
Here’s a quick lowdown on each look and the stories behind some of the choices I made.
Day 1:
My first look was inspired by the classic 2000s sporty street style that’s recently made its way back into mainstream fashion. I gave it a Cybergoth twist by pairing some iconic baggy Cyberdog trousers (think parachute pants, but without the annoying flappy straps) with a “tribal” print bodysuit that, to my surprise and delight, glowed under UV light!
Ironically, this isn’t something I would have worn back in the day. Teenage me couldn’t have afforded Cyberdog trousers (though I snagged these for a steal on Vinted earlier this year!), didn’t have the confidence to go dancing with my midriff out, and definitely avoided anything light pink. Trying out a look I skipped the first time around was so much fun – and I loved how it turned out.
For hair and makeup, I wanted to pull everything together. I went for a half-up pigtail style, twisting sections of each ponytail and pinning them into two messy knots on either side of my head. Silver hair clips with dangling chains added that perfect edgy touch. To echo the patterns on my bodysuit, I added flourishes of eyeliner over a soft wash of pink eyeshadow. For the lips, I layered black liner with an iridescent sparkly gloss—ready to dance to Lights of Euphoria and Funker Vogt, just like back in the day!
Day 2:
My second look is exactly something I would have worn in the 2000s, only this time with the benefit of a few more decades of budget, experience, and makeup know-how! When I first entered the scene, I was captivated by Victorian and Trad Goth aesthetics: elegant, sweeping dresses, corsets, and anything that looked at home in a graveyard or straight out of a vampire novel.
For this look, I wore a sheer mesh gown with velvet burnouts shaped like classic Gothic architecture. I cinched it with a faux-leather corset belt featuring laser-cut details that echoed those same motifs, revealing a layer of black velvet beneath. I’ve always adored the form of Gothic arches and stained glass windows – they’re so iconic and instantly transport me back to Whitby Goth Weekend, hanging out by the Abbey at 2am. Thinking about it now, it’s quite unusual to literally reference architecture in clothing, so maybe I’ve stumbled upon a new sub-genre: Gothic Cathedral Chic!?
For makeup, I went for a dark smoky eye with a twist: a multichrome liner that shifted between vampy shades of purple, blue, and green. I added delicate liner and a few face gems for maximum opulence, finishing with matte black liquid lipstick topped with a touch of the same eyeliner for an undead metallic sheen. I put my hair up into classic space buns, and I was ready to dance to Harpy, Auger, and Eisfabrik!
Day 3:
For the final day of the festival, I wanted to nod to the past while creating a look that reflects how my style has evolved – a true snapshot of my personal fashion journey. I chose one of my all-time favourite pieces: my leopard Dane 3001 dress. I was incredibly lucky to win it in an eBay auction from Dane themselves a couple of years ago, and I treasure it! It’s the perfect embodiment of my aesthetic: a subtle pin-up nod through the leopard print, fused with the brand’s signature reflective detailing and innovative Cybergoth cut (that I’ve been mad for since the early 2000s!). And the best part? It’s actually comfortable!
I styled it with my Tommy Vowles belt and necklace (I couldn’t resist the faux snake print – the more animal textures, the better!) and finished the outfit with mixed-metal face chains from Katz Little Factory for some added heavy-metal edge.
Since the outfit already made such a statement, I kept my hair and makeup relatively simple. I went with a bubble braid using hairbands in complementary colours and a metallic smoky eye. For my lips, I repeated my favourite trick: matte black lipstick topped with a touch of glitter eyeshadow for a bold ombré effect. I was ready to dance the night away to Lizette Lizette, Project Pitchfork, and DJ Khol (while avoiding any metal detectors!).
I had a great time at the festival. It was fun to play with different looks, and I enjoy the process of thinking things through and planning in the run-up to the festival to build the excitement! The range of music styles represented was fantastic, and I stayed later than I ever have, dancing to the brilliant DJs spinning after the bands.
It was also lovely to show some of my friends around Manchester outside of the festival, catching up over brunch and even mooching around Afflecks Palace, just like I did when I was 15! One clue that I’m not still a teenager, though: I made sure to fit in strategic “disco naps” throughout the festival to keep my energy going 😉 See you next year for more!
Thanks for reading 
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