Taken from WikiAnswers

Both are based around styles of music - emotive hardcore and gothic (death) rock. The styles of music are extremely different with bands like Jimmy Eat World, The Juliana Theory and Thursday representing emo and Bauhaus, SexGang Children and the Sister of Mercy representing goth. Of course, those sounds have definitely influenced and trickled into the mainstream resulting in music that, while using emo or gothic characteristics, is generally not considered emo or gothic: Dashboard Confessional (emo), Manson and Evanescence (gothic).

Additionally, the groups that tend to listen to this type of music often characterize certain stereotypes, thus emo and gothic have both becomes terms to identify certain subcultures.

Emo people are generally described as looking this way:

* tight jeans on males and females
* long fringe (bangs) brushed to one side of the face or over one or both eyes
* dyed black, straight hair
* tight t-shirts (sometimes short sleeved) which often bear the names of rock
* bands (or other designer shirts)
* studded belts
* belt buckles
* canvas sneakers or skate shoes or other black shoes (often old and beaten up)

Early emo fashion was not as it exists today and used to include things like straight, unparted hair, tightly fitting sweaters, button-down shirts and work jackets.

Emo, though it is short for emotive hardcore, is often mistakenly thought to be short for "emotional" and many emotional behaviours have become associated with the subculture such as being emotional, sensitive, shy, introverted, or angsty. It is also associated with depression, self-injury, and suicide.

On the other hand, Gothic fashion is summed up by as such


Goth fashion is stereotyped as a dark, sometimes morbid, eroticized fashion and style of dress. Typical gothic fashion includes dyed black hair, dark eyeliner, black fingernails, black period-styled clothing; goths may or may not have piercings. Styles are often borrowed from the Elizabethan, Victorian or medieval period and often express Catholic or other religious imagery such as crucifixes or ankhs. The extent to which goths hold to this style varies amongst individuals as well as geographical locality, though virtually all Goths wear some of these elements.


There is some overlap in fashion, especially when it comes to wearing of the colour black. However, emo fashion seems to have more of a focus on androgyny, that is having no gender value, which is characterized by both genders having extremely similar looks. With gothic fashion, females tend to emphasize femininity more with skirts, dresses, corsets and similar erotic wear.







Furthermore, emo fashion seems to include the use of stripes whereas stripes are not as prevalent in gothic fashion. Gothic fashion, while relying heavily on black often includes contrasting details in colours such as pink, red or purple. Emo fashion sticks to a monochromatic scale (black, white, grey).

Still, it can be difficult to tell apart a goth from an emo based on fashion alone, especially when many goths and emos do not dress in a dramatic fashion. The fashions of both subcultures are often mistaken with behaviours that are violent toward the self or others, especially suicide and related emotions such as depression. These stereotypes are often not true.

Musical interests can be a good indication of what subculture to one belongs. Goths, especially, listen to a broad range of music that, while not Gothic itself, is popular within the subculture. This includes industrial, metal, EBM, and dark wave.

According to some, both musical genres are offshoots of the same genre: punk. However, this is controversial. The gothic subculture, especially, has a broader range of influences including those of literature, religion, the visual arts, and media. This portrays itself in a number of ways outside of simply of the person; goths often express macabre, romanticism, death, aesthetic, horror, dramatic, individuality, dark, morbid or occult interests via literary and visual arts, design, decor, vehicles, and pets. The emo ideology seems to focus much more on the self than creating in the environment around oneself.

Nevertheless, the gothic and emo influence in the mainstream is generally a "watered down" version including many other influences that does not fully represent either subculture. Fashions and music that are readily available to the masses are usually polished to make sure they sell and while consumer goods may be inspired by the gothic or emo subcultures, they may not be gothic or emotive by definition and one should not form an opinion about a subculture based solely on these goods. This is especially true with mass produced clothing which will display heavy influences outside of the mainstream one season but show other influences the next season.

Overall, the ideologies of the subcultures differ greatly although members of both subcultures may be considered outcasts. This is best represented by the music of each subculture.

There is some overlap in fashions, especially when it comes to more mainstream goods but the gothic aesthetic seems to emphasize eroticism and femininity more than that of emo fashion. Society often incorrectly associates the tendency to wear black with depression, violence and suicide.

The dark interests of goth often manifest themselves in the environment around a person whereas emo interests seem to remain directed inward.

However, it's never wise to judge a book by its cover and what may seem gothic or emo, especially to someone unfamiliar with the subculture, may not be, especially if it is watered down.