Black shirts are the building blocks of a gothic men’s wardrobe. You probably already own some black basics like tees and plain button-downs, but when it comes to shirts with gothic styling, finding good quality men’s shirts can be a hassle. Fortunately, we’ve taken all the fruitless googling out of the equation with this curated guide to goth shirts for men for every style and budget.
Gothic T-Shirts for Men
For t-shirts and tank tops inspired by movies, pop culture, and music, Night Channels has a lot of interesting original designs. Pretty much everything in their collection would be right at home in a goth wardrobe, and they’re reasonably priced at around $25. You can also find a lot of cool gothic shirts on Etsy, like these ones with tarot-inspired designs ($25).
UK-based brand La Mort Clothing has some very cool medieval and occult-themed designs on their extensive line of men’s shirts. (We love their unique bone-white and charcoal ink on black look). For an array of gothic pop culture t-shirts, don’t sleep on Hot Topic either–check out this Chainsaw Man shirt ($19) with a white on black print. If your style is dark yet whimsical, Wicked Clothes has a lot of fun, cheeky shirt designs featuring cryptids, animals, and skeletons.
Shirts for the Trad Goth Man
If you prefer 80s trad goth looks, there are a lot of options to choose from to keep your wardrobe fresh and varied. Button-down shirts ($20) in black or white with narrow or mandarin collars will give you that early 80s look, and they can be accessorized in a lot of different ways, such as with a rosary necklace, suspenders, a black bandana ($24), or a skinny tie. A pinstripe shirt ($28) adds a subtle touch of interest, or you can go full dark paisley for maximum 80s opulence. This black and white shirt ($132) from Shrine of Hollywood has contrasting stripes for a standout goth look.
For club nights and other goth events, fishnet or mesh shirts ($35) can be worn layered with a tank top or short-sleeve button-up shirt. You can DIY rips and tatters in your layering shirt, or cut the neck out of a t-shirt for an off-the-shoulder fit. Experiment with textures with a vintage velvet blazer, and unleash your inner Byronic hero with a loose poet shirt ($70) in black or white.
Trad goth shirts can be easily thrifted as well. Check your local thrift store for vintage shirts and loose black blouses, as well as sellers on sites like Depop and Poshmark.
Men’s Goth Hoodies
As summer transitions into fall, chances are you’re going to live in black hoodies, so it’s good to have a few to choose from. If you want to branch out a bit from band hoodies, there are a lot of cool designs from sellers on Etsy and smaller goth retailers. This one ($45) featuring Black Phillip the goat from the movie The Witch is made from quality cotton with a ghostly design. Or you could go with a classic, like this hoodie with Van Gogh’s famous smoking skeleton ($56). Or, you could ward off the Evil Eye with this fantastically creepy minimalist eye hoodie ($98) featuring a zip-up front and contrasting red drawstring.
As goth brands go, there are a few good options on Killstar, such as this black and gray wicked woods hoodie ($70). Midnight Hour has this subtly spooky black zip-up hoodie ($56) with black embroidery of snakes, scorpions, and leaves.
Goth Band Shirts to Show Off Your Immaculate Taste
There’s no shortage of t-shirts for bands like Joy Division, Lebanon Hanover, and Bauhaus on Nuclear Waste Underground, and they’re super inexpensive. UK-based brand Rocky Horrors has a ton of awesome music shirts for Siouxsie, The Cramps, and The Cure–just to name a few. For vintage goth band tees, you can snag a lot of great finds from sellers on Etsy that will make you the envy of every fellow bat you meet.
Industrial & Steampunk Shirts
Maybe your style leans more into a specific gothic aesthetic like steampunk and industrial. These looks share a lot of overlap, such as a fondness for straps, buckles, and leather. A shirt with these embellishments can pull a whole outfit together with the addition of a few accessories.
Can’t get enough buckles? This steampunk-inspired short sleeve button-up ($67) has you covered. It’s made of heavy-grade black cotton, with PVC accents and two front pockets for added style and convenience. This black denim shirt ($110) has three black buckles across the chest and metal accents for a heavy, goth aesthetic. Try this black tee ($69) with stylized vegan leather panels for your next goth outing or festival.
Get Stylish with a Goth Dress Shirt
There’s no reason you can’t goth it up at a fancy occasion. This black dress shirt ($41) from Rebels Market has satiny texture and a subtle paisley design, and it also comes in dark red and emerald green. Another shirt that would work well for a goth aesthetic is this one ($83) in black cotton with an eye-catching print to add interest to an all-black outfit.
For a classic look, this slim fit black dress shirt ($45) has black buttons and a silver collar pin for an elegant touch with a dark edge. It’s always good to have a few gothic dress shirts on hand for special occasions, or when you feel like jazzing up your everyday goth outfits.
The right shirt can take your whole look from basic black to creature of the night. With a goth shirt, you can express yourself and let your taste for the macabre shine through. Whether you want to keep it casual or dress to the nines, this guide can help you find the shirt of your nightmares. For even more dark inspiration to help you dress from head to toe, visit our guide to gothic men’s fashion.