Mall goths (also known as spooky kids)^[1] are a subculture that began in the late-1990s in the United States. Originating as a pejorative to describe people who dressed goth for the fashion rather than culture, it eventually developed its own culture based around nu metal, industrial metal, emo and the Hot Topic store chain. It has variously been described as a part of the goth subculture,^[2][3] as well as a separate subculture simply influenced by goth.^[4][5]

Fashion items such as platform boots and oversized sweatshirts and trousers are common amongst mall goths, as well as striped and checkered prints.^[24] They are often associated with wearing brands such as Lip Service, Tripp,^[7] JNCO^[25] and Demonia.^[4] Chunky and platform sneakers were common, especially Buffalo.^[26] In an article for Elle, one former mall goth described that they wore "ankh necklace, combat boots over striped tights and did my eyeliner in a style that could only be described as raccoon-esque".^[27] Items such as pleather, chokers, creeper shoes and lip rings are all common.^[28] W writer Katherine Cusumano described Kristen Stewart's outfit on September 22 2016, of "bold swipe of black liquid liner, the deep reddish magenta under-eye liner, the slightly yellowed bleach job, and the padlocked necklace" as notably mall goth.^[29] In an article for Refinery29, Goth DJ and scholar Andi Harriman stated "Most Goths don't wear a lot of neon, face masks, or those over-the-knee stripy socks, basically anything Mall Goths wear".^[30]

Mall goths' hair is often dyed, particularly using Manic Panic dye.^[31] Sometimes hair is dyed two different colours. Some mall goths wear mullets.^[32]

During the subculture's revival, it became common for mall goths to wear baggy trousers contrasted with small tops. This look capitalised upon the "big pants, little shirt" fashion trend that was popular in the late 2010s and early 2020s.^[33]

According to an article by WM Magazine, mall goth fashion was an influence upon the popularity of the normcore and scumbro fashion styles that became popular in the 2010s.^[31] Indie rock band Pale Waves' aesthetic is also influenced by mall goth.^[34][35]

In the mid-to-late 2010s, rappers such as Lil Peep^[36] and Lil Uzi Vert^[11] and singers Kim Petras^[37] and Benee^[38] began dressing in ways influenced by the fashion of mall goth. Additionally, a number of brands began creating fashion lines influenced by the subculture's fashion. In particular, Marc Jacobs' and Louis Vuitton's autumn 2016 collections, Dilara Findikoglu's collection from Spring 2018, Coach New York's pre-Autumn 2018 collection and Gypsy Sport's collection from autumn 2018, as well as a number of items from Open Ceremony from early 2018, all referenced the subculture.^[11] Additionally, mainstream celebrities such as Kanye West, Lorde, Kylie Jenner and Bella Hadid were photographed in mall goth outfits.^[39][25]

Mall goth influenced the fashion of the e-girls and e-boys subculture in the late 2010s and early 2020s.^[40][41]

• Cybergoth
• Rivethead
• Scene