How to Look Emo

Co-authored by Regina Dunn

Last Updated: November 3, 2024 References

Emo is a deep and artistic subculture, as well as a music genre, that values authenticity and powerful, sometimes dark, emotions. The emo "look" has been around for decades but is a timeless style for teens and young adults. The way you dress, put on makeup, and do your hair can all brand your personal style as "emo." When mixed with your own personal tastes, you can rock the emo look and make it your own!^{[1]
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Natalie Tincher
Style Strategist & Wardrobe Specialist

Expert Interview. 13 August 2020.}

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Dressing Emo

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1
Stock up on vintage or band shirts.^{[2]
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Natalie Tincher
Style Strategist & Wardrobe Specialist

Expert Interview. 13 August 2020.} Vintage clothes, in particular, are a popular emo style, as are clothes that promote punk or underground music. Visit a thrift store or garage sale to shop for older clothes that speak to your personal style. Make a list of your favorite punk or "emo" bands as well and buy their T-shirts to complete the look.
- If you're new to the emo subculture, popular emo bands include Rites of Spring, Moss Icon (American post-hardcore band), Sunny Day Real Estate, The Get Up Kids, Jimmy Eat World, Saves The Day, Taking Back Sunday, Armor For Sleep, Hollywood Undead, Fall Out Boy, Imagine Dragons and My Chemical Romance.
- You could combine the vintage and band look and buy shirts from early punk or new wave bands.
- You could, for example, wear a black and red plaid button-up with your favorite pair of jeans.
- Plaid shirts and sweaters are also good options.^{[3]
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  Expert Source
  
  Regina Dunn
  Goth Subculture Enthusiast
  
  Expert Interview. 12 July 2021.}
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Select form-fitting outfits. Part of emo fashion involves wearing tight clothes that contour to your body's shape. Take your body's measurements and find clothes that closely match these measurements for a tight fit. To look Emo, wear skulls.^{[4]
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- While skinny jeans were once a staple of emo fashion, slim-fit jeans have become more popular in recent years. Also, jeans with holes are very popular in emo fashion.^{[5]
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  Expert Source
  
  Natalie Tincher
  Style Strategist & Wardrobe Specialist
  
  Expert Interview. 13 August 2020.}
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Choose slim-fit jeans or skirts in dark colors.^{[6]
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Natalie Tincher
Style Strategist & Wardrobe Specialist

Expert Interview. 13 August 2020.} Emo kids usually wear form-fitting bottoms in dark colors or patterns. Skinny jeans or tight-fitting skirts are both popular options, especially when decorated with chains or buckles.^{[7]
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- Pair black jeans, for example, with a Saves The Day T-shirt and Converse shoes.
- Boot-cut jeans are popular in Midwestern emo fashion.^{[8]
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  Regina Dunn
  Goth Subculture Enthusiast
  
  Expert Interview. 12 July 2021.}
- Reader Poll: We asked 961 wikiHow readers, and 50% of them agreed that the emo style they’re most likely to try out is dark black, gray, or silver clothing. [Take Poll]
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Wear canvas shoes, sneakers, or combat boots.^{[9]
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Natalie Tincher
Style Strategist & Wardrobe Specialist

Expert Interview. 13 August 2020.} Emo kids of both sexes often wear boots or shoes that mimic "punk" footwear because of its origins in underground music. Canvas shoes, combat boots, and sneakers are all popular choices for emo footwear.^{[10]
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- Many emo kids decorate their canvas shoes with markers or paint to express their personal style.
- If you're wearing a black band shirt with a plaid skirt, for example, pair the outfit with a pair of dark combat boots.
- Although heels are not traditionally "emo," Emo people of any gender can always wear heels or flats, typically with a dark color scheme or sometimes models resembling of punk rock footwear. The most important part of your look is confidence!
- In summer or whenever you feel like it, you can wear leather sandals, preferably black or metallic "glam" glossy straps, with few straps or as many as a gladiator sandal. They pair greatly with light clothing, shorts, light cropped pants, skirts of whatever length worn with bare legs.
- Once you gain confidence, you can make non typically emo footwear such as loafers or superga work with your overall look.
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Pair your look with emo accessories. Once you've chosen an emo top and bottom, personalize your look with a few accessories. In the emo subculture, large or studded belts, horn-rimmed glasses, messenger bags, wristbands, fingerless gloves, and striped socks are all popular accessories.^{[11]
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- You could, for example, pair a studded black belt with your favorite Fall Out Boy or My Chemical Romance T-shirt.^{[12]
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  Expert Source
  
  Natalie Tincher
  Style Strategist & Wardrobe Specialist
  
  Expert Interview. 13 August 2020.}
- Piercings and tattoos are another common accessory in emo culture. If you're a teen or young adult, always ask your parents before getting piercings or tattoos.^{[13]
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- A carabiner keychain is a popular accessory in Midwestern emo fashion.^{[14]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Regina Dunn
  Goth Subculture Enthusiast
  
  Expert Interview. 12 July 2021.}

Part 2

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Styling Emo Hair

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Do a deep side part in your hair for a traditional emo look. Hold a brush near the corner of your eyebrow and sweep your bangs from your hairline to the side. Continue brushing your side part until it sweeps to the side, then spray it with hairspray to hold it in place.^{[15]
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- Try borrowing some ideas from the emo pop-punk style for your look! Flat-ironed, choppy, swoopy hair with bangs could work well.^{[16]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Regina Dunn
  Goth Subculture Enthusiast
  
  Expert Interview. 12 July 2021.}
- Keep your hair short—not long, like a metalhead's.^{[17]
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  Expert Source
  
  Regina Dunn
  Goth Subculture Enthusiast
  
  Expert Interview. 12 July 2021.}
2
Get side-swept bangs if desired. Bangs that follow your side part and sweep to the side are a popular hairstyle in emo culture. Depending on your experience cutting hair, you can give yourself bangs or ask a hairstylist to cut you side-swept bangs instead.^{[18]
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- If you're not sure whether you want to commit to bangs, try sweeping your hair to the side and bobby pinning it up to mimic bangs.
- Let your bangs fall over or just above one eye for a traditionally emo look.
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Dye your hair a dark or experimental hair color for a bold option. Emo kids often dye or streak their hair either black or bright, experimental colors like blue, red, or pink. This is, however, completely optional—if you don't want to dye your hair, you don't have to.^{[19]
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- For better, long-lasting color, choose a high-quality hair dye with plenty of positive reviews online. If you're not sure what color to choose, ask a hairstylist for advice.^{[20]
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- You can also try clip-on hair extensions if you're not ready to dye your hair permanently.
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Add a few emo hair accessories to complete your look. Emo kids, especially emo girls, often style their hair with a few accessories. Hats, hair clips, and ribbons that follow the emo color schemes are all popular ways to accessorize.^{[21]
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- You could, for example, put a pink skull hair clip in your hair to complete your look.
- Although less common, emo men are also welcome to accessorize their hair however they want.

Part 3

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Applying Emo Makeup

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1
Even out your skin tone with a layer of foundation and powder. Choose a foundation that matches your skin color and apply a thin, even coat to your entire face with a sponge or powder brush. Lightly powder your face to even out your skin tone and help mask any blemishes.
- If you have dark circles or pimples, you can also apply concealer around your eyes and any blemishes.
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Wear dark eyeliner to draw attention to your eyes. Thick black, blue, or violet eyeliner is a popular part of the emo look. Draw the eyeliner in a border from the top corners of your eyes to the sides and bottom for a dark, heavy look.^{[22]
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- You can apply the eyeliner to just your top lid instead for a softer look.
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Apply smoky or bright-colored eyeshadow if you want to stand out. Choose an eyeshadow color that either matches or contrasts your eyeliner and apply a thin layer over your eyelid with a makeup brush. Add a thinner layer to your brow ridge and lower eyelid as well for a more shadowy style.^{[23]
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- For a vibrant look, for example, try applying red eyeshadow with black eyeliner.
- If you want, you can finish off the look with a thin coat of mascara as well.
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Wear dark or colorful lipstick if desired. Choose lipstick that either complements or contrasts with your eye makeup. Apply the lipstick from the center of your lips to the corners, filling in any gaps that you notice afterward.^{[24]
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- If you have smoky black eyeshadow on, pair it with a violet or red lipstick for a moody, eye-popping look.
- Anyone can wear lipstick if they want to embrace that part of the emo look.
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Add nail polish to complete your look. Nail polish is a popular look all emo people. You can choose a nail polish that goes with your makeup color scheme or an entirely different color if you want to draw attention to it.
- If you applied black eyeshadow and violet lipstick, for example, you could alternate between black and violet nail polish on your fingernails.

Expert Q&A

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Question

How can I look more emo?

Natalie Tincher
Style Strategist & Wardrobe Specialist
Natalie Tincher is the Owner and Principal Style Strategist of BU Style. Since 2010, Natalie has specialized in personal styling to reflect clients’ individuality, confidence, and comfort. In 2019, she was named the Global Head of Styling for Bloomberg Television. Natalie is certified in Image Consulting through the Fashion Institute of Technology. She regularly shares her expertise with corporate groups at major financial institutions, media companies, and news outlets including: Time Out New York, Refinery 29, and NBC News.

Natalie Tincher

Style Strategist & Wardrobe Specialist

Expert Answer

I recommend wearing more black and tighter-fitting clothes. For example, you might wear black slim-fit jeans, a band t-shirt, a studded belt, and converse shoes. Remember that being emo is all about expressing yourself, so don't be afraid to find your own unique style!

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Question

Do emos wear all black?

Natalie Tincher
Style Strategist & Wardrobe Specialist
Natalie Tincher is the Owner and Principal Style Strategist of BU Style. Since 2010, Natalie has specialized in personal styling to reflect clients’ individuality, confidence, and comfort. In 2019, she was named the Global Head of Styling for Bloomberg Television. Natalie is certified in Image Consulting through the Fashion Institute of Technology. She regularly shares her expertise with corporate groups at major financial institutions, media companies, and news outlets including: Time Out New York, Refinery 29, and NBC News.

Natalie Tincher

Style Strategist & Wardrobe Specialist

Expert Answer

Black is a great color for an emo look, but you can also wear other colors in styles like vintage shirts and band shirts.

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Question

How do I make my clothes look emo?

Natalie Tincher
Style Strategist & Wardrobe Specialist
Natalie Tincher is the Owner and Principal Style Strategist of BU Style. Since 2010, Natalie has specialized in personal styling to reflect clients’ individuality, confidence, and comfort. In 2019, she was named the Global Head of Styling for Bloomberg Television. Natalie is certified in Image Consulting through the Fashion Institute of Technology. She regularly shares her expertise with corporate groups at major financial institutions, media companies, and news outlets including: Time Out New York, Refinery 29, and NBC News.

Natalie Tincher

Style Strategist & Wardrobe Specialist

Expert Answer

Choose vintage shirts, band shirts, skinny jeans or slim fit jeans, and jeans with holes in them. Go with dark colors as the base of your outfit. For shoes, opt for canvas shoes, sneakers, or combat boots. Don't be afraid to put your own spin on an outfit!

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Tips

According to the emo subculture, true emos don't have to tell others that they're emo. Let your actions speak for themselves and mix the emo style with your own natural look.^{[25]
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Natalie Tincher
Style Strategist & Wardrobe Specialist

Expert Interview. 13 August 2020.}

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The most important part of the emo "look" is confidence. If you embrace the emo style, your own personality will shine through and you'll always look great.

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Emo culture was started by fans of emotional underground music in the 1980s. To immerse yourself in the emo "look," try to familiarize yourself with emo music and subculture.

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The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

If you want your hair to have that overly-teased emo look, try drying your hair upside down. Then straighten and fluff your hair with a hairdryer. If your hair still isn't fluffy enough, try a volumising powder.
You can still have other hobbies and styles without being less emo. I'm a ballerina and lots of people think those kinds of activities mean you're not emo. But you should be yourself and express what you love!
If you're just getting into the emo look, take it slowly. Start with some eyeliner and band tees, then work your way up to more dramatic looks.

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Warnings

Don't just imitate the stereotypical emo style. To make it your own look, add your own personal flair to your hair, makeup, and dress.

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Although you can make anything with fishnets or lacework with your emo look, you should be aware that those clothes, especially lace and corsets, are more common within the goth style.

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Just because another person is emo and they self-harm and suicidal doesn't mean you should too. If you feel like doing these things contact an adult or parent.

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No matter what anyone says, self-harm is not part of the emo look. If you struggle with or are considering self-harm, talk to a friend or trusted adult for help.

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Because of its encouragement to be open with your feelings, depression is common in the emo community. If you feel depressed, reach out to a loved one, therapist, or depression hotline.^{[26]
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