Gothing the rural lifestyle: rubber boots

In which the Author predicts the insect apocalypse and advises on the most appropriate rainboots to wade through said disaster

What is the primary Goth fashion dilemma in the spring? How to stay dark and dry--specifically, how to keep your feet dark and dry and delighted--during the monsoons and the accompanying mosquito infestation/invasion. Yes, spring is not just about rain rain rain. Spring is also the season of insects ascendant. From the huge black beetles scuttling and scurrying in the freshly turned soil to the gorgeous Swallowtails waiting hungrily for the lilacs to bloom (tip to Walt Whitman) to the ladybugs like medieval engines of war (tip to Leonardo da Vinci) lurking about the underbelly of the vegetable world to the various shades of grey winged vampires...

Ever since reading The Scar my opinion of mosquitoes and insects in general has gone up. I've become convinced by certain entomological heresies and eschatologies of the superiority of insects. Cockroaches, among others, will survive the  apocalypse like bleak and implacable hoplites of the left behind. Come famine, war, pestilence and death. Insects will inherit the earth. They have exoskeletons! Oh how I adore chitin! And probosces! What's not to love!

China Mieville is the prophet of breaking down barriers between the species. First he did it in the Perdito Street Station with his scarab-headed khepri. Who didn't find the artist Lin fascinating, talented and beautiful?


Source: Justin Oakford


And then you read The Scar and you encounter the anophelii. Scientist/pacifist sphincter-mouthed males and brilliant females tragically mad with blood lust. So poignant. But I digress.


Source: Haberdashery


It is the time of mosquitoes. Not the end times. Even though with the rain rain rain, you might worry you've entered the postapocalyptic world of The Road. But anyway how do you keep your feet spooky but not sopping in the spring? Well, if you're feminine there are no end of options. Masculine...you may have to improvise and compromise.

Goth punk purveyors of whimsical doom and gloom Iron Fist have conjured up some delightfully witchy wet wear. Since San Diego's rainy season is around Xmas, none of these boots are currently in stock at the Iron Fist website. You'll have to search the web for them. Good luck! But here are a few seductive samples...Shoe fetish alert! For real!!!

You could go Old School Goth with skull glam Ruff Rider Rainboots:




Source: brokencherry.com

 Or doll up in these Lolita-esque "Society Cropped" ones:



Source: amazon.co.uk

 Or go all Deathrock/Gothabilly in these Zombie Stompers:



Source: Kaboodle

Just gory-geous!!!

Aside from Iron Fist, the wild web is full of rubber/rain boots for the feminine-inclined. Among others, Chookaboot has a boot for every style...

From plain old Goth black:

Source: chookaboot

To hardcore dark elegance:

Source: chookaboot



Source: chookaboot

 To cybersnakeskin decadence:

Source: chookaboot



Source: chookaboot

With Gothy gear like these, rainboots may no longer be just for rainy days!

Now for the masculine...hmmm...you will have to look for the weird in the everyday...

Tretorn has some passable rubber boots. Of the understated dark gentleman kind:

Source: Tretorn

Source: Tretorn

Columbia Sportswear has some warmer, wilder boots that would compliment a dark faery or black forest mori or even steampunk look:

Source: Columbia

And finally, Muckboots has rain/work boots that might go with a dark cyber-style:




The Muckmaster
Source: muckboots4sale




Hoser Classic
Source: muckboots4sale

So good luck and stay dark, dry and delightful this spring, my pretties!