Alternative Wedding Clothing: Why I Keep Pointing People to Kate’s Clothing
As an alternative wedding DJ, I get asked about my boots, hair, and outfits almost as much as I get asked for requests.
At pretty much every wedding, someone wanders over to the booth and asks:
- “Where did you get those boots?”
- “How is your hair that bright?”
- “Where can I find something like that for another wedding I’m going to?”
Short answer: they’re all connected to one place – Kate’s Clothing – and if you’re hunting for alternative wedding clothing in the UK, it’s usually where I tell people to start looking – and especially if you’re female-presenting or happy shopping in the women’s section. (A lot of the merch is fairly unisex to be fair.)
I actually used and recommended the site to people 20-odd years ago. Friends of mine had pointed me to the website, and I thought it was great. These days, full disclosure, we do know each other personally, but my relationship with the shop started with me as a customer who liked cool goth stuff.
If anything, knowing the person behind the brand has just confirmed what is apparent from the outside: it’s a business built by someone who actually lives and breathes this stuff, not a random company jumping on a trend, and I love to support an independent UK business – especially one owned by someone I know.
This post answers both sets of questions: where I get my boots and hair dye from, and where brides, guests and other alt weirdos can find alternative wedding clothing in the UK for their own big day (or someone else’s).
Where I Get My Boots (So You Can Steal the Look)
Let’s start with the boots, because they’re basically my DJ armour and what I get asked about most often, which is what inspired me to write this blog post.
I wear the ANTIBrand “Side Eye” boots from Kate’s Clothing. They’re Kate’s own brand – part of her ANTIBrand line – and they look exactly like something an alternative wedding DJ should be wearing: mismatched turquoise and purple, each with an illustrated eye on the side, based on Kate’s own original painting. Search for “Side Eye” on the site.
And it’s not just this design or this style of shoe either. The Side Eye artwork (and dozens of other ANTIBrand designs) turn up on boots, high-tops, slip-ons, trainers and all sorts of footwear here.
Plus, she stocks a range of footwear from other brands too like Demonicult, and Hot Chocolate Design so you’re not short of options if you’re putting together an alternative wedding outfit..
A few reasons these have become my go-to for weddings:
- Made for long nights – They’re proper lace-up combat boots with a sturdy rubber sole and steel shank, designed to take a beating and still be comfy at 1am when I’m on my feet for the final chorus.
- Vegan and alternative – They’re made from high-quality vegan leather, which is a nice bonus if you’re trying to avoid animal products but still want that chunky boot look.
- Fit wider feet – They’re cut to be true to size but accommodating if, like me, your feet aren’t exactly dainty.
- Printed to order – ANTIBrand pieces are made to order, so you’re not just grabbing something mass-produced that half the internet already owns. Yours were literally printed for you.
- From a wedding point of view, they hit a sweet spot: they’re bold and unapologetically goth, but paired with a smart shirt and black trousers, they still look “evening appropriate”. I can respect the formality of the day without pretending I’m not the guy who plays emo, pop-punk and metal for a living.
- Visually, they strike that perfect balance between “I belong at this wedding” and “you can probably guess what kind of music I play” – chunky, unapologetically alternative, and clearly not something you grabbed last minute from a generic high street chain.
- And because ANTIBrand is Kate’s own made-to-order line, if you fall in love with the vibe, there’s a whole collection of similarly stompy, art-driven designs to explore.
Manic Panic Hair Dye from Kate’s Clothing (and How I Keep It Vibrant)
The other big question I get is about my hair.
I tend to go for loud, bright colours that actually show up under venue lighting. A lot of people assume it’s some kind of filter when they see photos – but it really is that vivid in real life.
Most of the time I’m using Manic Panic dyes, which I also get from Kate’s Clothing, here:
https://www.katesclothing.co.uk/collections/manic-panic
If you’ve ever tried bright dyes that look incredible on day one and then fade into “sad murky pastel” by week two, you’ll know how frustrating that is. Manic Panic holds its own much better if you treat it right.
My not-so-secret trick for keeping the colour vibrant is washing my hair with Manic Panic’s colour-restoring conditioners in the weeks after dyeing it, also available on the site. Instead of stripping the colour out every time you shower, you’re topping it up. It makes a huge difference to how long it stays punchy.
From a wedding perspective, the hair does a few useful things:
- It silently signals to the couple: “Yes, I’m actually part of your alt world, not just a DJ in a black shirt.”
- It tells guests this isn’t going to be a generic wedding disco.
- It gives photographers something colourful to catch in the evening shots.
- And selfishly, it’s nice when guests come up mid-evening and go, “Alright, what dye is that and where do I get it?”
Shirts, Waistcoats, and Alternative Wedding Clothing That Still Works in Photos
It’s not just the boots and hair.
I often wear shirts, waistcoats, and other bits I’ve got from Kate’s Clothing when I’m DJing weddings. The trick for me is finding clothes that look smart and respectful in a formal venue, and still feel like something I’d wear to an alt club night or gig. And there’s a huge range of accessories like makeup, rings, necklaces, chokers, crowns, belts, bags, stockings, and more to add a subtle alt flavour to what may be a more understated look.
A lot of “alternative” clothing online falls into one of two camps:
either too casual for a wedding, or so costume-y that you look like you’ve turned up in fancy dress.
What I like about Kate’s range is that plenty of it sits in the middle ground: goth/alt enough to feel authentic, but still absolutely fine when stood next to a three-piece suit or a wedding dress in the photos.
If you’re hunting for alternative wedding clothing in the UK – whether that’s boots, a statement shirt, or something subtly goth – it’s a good place to go digging.
For Brides, Grooms, Wedding Guests and Fellow Suppliers
Whether you’re:
- A bride or groom wanting something more goth/alt than the usual wedding wear,
- A guest who wants to let your inner emo out politely (assuming the dress code allows for it),
- Or another DJ/supplier who wants to look like themselves without upsetting the venue…
…there’s probably something on Kate’s Clothing that’ll help you feel a bit more “you” on the day.
And it’s not just Kate’s own ANTIBrand line, either. Kate’s Clothing pulls together loads of other alternative brands – think Killstar, Punk Rave, Dark in Love, Necessary Evil, DemoniaCult, Hot Chocolate Design and more – so you’ve basically got a whole goth/alt marketplace in one place – so you’ve basically got a whole goth/alt marketplace in one place instead of trawling a dozen different sites.
I’ve had couples ask me where to send their more alternative guests to look for outfit inspiration, and honestly, this is usually top of my list. If you’re planning a non-traditional or alternative wedding, pointing your guests towards somewhere like this can help the whole day feel more cohesive and “on theme” without forcing anyone into costumes.
And if you’re worried about what to wear to an alt wedding without being so extra you upstage the bride, don’t worry; Kate’s got you covered in her helpful blog post, “What to Wear to a Gothic Wedding (Without Outshining the Bride)”
A Bloke in a Mostly Women’s Shop
I’m a bloke, and Kate’s men’s section is pretty small compared to the rest of the site.
I still pick up bits from there – shirts, the odd waistcoat, accessories (the stock changes regularly) – but if you’re male-presenting and only looking at the “men’s” category, you may think the range is limited. The magic really happens in the women’s section.
The good news is: a lot of it is effectively unisex in the real world. The boots are unisex. Loads of the jewellery, accessories, outer layers and some of the dresses/tunics work beautifully on all kinds of bodies if you go by measurements rather than labels and which section they’re in.
But if you:
- Wear “women’s” clothing,
- Are female-presenting, or
- Are shopping for or directing brides, bridesmaids or wedding guests,
…then you’re absolutely spoiled for choice. There are gothic gowns, floaty witchy dresses, structured pieces you can dress up or down, and plenty of things that can easily become alternative wedding outfits with the right shoes and jewellery.
If you’re planning an alternative or goth-leaning wedding and want your guests to feel comfortable pushing the boat out a bit, pointing them towards Kate’s women’s section is a really easy win.
See You on the Dancefloor (In Your Best Alt Outfit). I’ll Bring the Tunes
So if you’ve ever been at one of my weddings and thought:
- “I want those boots.”
- “I want hair that bright for my wedding / a festival / life in general.”
- “I want an outfit that fits a wedding and my music taste.”
…then go have a scroll through Kate’s Clothing. If you turn up on my dancefloor in ANTIBrand boots and bright Manic Panic hair, wearing a Necessary Evil dress, please come and show me. I fully support weddings doubling as low-key alternative fashion parades.
And if you want an exceptionally stylishly-garbed alt DJ for your wedding or event, hit me up. My 2026 diary is already filling up, and I’m taking bookings for 2027 and beyond.
