Fashion of Subcultures, Style Tribes and Alternative Fashion

Adora Batbrat is an 44 years old alternative model that has become well known for make up tutorials on her Youtube channel. In a short time, became one of the biggest style icons of the Goth subculture, with thousands of followers on her blog, tumblr, instagram e facebook. She just released a calendar for the year 2015, to buy, just click [here].

*Originally posted on february 2, 2015 on Moda de Subculturas.

Adora always had a personal style that inspires many girls around the world. Moreover, has self-esteem, sense of humor, likes the colour pink and says she loves being happy and smiling every day - breaking the stereotype that Goths need to be gloomy. In addition to wife, mother, housewife, is great in the kitchen - feeds herself according to the Montignac method - is fashion designer and of course, my inspiring Diva in question to remain faithful to what you are even when you became an adult!

We are very proud to present this exclusive interview! And no, it was not a cold interview with straightforward answers, it was a sincere interview, with great dedication to the responses, addressing various issues. Read to the end because it worth!

Starting with the basics: How did you get into modelling?
I was an art student at 20 and by chance became a croquis (nude) model for other artists on weekend-classes.
About a year later I met a well reputed fashion/commercial photographer, Paul Quant, who liked my looks and we collaborated (still do) on numerous times for published as well as exhibition pictures. His way of photographing taught me everything about my angles, lightning and body control. Friends of his who was also well established photographers and art directors saw our works and chose me instead of “real” models foremost because I had a reputation to be very good with poses and self going.
I never had a “plan” to be an alternative model. It just happened!

In the Swedish society in general, how is like to be alternative, people stare or respect the individuality?
I live in a small town (70 000 citizens) and the funny thing is I feel like everyone else when I’m out. Since the age of 12, when I started to look alternative, I guess people have been looking, but I never notice. I’m always pre-occupied by something funny going on in my head to think about other people *haha*
But I always get positive comments from random people around me if I’m out. People tend to be very sweet to me and say things like; I enlighten their day. It makes me very happy to hear!

Many people thinks that having an alternative style is just an adolescent phase. How did you entered the Gothic subculture? Have you felt any prejudice for dressing alternatively having more than 40 years old and being a mother?
When I started at 12 (by becoming part of the subculture “synthare” (electro Goth is perhaps the closest international name for it) and started dressing all black and lots of make up while listening to Depeche Mode, Front 242 and Nitzer Ebb) I felt like I found my home. This was me. This was for life.
My grandpa Harry used to call it a phase, but as I turned 35 he came to me and said: “-Ann-Sophie, I now know it’s not a phase.” It was a great moment. He decided this was me. The real me.
I remember when Nina Hagen (I like her looks, not the music) turned 30 and still looked like the Punk Queen she was, that I decided to always look the way I wanted no matter of age. She inspired me in that way.

Maquiagens da Adora

You are very well known for your makeup tutorials, how long does it takes to do your own makeup and what your favorite products?
On any ordinary day I’d say about 45 minutes to an hour with hair. But for concerts I might take up to 2 hours. But mainly that’s because I’m slow and talks too much during..
My absolute favourite products are M.A.C. Blacktrack gel eyeliner. It’s waterproof so it stays on my waterline all day. I use it every single day. IsaDora Waterproof glossy eyeliner is also a must. I use it on my upper eyelid. IsaDora Transparent pressed powder No 10 is what every alternative girl in Sweden uses. I always have it in stock at home.

You customize some of your clothing... Where do you usually buy them: in alternative shops, fast fashion, thrift stores...?
I almost never buy my clothes in alternative shops since I kind of never find something I really consider “me”.
I’m a classic H&M girl. They have great blouses and then I scout their kids department for tulle skirts.
Much of what I use is underwear, like; nightgowns, bustiers and gartherbelts to wear over skirts. I also buy vintage stuff and alter. I think I have kind of a boring style at the moment and need to do something drastic.

You are creative and have a clothing brand, which are the main difficulties you face for having a brand in Sweden or in the alternative market in general?
My business, BatBrat Ltd, is more of a hobby project, but I’m hoping to be able to put some more time into it this year since I really like it. But I’ve been hopelessly un-structured about it. This year I have both an assistant and a manager so hopefully they’ll whip me into shape and focus on the plans we’ve made for both BatBrat Ltd. as well as for Adora BatBrat.
I can’t think of any difficulties in having a brand since my market is not in Sweden, but the pretty alternatives all over the world that’s taken me to their heart and tend to like the same stuff I do. My main difficulties is I have 3 cute babybats and a very handsome husband I’d like to spend time with and that one day only is 24 hours…

Your children are very stylish, do you think your aesthetic sense is an influence in some way for them or they decide what they want to wear?Since the age of 2 they have all been capable to fully dress themselves, so I’ve let them have their personal style since. Unfortunately I can take no credit for their fashion sense.
My only main goal with the babybats is to bombard them with colors:
1. because it makes it easy to find them in a crowd.
2. to get them peoples attention so they’ll be used to get compliments from a small age and feel that the world is a lovely place filled with positive people.
3. to make them one day be fed up with colors and spend rest of their life dressed in black, just like me! That’s my evil plan!

Adora and her kids

Recently you posted a video with an interesting point: people who take the retro style for being more "socially acceptable". Do you think people are "afraid" of not fitting in the others' expectations and afraid to deal with a possible prejudice?
As always I’m bit ironic in this video as well, but here in Sweden it happened like over night that lots of very cool and amazingly looking Goth girls transformed into rockabilly chicks and started doing pin up shoots instead. I was in shock!
The retro style is always a pretty style, and everyone who wears it looks great, but to loose those individual and exceptional Goth girls to a more not-so-original look was a huge set back for the Goth community according to me.
For a “normal” person to turn rockabilly it’s a step up I think. Everyone looks fab like that. But for a former individual Goth I think it’s a step back. I understand most girls’ likes to be called pretty by the worlds standard, but in the Goth community we adore these girls individuality and I find them so creative and everyone have their own unique look. You definitely have to be a stronger individual to stay Goth than to be rockabilly due to how the world looks at you. They are colorful and preppy; we are dark and strange (according to society). I like being strange!
A make up artist can never create a true Goth look but a rockabilly look I think even my mum can paint on someone. It’s a craftsmanship going lost..
Haha, I am very upset still about the pretty girls we’ve lost. Come back!

42 years old and lots of style!

You preach the concept of good nutrition through the Montignac method, self-esteem and discover a part of the body you like and focus on it. What do you think about alternative people who are adopting mainstream beauty standards and devaluing the different?I’ve never thought about alternatives going mainstream in the beauty standards?
So far I’ve never noticed anything like that with the people I’ve met, but sure, sometimes even I have to do modelling not looking as my usual self, but it’s just for the time being, thank God.
I still think alternative people couldn’t care less about how we are “supposed” to look. I always feel they embrace their body. For me I was somewhat ashamed as a child for being this skinny, but then in my teens I simply decided to be proud as hell about this body. I all of a sudden thought it was cool and not like everyone else’s. I then noticed if you like yourself other peoples words mean nothing. What I feel about myself is what is important – and I shall love myself endlessly because I’m great!

Looks da Adora: super usáveis aqui no Brasil, né?

Through your media channels, your style of dress ended up influencing girls around the world, mainly Swedish alternative girls (your makeup style, short skirts with tights, crowns...). Your style is so inspiring that went on to win followers. Where did you get clothes inspirations? The kawai fashion is part of them?
Close friends have pointed that out for me that they’ve seen how, for example, girls bangs getting shorter and use of rhinestones and painting swirls and wearing heavier and more elaborate make up styles etc can be seen in people who is around me, but I don’t think I’m unique in any way and never notice things like that. I just do the make up styles we did in the mid -80s and I just happens to have a problem with too much or too long clothes so that’s why I’m sparsely dressed.
I’ve been wearing crowns and tiaras since 1988, but never got hold of any good ones until 1992. It was SO expensive and no internet you know…
But I’ve always considered me a princess so naturally I should wear the gear of one. I love bling!
I know next to nothing about the Kawaii fashion. I have no fashion sense at all, I just go for anything black, Goth and tight or lacey.

Adora´s style

Singer in Asperger Syndrome, Vampire-like, icon, synthare princess, UCG... how did you reconcile personal life, husband and raising three children? It's easy to be a gothic diva?
It’s a bit stressful at time, but my main focus in life is to have fun and to be happy, so in any situation I am in I’m always 100%.
First and foremost I’m me. I’m very egoistic (not at the cost of others though) and figure if I’m happy - my family is happy.
I have a schedule as a mum (like; I always bake on Fridays and we have family movie-night) and a schedule as the boss of BatBrat Ltd.
For example I and the cute Mr BatBrat are never allowed to use the computer of mobile phone until the kids are in bed weekdays. I’m 100% mum when I’m with Synthia, Fairlight and TeeBee. But rest of the time I’m that Gothic Diva ;)
I’m not that kind of mum/wife who calls home if I’m away for a week to check if everyone is doing ok either. If I’m gone, I’m gone 100%.
It must be hell living with me?!

Finishing: One of the major differences between Brazil and Sweden is the temperature. We are now in high summer and thermometers are in their 40 celsius degrees, so... we propose a challenge: if you come to Brazil tomorrow, what clothes would use in our hot weather? And... would you have a tour on the beach??
I’m so jealous of you! I’d LOVE to have 40 degrees every day – just as long as I don’t tan! First thing on my list would be a huge black umbrella, and I’d probably would wear as little as possible. A black mesh top with black bows and a tiny lace skirt with a huge bat over my ass and some plateau sandals with rhinestone crosses on would be okay I think.
Of course I’d have a tour on the beach! I love making sand figures and to swim. I’d have a blast!
I’d love to come to Brazil! Then I could also meet my alter ego Adora Albino’s pretty husband, Donn Montevyck and do an amazing shoot together!

Adora if you have some message for brazilian fans feel free to express yourself!
I am very happy to have found out how many alternative people it seems to be in Brazil. And you are all very creative with your looks. I’m very impressed!
I’d like to take the opportunity to thank you all for the endless compliments I get from you and if I ever go to Brazil I want a hug from each and every one of you.
Love,
A