Alternative fashion is often much more complex than we think. Whether it's grunge, goth, emo, or something else, it's not just a matter of style. Each of these is part of what we call a "subculture", and each of these subcultures seeks to convey a message or movement. For example, grunge people seek to break free from what is considered "perfect", Kurt Cobain is a good exemple. Another example, emos generally seek to express their emotions more through poems and songs, often negative ones. Unfortunately, I don't know much about the gothic subcult, but I would advise doing some research to really understand their world, it can help.
John Lydon said it best.
"The Grunge style is label approved messiness."
Emo. Never could understand this label, and i come from the city and went to shows to see the bands that apparently "invented" emo. Isn't all music emotional? Are the Exploited, the Bad Brains, Springsteen and another person who performs music on stage just robots? Everytime someone says the word "emo," i cringe. To me, it's a label that doesn't exist.
Not picking on ya....just in a mood today.