What Is Whimsigoth? A Guide to the Aesthetic Behind Our Bags

Whimsigoth is what you get when cottagecore and goth stop pretending they don't like each other. Think crystals next to gingham. Moths instead of butterflies. A witchy edge on something that would otherwise look sweet.

I didn't set out to build a whole shop around one aesthetic. I picked up sewing in 2022, fell for making bags, and just kept following whatever felt fun to make. A lot of what I make lands somewhere in the whimsigoth space without me planning it that way: snake and crystal prints, moth motifs, dark backgrounds with soft pastel details.

If you're trying to figure out whether you're into whimsigoth, here's a rough test: do you like tarot cards more than horoscopes, black cats more than golden retrievers, and would you rather your accessories look a little haunted than a little sunny? That's the vibe.

A few pieces from the shop that fit squarely in this lane: the Whimsigoth Tote Bag with the witchy snake and crystal print, and the Celestial Moth Tote Bag with its galaxy-and-luna-moth design on a faux leather base. Both are handmade one at a time, so once a specific print sells, it's gone for good.

If that sounds like your kind of bag, the current whimsigoth pieces are up on the site, and I post new ones, along with the process of making them, on TikTok and Instagram @sarahmakeswv.