# The goth look does not age well - Pudgy old Robert Smith of the Cure shows why **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 23, 2004, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goth-look-does-not-age-well-pudgy-old-robert-smith-of-the-cure-shows-why/256435 "2004-07-23T00:28:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2004, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goth-look-does-not-age-well-pudgy-old-robert-smith-of-the-cure-shows-why/256435/1 "2004-07-23T00:28:12Z")
[I like the Cure’s music, but 45 year old Robert Smith really needs to put down the mascara brush and the lipstick at this point.](http://www.blender.com/articles/article_941.html) ---
**Author:** ![Fionn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Fionn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fionn)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2004, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goth-look-does-not-age-well-pudgy-old-robert-smith-of-the-cure-shows-why/256435/2 "2004-07-23T00:36:27Z")
I agree. I’ve seen recent pictures where Robert Smith weirdly resembles Elizabeth Taylor. ---
**Author:** ![START](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@START](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/START)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2004, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goth-look-does-not-age-well-pudgy-old-robert-smith-of-the-cure-shows-why/256435/3 "2004-07-23T00:37:20Z")
I hate to say it but neither does the Hip Hop look baggy pants and all that unless you look really young like say your in your 40’s and look like your in your 20’s or early 30’s. ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2004, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goth-look-does-not-age-well-pudgy-old-robert-smith-of-the-cure-shows-why/256435/4 "2004-07-23T01:24:21Z")
He looks eerily like someone I’ve seen before. I can’t figure out who it is, though. Wait, I got it: Alice Cooper. ---
**Author:** ![Chairman\_Pow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Chairman\_Pow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chairman_Pow)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2004, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goth-look-does-not-age-well-pudgy-old-robert-smith-of-the-cure-shows-why/256435/5 "2004-07-23T02:30:43Z")
I dunno, Siouxie looks pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2004, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goth-look-does-not-age-well-pudgy-old-robert-smith-of-the-cure-shows-why/256435/6 "2004-07-23T03:27:47Z")
Tim Burton was never a prize, but he is even less of one now that he’s nearly 46. ---
**Author:** ![Master\_Wang-Ka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/master_wang-ka/32/3325_2.png) [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2004, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goth-look-does-not-age-well-pudgy-old-robert-smith-of-the-cure-shows-why/256435/7 "2004-07-23T14:16:22Z")
In 1982, The Cure was at the height of their popularity, just about. Robert Smith was slender, slick, and sexy. I, too, was slender, slick, and sexy. Buff, too. Full head of thick, luxurious hair. Now, I am old, bald, and fat. But my wife still loves me. Wonder if Robert Smith’s fans still feel the same way? ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2004, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goth-look-does-not-age-well-pudgy-old-robert-smith-of-the-cure-shows-why/256435/8 "2004-07-23T15:34:06Z")
I remember the rumour back in the eighties was that Robert’s handlers had shaved ten years off his age to make him more marketable. He doesn’t look _too_ bad for a 55 year old. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2004, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goth-look-does-not-age-well-pudgy-old-robert-smith-of-the-cure-shows-why/256435/9 "2004-07-23T15:40:51Z")
> [@Master Wang-Ka](#): > > Now, I am old, bald, and fat. > > But my wife still loves me. > > Wonder if Robert Smith’s fans still feel the same way? I’m sure Cure fans still love you too. ---
**Author:** ![Ghanima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Ghanima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ghanima)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2004, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goth-look-does-not-age-well-pudgy-old-robert-smith-of-the-cure-shows-why/256435/10 "2004-07-23T16:01:05Z")
This just proves exactly how bad my judgement at the age of fourteen was. I was sure that Robert Smith and I were soulmates destined to be together. Now I look at him and feel sorta queasy. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2004, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goth-look-does-not-age-well-pudgy-old-robert-smith-of-the-cure-shows-why/256435/11 "2004-07-23T16:33:04Z")
Cure fan here, 36: I think Robert looks just fine. In his Lovecats days, he used to be too gorgeous. When I became fan, at 14, he looked just like today: a cuddly, slightly overweight mix of weltschmerz and mischief, with lots of self-depricatory humour and a dreamy, theatrical, self-brewed look. I’d definately still do him, if it weren’t for his beloved wife Mary 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Gotterfunken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/58956e/32.png) [@Gotterfunken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gotterfunken)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2004, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goth-look-does-not-age-well-pudgy-old-robert-smith-of-the-cure-shows-why/256435/12 "2004-07-23T17:28:28Z")
I have to agree with **astro**. I’ve always been a huge Cure fan, and loved (and tried to emulate) their image in the mid-80s, but I think it’s about time that Robert laid off the makeup and hair gel. It won’t change his music, after all–which I still love, even though I don’t try to dress like him, like I did almost 20 years ago. 20 years ago?? :eek: f\*ck, I’m getting old too. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2004, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goth-look-does-not-age-well-pudgy-old-robert-smith-of-the-cure-shows-why/256435/13 "2004-07-24T00:36:35Z")
> [@Master Wang-Ka](#): > > In 1982, The Cure was at the height of their popularity, just about. Robert Smith was slender, slick, and sexy. Nitpick: Actually, their height of popularity was 1992 (release of “Wish”, #2 on Billboard charts, sold out tour), and Robert Smith was about three-quarters of the way to looking how he does now 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2004, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goth-look-does-not-age-well-pudgy-old-robert-smith-of-the-cure-shows-why/256435/14 "2004-07-24T03:35:20Z")
> [@START](#): > > I hate to say it but neither does the Hip Hop look baggy pants and all that unless you look really young like say your in your 40’s and look like your in your 20’s or early 30’s. START, sweetheart, we’ve tried to explain to you before that that look doesn’t work at any age. No. Now put on some pants that fit right, and make sure they stay at your waist, please. ---
**Author:** ![eunoia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eunoia/32/97_2.png) [@eunoia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eunoia)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2004, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goth-look-does-not-age-well-pudgy-old-robert-smith-of-the-cure-shows-why/256435/15 "2004-07-24T05:57:31Z")
I think he looks great. I’d definitely approach him first in a roomful of 40-somethings. Too bad it’s not his regular look and just a stage persona, but it’s nice to know that the same generation that succeeded in smashing all these silly conformist fashion rules for a time is still upsetting people. ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2004, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goth-look-does-not-age-well-pudgy-old-robert-smith-of-the-cure-shows-why/256435/16 "2004-07-24T06:21:50Z")
I don’t think that the whole ‘goth’ thing is what looks bad on Smith. I think that bloated and not in good health look are what look bad. Is he still heavily drinking? I don’t think that being over 40 with ink black hair and eyeliner is bad (Snape, anyone?), I just think that it tends to make Smith look dated. It makes it look like he hasn’t grown as a person. ---
**Author:** ![Kricket](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f14d63/32.png) [@Kricket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kricket)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2004, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goth-look-does-not-age-well-pudgy-old-robert-smith-of-the-cure-shows-why/256435/17 "2004-07-24T10:53:35Z")
> [@interface2x](#): > > Nitpick: Actually, their height of popularity was 1992 (release of “Wish”, #2 on Billboard charts, sold out tour), and Robert Smith was about three-quarters of the way to looking how he does now 😃 That just says that he hit main stream listeners and became popular to them. So yeah “technically” 😉 at their height. I was dancing to him in the club at 17 to the lovely poser love song “why can’t I be you” and another fav “Just like heaven”. I know those couldn’t be out later than 90 because they were out before I had my first child and still could be a teen at the end of 90. I was the odd girl in school for liking their music. Went to a small farm community school. Yeah, good times. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2004, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goth-look-does-not-age-well-pudgy-old-robert-smith-of-the-cure-shows-why/256435/18 "2004-07-24T21:56:51Z")
1987 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Shaolinrabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Shaolinrabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shaolinrabbit)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2004, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goth-look-does-not-age-well-pudgy-old-robert-smith-of-the-cure-shows-why/256435/19 "2004-07-24T22:11:20Z")
This is going to sound terrible, but am I the only one who thought these guys looked pretty dorky when they were _young_? ---
**Author:** ![look\_ninjas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b2d939/32.png) [@look\_ninjas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/look_ninjas)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2004, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goth-look-does-not-age-well-pudgy-old-robert-smith-of-the-cure-shows-why/256435/20 "2004-07-25T01:26:20Z")
The look hasn’t aged all that well, but I still love the man beneath the makeup. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goth-look-does-not-age-well-pudgy-old-robert-smith-of-the-cure-shows-why/256435.md?page=2)