Dressed to kill: everything you need to know about this season’s gothic fashion trend

As the days are growing darker, so are our wardrobes. And it’s not just in terms of colour, though moody hues were seen on nearly every autumn runway. It’s the vibe, too, as designers turn their back on summer’s sunshine brights and instead look to ghostly glamour for inspiration.


At Dilara Findikoglu, tailoring was slashed and spliced with sheer corsetry; one cocktail dress was trimmed with silver chain. At Simone Rocha, layers of black – some sheer, some lace, some voluminous and crystal embellished – played to the gothic aesthetic. Dolce & Gabbana’s collection deconstructed the tuxedo in silk, lace and velvet, some sharply tailored suits, some jackets worn as mini dresses over sheer black tights with stilettos. Their models were the femme fatales of Italian cinema, all wearing a smear of bright red lipstick showing through the black lace veils that shrouded their faces.


This trend is a gift for Halloween, offering sexy, grown-up possibilities (just add a Beetlejuice up-do) for any parties in your social calendar this October. But gothic isn’t just for fancy dress – this trend will set the tone for the festive party season ahead, too.

Crystal corset, £825; Simone Rocha at Harvey Nichols

This is one piece that will update everything you pair it with. Wear as lingerie, peeking out from beneath a black tuxedo jacket or cashmere cardigan, or layer over the top of a party dress (or even a simple white T-shirt) to add corseted structure.

Velvet waistcoat, £168; Reiss

Playing with texture will add depth to an all-black look, and there’s none better than velvet as we come into winter. Wear top-to-toe for evening, or style this waistcoat with jeans to update your everyday look.

Leather ballerinas, £210; Bimba Y Lola

Embracing the dark side needn’t mean eschewing colour altogether. Instead, look for deeply pigmented reds, browns and purples to add to the mix. The pointed toe and buckled strap on these flats make for a toughened-up take on summer’s wear-with-everything ballerinas for autumn.

Leather belt, £109; AllSaints

Wide waist belts, and the cinched-in silhouette they create, are making a comeback this autumn. This double-buckled style will also give a tough edge to whatever you wear it with – and will look just as good over a crisp white cotton shirt as a party dress.

Wool blend kilt, £990; Burberry

Print lovers should look for dark iterations on the classics in the winter collections, like this mini kilt in a moody update on Burberry’s iconic check. Extra grunge points for the raw hemline and buckled waist.

Velvet lace mini dress, £1,800; Alessandra Rich at Harrods

With draped velvet, gothic lace drawn up into a high collar and ruffled shoulders (for a touch of Miss Havisham) and a cinched waist, this is the ultimate party dress. It’s a lesson in femme fatale sexiness too, with lace draped seductively across the body in sheer swathes. This LBD is an outfit in itself – just add sheer black tights and a killer pair of heels.

Words: Charlie Gowans-Eglinton