STYLE

Gothic fashion is the new cool girl chic and here’s how to wear it

Gothic fashion is back and we’re obsessed! From romantic and whimsical, to corporate and Southern, here’s everything you need to know about this fashion era.

BY|PUBLISHED: OCT 16, 2025

Rise of the Undead: Gothic Fashion

Vampiric and witchy styles are making a comeback — here’s how you can prepare for this fashion takeover.

Maybe it’s the cinnamon and pumpkin spice in the air, the foggy streets, and the dried leaves that’ve gotten us feeling this way. Oh, who are we kiddin’? Island girls, you’re under the blazing sun year-round (except monsoon season). But that’s never stopped you, gothic ghouls, from rocking black-on-black fits and serving undead-chic vibes.

Even with season two of Wednesday wrapped up, we still can’t stop talking about Jenna Ortega. From her eerie-chic red carpet fits to her bleached brows and dark makeup looks, she’s become our mood board for gothic fashion.

TikTok’s goth sub-aesthetics have boosted this style, its shadows now spreading into closets everywhere. But before we get into the modern goths, let’s talk about where it all began.

Rewinding the clock, the inception of this fashion monster points us to the late 1970s and ’80s. Fuelled by punk-rock, horror, and rebellion, gothic fashion spread across the UK like wildfire.

Bands like Bauhaus, The Cure, and Siouxsie and the Banshees laid the stage for this aesthetic. Black eyeshadow, heavy eyeliner, pale foundation, and blood-red lips made messy and melancholy look mysteriously sexy.

But it wasn’t just the entertainment industry that fuelled gothic fashion. The style took in elements from the Victorian and Edwardian eras – corsets, lace, bell sleeves, and ribbons (all in dark colours, of course). And while it flourished in the UK, the aesthetic’s roots stretch back to 12th-century gothic architecture and literature.

Alright, enough history. Let’s dive into the main aesthetics winning hearts today.

The Fashion Spellbook

Romantic Goth

The love child of gothic literature and Victorian fashion, this sub-style is for the girl consumed by emotion, driven mad with intense passion, and deeply devoted to romance. Picture candlelit bedrooms, poetry, calligraphy, and dead roses.

Wardrobe:

1) Aura: Feminine and sensual.
2) Fabrics: Silk, chiffon, lace, and velvet.
3) Silhouettes: Flowy skirts, dresses, and sleeves. Deep necklines, cinched waists, and frills.
4) Colours: Black, plum, and wine red.
5) Accessories: Kitten heels and lace-up boots. Lockets, lace chokers, ribbon collars, antique gemstone jewellery, and lace or silk gloves.
6) Inspo: Morticia Addams, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Dita Von Teese.

Vanity:

Ghostly matte foundation.
Dark eyeshadow, eyeliner, and mascara (for long, flirty lashes).
Crimson or blood red lipstick.
Long, loose waves or curls.

Whimsi-goth

Whimsi-goth, a term coined by Evan Collins, blends gothic art and the 90s obsession with witches and vampires. It's for the cat-girls, the doodlers, and the ones who saved every shiny trinket in a box, swearing it held magic.

Wardrobe:

1) Aura: Nostalgic and mystical.
2) Fabrics: Velvet, cotton, knit, and crochet.
3) Silhouettes: Maxi skirts and dresses, baby-doll dresses, crop tops, bell-sleeves, and patterned jeans.
4) Colours: Black, forest green, midnight blue, and indigo.
5) Accessories: Platform sandals and Mary Janes. Layered necklaces, bracelets, and bangles. Dangly earrings and mood rings.
6) Inspo: Stevie Nicks, Phoebe Buffay, and Gillian Owens.

Vanity:

Matte foundation (keep it natural).
Shimmer, dark, colourful eyeshadow and eyeliner.
Nude or berry lip gloss.
Half-up-half-down, coloured mini butterfly and flower hair clips, messy braids, and space buns.

Corporate Goth

This sub-aesthetic arose out of necessity — for the goths who didn’t want to leave their colour at the office door every morning. It’s for the ambitious, the resilient, and those eager to conquer more than just their wardrobe.

Wardrobe:

1) Aura: Classic and sleek.

2) Fabrics: Cotton, wool, knit, and tweed.

3) Silhouettes: Button-downs, pencil and pleated skirts, trousers, and tailored suits.

4) Colours: Black, white, grey, and dark brown.

5) Accessories: Loafers and Mary Janes. Black leather watch and minimalistic, silver jewellery.

6) Inspo: Eva Green and Jenna Ortega.

Vanity:

Light and natural foundation.
Smokey eyes (black or grey) and eyeliner.
Nude and deep brown lipstick.
Combed hair, neat ponytails, and sleek buns.

Southern Goth

More than just a fashion aesthetic, Southern goth is a lifestyle. It grew out of the Southern gothic literary movement — drenched in religion and American history. Carrying soft-goth elements, this aesthetic addresses and criticises America’s history of slavery, war, and the loss of innocence.

Wardrobe:

1) Aura: Small-town and haunting.
2) Fabrics: Cotton, linen, wool, and lace.
3) Silhouettes: Long skirts, peasant tops, prairie dresses, and nightgown-inspired long, flowy dresses.
4) Colours: White, beige, shades of brown, and faded-black.
5) Accessories: Cowboy boots and vintage flats. Rosaries, ribbon chokers, lockets, pocket watches, lace handkerchiefs, and tarnished jewellery.
6) Inspo: Ethel Cain, Lottie Matthews, and Lana Del Rey (in her Ultraviolence era).

Vanity:

Pale foundation with freckles.
Soft berry, grey, brown, or mauve eyeshadow and messy, smudged eyeliner.
Cherry red and dark brown lipstick.
Messy curls, loose waves, and undone braids.

Gothic Fashion Takeover

Gothic fashion has influenced everything – from clothing and architectural features in churches to poetry and novels to paintings. So whether you’re already in the coven or ready to let its fangs sink in, our fashion spellbook has everything you need to know. Here’s to looking tortured, mysterious, and freakishly stylish.