With Halloween just around the corner, many of us will find ourselves contemplating dark and grim fashion choices, and perhaps sitting down in front of a classic horror movie or two. You do not have to be a committed goth to see how the two might link together, since many of the costumes we find in those films look quite fantastic.

Iconic Looks from Horror Cinema

The primary focus in most horror films is creating a sense of weirdness and (obviously) horror. You can see this in the wardrobe choices in films like Hellraiser, which focus heavily on black leather, facial piercings, and lots of spikes. Or, we might look back still further, to Bride of Frankenstein, and her iconic stripe of white hair, which you might now find mimicked in decidedly non-horror settings. Then there are films that outright feature wedding dresses.

Drama in horror films might stem from lighting choices, camera angles, and practical effects. But wardrobe matters too, and so it should not come as a surprise that so many horror films have proven so influential over the years.

Translating Fear into Fashion

Obviously, outside of Halloween and certain stage productions, few of us want to look like we’re in costume. But horror aesthetics have crept into many subcultures and musical genres.

The goth movement in the 1980s, and later the emergence and mainstreaming of extreme metal music in the 90s, are rife with horror influences. You do not need to be clad in leather trousers to make this happen for you, however; often, it has classic, sweeping garments, like maxi dresses, that create the sense of drama we are looking for. In most cases, you will want to pick these out in black.

The Power of Statement Pieces

If you want to take the horror element of your fashion choices up a few notches, then the easiest way to do it is usually with the help of a few choice items of jewellery. Skeletal motifs and occult symbols might help to express a touch of the macabre, even in an outfit that is otherwise quite devoid of it.

Horror’s Lasting Impact on Style

As a genre, horror is naturally influential. It is cheap to make a horror film, and so countless numbers of them are produced each year.

Distinctive visual ideas tend to command the most attention, and the most striking of these tend to leave their mark in the world of fashion.

In some cases, fashion might provide a chance to pay tribute to a world of fiction. You might think of oversized Dracula-esque collars, or T-shirts promoting the Hellfire Club from Stranger Things.

Embrace the Dark Side of Fashion

Even if you do not consider yourself aligned with any dark and spooky subculture, you can draw inspiration from the world of horror, and from the darker elements in the world of fashion. Even if that only means experimenting with darker colours, it is worth experimenting and seeing what works.