The Rise of Witchy Fashion

    In researching the evolution of "witchy" fashion trends, I came across an article by British Vogue entitled, "The Vogue Guide To Being a Modern Witch". The guide begins: "October is to witches what September is to models: a moment to shine. Replace the catwalk with an ancient forest, the spotlight with moonlight and the stage is set. Didn’t you hear? Being witchy is now something to aspire to."

    In this intro, British Vogue is making Sabbaths trendy, equating them as a catwalk, a witch's time to shine. A ritual that witches used to be accused of and persecuted for is now "fashionable." British Vogue describes the modern witch's typical daytime attire according to social media as monotone or tulle dress/skirt with a chunky sweater with a wide lace collar. Her hair would be long and "feminine" with flowers and/or ribbons. At nighttime however, British Vogue says that the modern witch should get "vampy" would include a lace slip. The article continues that the modern day witch aesthetic is about more than the outfits, but about embracing a woman's dark side and rejecting idealizations of women as angels, such as Victoria's Secret's famous "angels". 

    Along with the attention witches are getting in the fashion industry, there is also interest rising in the connection between the occult and natural world. Brands, such as Gucci in their Bloom campaign featuring Grand High Witch Anjelica Huston, have played into this interest by using advertising combining witchery and nature. Since advertising plays a significant role in society's behavior, could the increase in "witchy" advertising be leading to decreased stigmatization and increased trendiness of fashion inspired by the occult?


The Bloom campaign by Gucci

    Some speculate that the fashion industry's inspiration by the occult comes from a place of trying to reclaim women's power, and redefining the 21st century witch as seductive and powerful, rather than the stereotypical shamed "hag". 

    Well-known designer Alexander McQueen traced their lineage back to one of the accused witches executed in the Salem Witch trials, and has since been deeply inspired by reimagining and incorporating witchcraft in fashion. One of their most controversial collections was entitled "In Memory of Elizabeth Howe, Salem 1692". In this runway, the models walked upon a red pentagram inside a black sand circle.


    I also came across designer Clio Peppiatt's tarot card inspired collection. This collection was also reportedly influence by the film, The Love Witch, which one group presented on in class. Peppaiatt's brand is known to draw on inspiration from the occult, and has found great success, being worn by influencers such as Kylie Jenner. The tarot cards that inspired this collection included The Magician, Temperance, and Three of Cups.





     While dressing as a witch used to primarily be reserved for Halloween, now more than ever aspects of the "witch aesthetic" is accepted and promoted. WitchTok now makes it easily accessible to learn about the occult and also provides inspiration to act/dress like the witch influencers. With one google search, I was able to find various blogs and Pinterest boards devoted to everyday witch inspired outfits. While a lot of these outfits were the stereotypical all black outfit typically associated with witches, some of the outfits were brighter and unique, confirming British Vogue's claim that the modern witch is more about embracing power and femininity than the outfit itself.

Pinterest search results for "witch outfit inspo"

My dog Cali in her traditional "witchy" outfit


References:

https://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/article/vogue-guide-witch

https://www.wonderlandmagazine.com/2019/01/04/london-designer-clio-peppiatt-selects-three-tarot-cards-for-2019/

https://hero-magazine.com/article/136106/unpicking-fashions-love-affair-with-the-occult

https://www.nyhistory.org/blogs/the-witches-spells-and-ghosts-of-fashion2

https://www.mgetsdressed.com/blog/2019/10/24/guide-to-creating-wearable-witchy-outfits


Comments

  1. williams.dan76March 20, 2024 at 12:18 PM

    I am always learning from the blogs. I had no idea there were witchy fashions or that British Vogue published a guide to witchy fashions. But I was really amazed by McQueen's dedicating her fashions to Elizabeth Howe. I wonder why Howe. She does not seem much different than most of the other 19 who were executed. I wonder what was the connection that McQueen felt. This is a great blog, thanks, and thank for your Cali photo.

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