Every October, it seems like magic, a single photo of Kate Moss appears on our Instagram and Pinterest pages. In the photo, the model is seen walking the Martine Sitbon spring/summer 1993 catwalk while holding a cigarette with a mouthpiece in her hands, almost like a magic wand. The gothic version of Queen Kate serves as the ideal source of inspiration for Halloween costumes and helps us rediscover the enduring love of fashion for the witch aesthetic, which ranges from the more traditional look of all-black clothing, conical hats, and marked makeup to the more modern witch aesthetic associated with the Wiccan religion or witchcore that is popular on Tiktok.
History and fairy tales have always depicted the archetype of a woman, preferably ugly and elderly, wrapped in a long black dress, possibly accompanied by a cloak, broom (The myth of the flying broom originates from the belief, reported in the witch trials, that hags rubbed hallucinogenic ointments on their genitalia to facilitate altered states and magical flight), shoes, and pointed hat, probably a legacy of the henn C. referred to as Subeshi witches.Hollywood has given us increasingly diverse and fascinating images of witches, ranging from the colorful Renaissance gowns worn by the protagonists of Hocus Pocus to the casual 90s style of the Owens sisters of Practical Magic, from the sexy, sixties mischief of The Love Witch to the gothic collegiate look of The Love Witch. As a result, the concept of the evil sorceress described in the Malleus Maleficarum and cemented during the years of the Inquisition.
The mystical, the supernatural, and the inexplicable (often linked to rebellion, sisterhood, and feminism) have become increasingly mainstream and cool, casting their spell on fashion as well. This is because the idea that witchcraft was practiced by ugly and deformed women has been archived thanks to the world of films and series. With her autumn/winter 1983 show, Witches, inspired by the occult side of Keith Haring’s artwork, Vivienne Westwood was likely the first to introduce witches to the runway, followed by Alexander McQueen.
The British designer made reference to his ancestor being a victim of the Salem witch trials for the autumn/winter 2007 show. A few years later, the witchcore aesthetic won over Hedi Slimane for his debut at Saint Laurent and Maria Grazie Chiuri for her debut at Dior. As seen in the designs of Comme Des Garçons, Ann Demeulemeester, Rodarte, Rick Owens, Gucci, Givenchy, Dilara Findikoglu, and many other companies, magic, witchcraft, spells, occultism, and Wiccan vibes were reoccurring motifs.
Here are 10 witch-themed fashion shows:
Martine Sitbon SS 1993
All of the women created by French fashion designer Martine Sitbon are unique, endearing, and creative. A succession of clothes appropriate for a 90s witch, from the reinvention of the oriental dress to the pinstripe trench coat combined with a wide-brimmed hat and veil, are what unifies them in addition to the same attitude. Every Halloween, Kate Moss sports the most recognizable costume, which becomes a social media sensation thanks to her tunic-like black dress, pointed hat, and hands holding a cigarette with a mouthpiece in place of a wand.
Jean Paul Gaultier FW 2006
The familiar serves as both the devoted companion of people who study the Old Religion and a symbol of the relationship between the magical and mortal worlds. The familiar is an evil spirit that is typically manifested as an animal, such as an owl, crow, or cat. Gaultier paraded models wearing spooky antique dolls, cats, dogs, and owls in this collection. Undoubtedly eerie.
Alexander McQueen FW 2007
When Alexander McQueen discovered that a distant relative, Elizabeth Howe, had been killed during the Salem Witch Trials in 1692, he was inspired to explore themes of paganism and religious persecution in his collection for the 2007 Autumn/Winter season. The models walked on a big red pentagram drawn on black sand while a film with skulls, insects, and naked women was projected on an inverted pyramid-shaped screen, decked out in celestial headdresses and makeup evocative of The Love Witch.
Luella Bartley FW 2008
Luella Bartley’s FW08 collection, which she describes as “very raw and pagan,” featured references to Britt Ekland from The Wicker Man and the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic in Boscastle, Cornwall. However, the final product is more akin to Sabrina Spellman’s contemporary interpretation of a romantic mini-dress, corduroy jodhpurs, smock-stitched shirts, single-breasted coats, and vibrant tights. The witches of Bartley’s must-have accessory? the pointed felt hat.
Saint Laurent SS 2013
Hedi Slimane made his debut at Saint Laurent with a collection that appeared to quote Marjorie Cameron, an American esoteric artist, and Stevie Nicks, who is rumored to be a true witch. His witches are rock ‘n’ roll and stylish, dressed in long floating dresses and tiny dresses with a sixties appeal, translucent blouses and bow shirts, dramatic capes, and wide-brimmed hats. One of Slimane’s most well-liked collections even now.
Comme des Garçons SS 2016
The main themes of Comme des Garçons’ SS 2016 collection, The Blue Witch, were the occult and witchcraft. Rei Kawakubo, who drew inspiration from Celtic witches, portrayed on the catwalk what her husband Adrian Joffe called “Powerful women who are misunderstood, but do good in the world.” their clothing? Long lucky necklaces hung around their necks and enormous, fuzzy patchworks of abstract cloth served as their accessories.
Dior SS 2017
Witchcraft and feminism are inextricably interwoven. Even in Maria Grazia Chiuri’s debut collection at Dior, which was directly influenced by Christian Dior’s love of astrology and tarot cards. Recall the t-shirt that read, “We should all be feminists”? In addition to the costume that gained notoriety, Maison’s witches wore long voile dresses adorned with tarot cards, cosmic symbols, and glittering threads. A collection that is airy and ideal for a good witch.
Preen by Thornton Bregazzi SS 2017
Thea Bregazzi and Justin Thornton, the design team behind Preen, were attracted by the history of the Isle of Man, which is located off the coast of England and is known for its association with witchcraft and the occult. Their models are paganic beings with pentagrams, flowers, leaves, glitter, and other ancestor charms adorning their faces and clothing. Sacred power!
Ryan Lo SS 2019
A little bit Hocus Pocus, a little bit Disney fairytale, and a little bit Harry Potter. The romance in Ryan Lo’s SS 2019 is almost infantile. His witches enjoy pastel colors and wear tulle gowns with ruffles and flowers. They may even be a little awkward, like the fairy godmothers in Sleeping Beauty, and they also have an ancient broomstick and a pointy hat as accessories. A joyful conclusion is assured.
Gucci FW 2020
Inspirations and quotations from Alessandro Michele are consistently many, varied, and fascinating. The Salem witch trials in the 17th century, the Puritans, fetish, and goth are a few of those for FW 2020. Modern witches who enjoy black and white, dramatic clothing, and statement accessories are created when each of these components is combined.
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