Let’s be real , goth fashion never actually died. The past 3 years have been difficult for the fashion world, with many designers turning to online shopping and social media to stay alive during these tough economic times. In 2021, after spending much time developing relationships with these new online sales venues, designers have finally caught up to what was coming back – dark fashion! While they were once considered to be overly dramatic in design, dark fashions are now striking a chord with consumers due to their unique style and versatility – making this the hottest new trend in 2021!
For those of you who have been quietly collecting black lace and corset pieces over the past few years, congratulations! You’re ahead of the rest.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
We’re going to discuss some of the aesthetic data in a minute here, but first let’s discuss some of the factual data. Klarna (a payments platform) recently tracked some amazing shopping statistics that show what we’re all seeing: rings in the shape of crosses have gone up by 85%, rings in the shape of bats have gone up by 69%, and black lipsticks have risen by an unbelievable 738% in just one year. That is not just a trend; that is an indication of a significant shift in culture.
Velvet tops are now up 90% from last year, corsets are now up 43% from last year, and fishnet bodysuits (and when I say up, I mean record high sales and increase in demand) have gone up by 86% since last year. This is not just people dressing goth for Halloween; it is clearly people that are purchasing complete costumes based around goth aesthetics.
The Wednesday Effect Is Very, Very Real
You cannot talk about the goth fashion revival without talking about Jenna Ortega. Seriously, this girl can’t be beat when it comes to representing modern gothic style and Jenna Ortega has absolutely mastered dark glamour since her portrayal as Wednesday Addams. Her press tour for Wednesday Season 2 in 2025 served as an incredible guide for how to achieve dark glamour without it being “costume” like. Every time she stepped onto the red carpet, she brought new life to dark fashion which is a style that has never truly gone out of style.
In working with her stylist Enrique Melendez, Jenna created an entire visual language that goes beyond simply wearing black to portray girls wearing dark clothing. By incorporating a vast array of fabrics, textures, and shades into each outfit, Jenna effectively provided the audience with visual storytelling in an articulation of each of her appearances.
Jenna wore an innovative floor-length sheer Ashi Studio gown at the London premiere of Wednesday Season 2 which included a latex corset, a high neck top, a distressed hemline, and a mermaid style train. At the 2026 Golden Globes, Jenna chose a Fall/Winter 2026 ready-to-wear piece from Dilara Findikoglu, minimalized with subtle black liner and spider lashes while adding understated jewelry to complete the look.
Each of these looks represents a separate chapter of a continuous story; always dark and always intentional.
High Fashion Said Yes To The Dark Side
One of the most definitive signs that this is more than just a fleeting moment is that when you look at runways it shows complete commitment to this trend and movement. This is also not just about fast fashion following a TikTok trend at all. The greatest fashion houses are releasing collections that are dark getting dressed in the dark as well as designing and creating clothing in the dark.
Rick Owens, Ann Demeulemeester, and Dilara Findikoglu
The excitement surrounding fashion week was unstoppable, with Rick Owens introducing his signature silhouette that defines ones character and is completed by his DRKSHDW thigh-high boots appearing to come through the storm. Dilara Findikoglu’s runway presentation showcased a wide array of bodystockings being worn under form-fitting little corsets, and breast plates being made out of seashells, along with safety pins used throughout all designs.
Anne Demeulemeester’s collection for the Fall/Winter 2025 season was truly abundant in things reminiscent of the Victorian and Edwardian eras of romanticism; therefore, it fulfilled my expectations completely!
Simone Rocha and Bora Aksu
Bora Aksu showcased an entire collection in the style of Victorian gothic fashion featuring black lace fabrics, red cheeks, and death themed embroidery on bridal veils. Similarly, Simone Rocha has created a gothic style collection for autumn/winter 2021.
Olivier Theyskens and His New Brand Boloria
This is also something I am really excited about! Olivier Theyskens is one of the major players in the world of romanticised gothic aesthetics and he just came out with a new collection , his first collection under the name Boloria will be released in 2026. If you are at all familiar with Theysken’s past in dark romanticism, it is safe to say he will create something amazing!
What Does Goth Fashion Even Look Like in 2026?
The beauty of this current wave is that goth fashion has fractured into so many directions that there is truly an entry point for everyone. There isn’t any obligation to wear head to toe black velvet (though I won’t judge you if you do).
Other types of goth style are called ‘boho goth’, where you mix the goth look with an earthy and flowy vibe; ‘gothic western’, a mix of Johnny Cash, romanticism and rebelliousness; and ‘goth glam’, which combines the glam look with the goth look.
And then there is what I am feeling this fall/winter 2026-27 with regards to Autumn/Winter 2026-27 Fashion. I am vibrating over the new goth fashion trends at Première Vision are called ‘New Dynasties’ and they take the traditional idea of how goddesses/dynasties should dress but also provide them with dark futuristic accoutrements like dramatic structural dresses, long flared out above-knee (but below-knee) jackets with long sleeve attention, corsets that cover the entire body to create a slimline (that’s right ladies no more showing your waist!), and layering of lux velvet over all that classically looking garment to create a luxury aesthetic of gothic royalty surviving a post-apocalyptic world. Damn you fashion gods, how could anything be more fashion-forward?
Culture Pushed It Over the Edge
It wasn’t just the runways. Pop culture played a massive role in making goth fashion this accessible and this aspirational right now.
The gothic styles within the fashion world are becoming more popular, especially with the release of Robert Eggers’s new film “Nosferatu,” and Tim Burton’s Netflix series, “Wednesday,” on which Jenna Ortega has taken the art of method dressing to an exceptional level for the promotional press run of her second season of “Wednesday.”
Another film that is showcasing high fashion gothic styles is the upcoming adaptation of “Wuthering Heights” directed by Emerald Fennell, which features Margot Robbie as Catherine Earnshaw in various bondage-style corsets made from black lace with choker necklaces in the trailer. And if the reports are correct about the soundtrack for the film, Charli XCX will be heavily involved in what is sure to be a big-time gothic style moment when “Wuthering Heights” hits the theatres.
Having such a unique combination of high-end fashionable designers creating clothes for an incredible film; then high-end designers creating clothes for a high-budget film released via streaming services, all at the same time heading in the same aesthetic direction is something that we don’t see often. Everything feels very dark.
The New Goth Is Not Your 2006 Nightmare
The most important aspect of the revival is that it has changed. If your idea of goth style is Morticia Addams by way of Camden Market (lots of fishnets, chokers and kohl-rimmed angst), you are not wrong but you are out of date. This season, the goth revival has stepped down from its platform boots and is now going to be much more sophisticated. The new goth uses less Halloween-inspired clothing and is more about high fashion.
The original goth aesthetic is not dead though, just maturing. You can still create your goth look with big volume and sculptural shapes or just wear something simple like a black silk slip dress or black silk bias cut slip dress over a plain white t-shirt. The gothic feeling comes from intention and not just clothing.
How to Wear It Without Going Full Coffin
There are thousands of ways to take your existing pieces and refashion them into current looks. For example, you can use one of the most popular styles right now: Wearing a corset over a crisp shirt, and you can do this with all sorts of different tops. You could wear a velvet blazer with straight-leg pants. You could wear a black slip dress with chunky silver jewelry. A good pair of platform boots can also be worn with literally anything. You can layer your choker necklaces with a crew-neck sweater and you will be good to go!
You will see silver jewelry coming back into style for gothic fashion. Gemstones such as chunky chains, oversized rings, and many other types of architectural pieces will become the trends in gothic fashion. The main idea to consider is the use of intentional contrasts; to mix delicate types of filigree with bold geometric styles.
For your make-up I suggest using kohl eyeliner and a very dark berry colour on your lips.
This Is Not a Passing Trend
There are clear signals from all aspects of society (metrics, cultural significance, money spent by consumers, etc.) that goth style will be a consistent aesthetic change to what we have come to know as “mainstream” over the last few years; goth is here for the long haul, and continues to be able to be edgy and differentiated from everything else that has dominated fashion trends in recent years.
The “darkness” is here – it has put on some pretty clothes, walked the runway, went to the Oscars and started posting videos on TikTok; it really looks fabulous!
