“Be Afraid … be VERY Afraid”… IT’S HALLOWEEN! – Pynck
Image Credit DELOS ANTIQUES. Graphic Design Brian Paul
Gone haunting. Will return at midnight.
Whether one heeds the theory that Halloween fads have been influenced by Celtic harvest festivals (and particularly the Gaelic festival Samhain with its pagan roots), or whether you believe Halloween has Christian origins as All Hallow’s Day, at the end of the day we all revel in the creep-inducing frivolity and mock ghoulishness of October 31st.
Did you know Halloween has been celebrated in Ireland and Scotland for centuries, and the tradition was transported across the Atlantic with immigrants who settled there? Be it as it may, for the majority of us it’s simply a great excuse to dress up and throw Halloween parties, haul out the cauldrons, hollow out the pumpkin, bake some soulcakes for scran (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soul_cake), gobble our trick or treated choccies and indulge our darker selves in a choice of harrowingly cheesy horror movies.
Image Credit Kirsten Goss on Instagram. Hat by Crystal Birch. @thandohopa 📸 @kristinleemoolman @amaka.studio @iamdanielobasi @urban_mimz @annicemakeup @lampost.production @viviers.studio @therealcrystalbirch
A fabulous modern-day witch! – at KIRSTEN GOSS LONDON & CRYSTAL BIRCH
Image Credit Trancedental Graphics/ Getty Images
Homemade Halloween costumes in 1910
Image Credit Atlas Obscura
Park your broom and sit for a spell! A medieval pointy shoe fit for a modern-day witch
And as for some real-life inspiration, we’ve found a few devilishly, deviously delectable bits of jewellery, fashion and homeware to properly get you in the mood for that ghostly day – and to keep you Halloween’d for the duration … for the end of October is that time of year that pumpkins and apples have their special cameo moments and when we mortals mysteriously develop a perceptual set for all things black, orange, spikey, pointy, ghost-like and witchy, for serpents and skulls, bats and monsters.
So – bring on the zombies, the bogeymen, the tarot cards, the skellybones and witches, the haunted houses and spooky castles complete with gothic chandeliers, full moon and bloodthirsty vampire bats …. If you’re still at a loss, think Mexico’s famous Day of the Dead with its gorgeous skulls, skeletons and flowers, the Addams Family, Frankenstein’s Monster and the Rocky Horror Picture Show as inspiration.
Oh, and you may want to skip to the end of the article for our hand-picked selection of films with a fashion edge to properly give you the heebie-jeebies. (Disclaimer: not for fragile flowers and timorous beasties).
WE’RE ready for the creepy, the hair-raising and the spine-chilling. Question is, ARE YOU?
Image Credit Kirsten Goss on Instagram
Snakes represent renewal, rebirth and revitalisation … and they’re VERY Halloween. This beauty comes in silver, yellow or rose gold, with emerald, white diamond, sapphire or black diamond eyes – at KIRSTEN GOSS LONDON
JEWELS
They’re creepy and they’re kooky, mysterious, and spooky.
– Andrew Gold
Image Credit Black Betty Design on Instagram. Collection Illustrator: @boon.art Photographer: @ulrichknoblauch_Model: @blvckrosect
Tarot magic, if you’ve got it, haunt it! For the ultimate Halloween party outfit, shop the sexy Oracle Collection – at BLACK BETTY JEWELLERY
Image Credit Black Betty Design on Instagram
Modern heirlooms: Diamond Encrusted Snake Bangle with Ruby Eyes, Black Diamond Snake Ring and Skull & Cross-bone Ring – at BLACK BETTY JEWELLERY
By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes.
– William Shakespeare
Image Credit Black Betty Design on Instagram
Don’t be afraid of the dark! Embrace this Gold Skull and feel the power – at BLACK BETTY JEWELLERY
Demons are a ghoul’s best friend.
Image Credit Black Betty Design on Instagram
How sexy is this little dagger? This detailed little dagger is sharp and deadly, yet ornate and elegant. The symbol of the femme fatale – both vicious and vivacious. A reminder never to underestimate the duality of femininity and beauty: she pleases and she pokes! – at BLACK BETTY JEWELLERY
Image Credit Ami Doshi Shah on Instagram
Kenyan jewellery designer Ami Doshi Shah’s fabulous head piece may not work so well for dookin’ (or bobbing) for apples but it’ll most certainly turn Halloween heads! At AMI DOSHI SHAH
Image Credit VRVO on Instagram
Skull ring – at VRVO
Image Credit VRVO on Instagram
Sssssssssspooky! Serpent Bangle – at VRVO
Image Credit VRVO on Instagram
Be Possessed by the Moon. Lunar Pendant – at VRVO
Image Credit VRVO on Instagram
Skull Bracelets – at VRVO
FASHION
If human beings had genuine courage, they’d wear their costumes every day of the year, not just on Halloween.
– Douglas Coupland
Image Credit Amanda Laird Cherry on Instagram. Test shoot by @jnivisonModel: @megs_morgan Makeup:@Volentim
By the light of the full moon…. Black dress – at AMANDA LAIRD CHERRY APPAREL
Image Credit Amanda Laird Cherry on Instagram. Photographer & Retoucher – @ryanhing011 @evolve_keepchanging Creative director – @evolve_keepchanging Stylist – @low_zo_ @evolve_keepchanging Make up – @low_zo_makeup Model – @antonia.julies @myfriendned
Far too cute to spook! Avant-garde sorceress – at AMANDA LAIRD CHERRY APPAREL
Image Credit Amanda Laird Cherry on Instagram. Photographer: @roger_jardine_photography. Photographer’s assistant: @sinothomsweli. Lighting assistant: @sethu_dym. Hair and makeup: @wadene07. Styling assistant: . Model: @lwazi_snaps of @bossmodelsdbn
A superheroine in a black cape – at AMANDA LAIRD CHERRY APPAREL
Image Credit Amanda Laird Cherry on Instagram
Pumpkin flavour! At AMANDA LAIRD CHERRY APPAREL
I’ll stop wearing black when they make a darker color.
– Wednesday Addams, The Addams Family
Image Credit Amanda Laird Cherry on Instagram. Image @eunicedriverphotography
I’m a sexy ghoul and I know it! – at AMANDA LAIRD CHERRY APPAREL
ACCESSORIES
I’m the ghost with the most, babe.
– Betelgeuse, Beetlejuice
Image Credit Missibaba on Instagram
Which modern-day witch would dare fly without those pointy cowboy boots and winged sling bag? At MISSIBABA
Image Credit Missibaba on Instagram
Beware the Werewolf’s Touch! Leather Tote Bag at MISSIBABA
Image Credit Cécile Paul.
“Double, double toil and trouble, fire burn and cauldron bubble…” Tartan Witches Hat by CRYSTAL BIRCH
Image Credit Amanda Laird Cherry on Instagram
If the broom … err … shoe fits, fly it! The Alberta Brogue – at AMANDA LAIRD CHERRY APPAREL
Image Credit Kirsten Goss for Thebe Magugu on Instagram
Thebe Magugu’s perfectly pointy booties are perfect footwear for the walzing witch – at THEBE MAGUGU
Image Credit Karienbelle on Instagram
Every witch and wizard worth their secret potion need a magical cloak covered in spells – KARIENBELLE at MANZART+
HOMEWARE
Sticky fingers, tired feet; one last house, trick or treat!
– Rusty Fischer
Image Credit Delos Antiques on Instagram
May the ghost be with you! Chandeliers to swing on and fly between – at DELOS ANTIQUES
Image Credit Isobel Sippel on Instagram
Ghostly hand-painted linen Scatter Cushion Cover – at STUDIO BY ISOBEL SIPPEL
Image Credit Isobel Sippel on Instagram
Moonscape wizardry – at STUDIO BY ISOBEL SIPPEL
Never trust anything that can think for itself if you can’t see where it keeps its brain.
– J.K. Rowling
Image Credit Rialheim on Instagram
Shine a dark light! Skull Lamp – at RIALHEIM
Image Credit Rialheim on Instagram
Split their heads! Twin Skull Bookends – at RIALHEIM
Image Credit and styling Cécile Paul
Sleepy Hollow … Still life with blackened Pincushion Fynbos Flowers in a studded boot. Flowers from Cape Town’s flower emporium, the inimitable PETALS GROUP
Image Credit and Styling Cécile Paul
Still life with blackened Pincushion Fynbos Flowers nesting in the hollow of a vintage Manolo Blahnik stiletto. Flowers from Cape Town’s flower emporium, the inimitable PETALS GROUP
Image Credit Imiso Ceramics on Instagram
Horn ceramic vases by Zizipho Poswa – at IMISO CERAMICS
Image Credit Imiso Ceramics on Instagram
Horn ceramic vases by Zizipho Poswa – at IMISO CERAMICS
Image Credit Cécile Paul
Printed skull and serpent fabric – at SHINE SHINE TEXTILES
Image Credit Mervyn Gers Ceramics on Instagram
Eat, drink and be scary! Pumpkin tea, anyone? At MERVYN GERS CERAMICS
IN THE MOOD FOR SOMETHING FASHIONABLY SCARY THAT MOVES?
When the witches go riding, and black cats are seen, the moon laughs and whispers ’tis near Halloween.
– Unknown
Eat your hearts out on this quintessential collection of scary fashion-inspired thrills.
- The Witches of Eastwick (1987)
- The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
- Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
- Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)
- A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night (2014)
- Midsommar (2019)
- Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
- The Birds (1936)
- Carrie (1976)
- Scream (1996)
- Sleepy Hollow (1999)
- Edward Scissorhands (1990)
STOCKISTS
- AMANDA LAIRD CHERRY APPAREL @alc_woman
- AMI DOSHI SHAH @amidoshishah
- BLACK BETTY JEWELLERY @blackbettydesign
- CRYSTAL BIRCH @therealcrystalbirch
- DELOS ANTIQUES @delos_antiques
- IMISO CERAMICS @imisoceramics
- STUDIO BY ISOBEL SIPPEL @studioisobelsippel
- KARIENBELLE at MANZART+ @manzartplus
- KIRSTEN GOSS LONDON @kirsten_goss
- MERVYN GERS CERAMICS @mervyn_gers_ceramics
- MISSIBABA @missibaba
- PETALS GROUP @petals_group
- RIALHEIM @rialheim
- SHINE SHINE @shineshine.ct
- THEBE MAGUGU @thebemagugu
- VRVO @vrvodesigns
Image Credit Delos Antiques. Graphic Design Brian Paul
When the ghouls come out to play – at DELOS ANTIQUES
Have a spook-tacular, boo-tiful, wooo-nderful, and fang-tastic Halloween! Booooooooo!