15 Most Fashionable Horror Flicks of All Time to Watch This October
Shocking and stylish, nothing beats these fashionable horror movies this Halloween season.
With October here and Halloween fast approaching, now is the best time to shut off the lights, curl up on the couch, and settle in for a good horror movie. While typically remembered for the bone-chilling experience these films provide their audiences, there is no shortage of fashionable horror films. The visual nature of film and its relationship to fashion gives viewers a number of memorable style moments, sometimes providing relief from the moments of terror and other times amplifying the fear factor. Just in time for spooky season, L'OFFICIEL rounds up the 15 most fashionable horror films of all time.
Alfred Hitchcock is known for his carefully curated psychological thrillers, and the 1960s classic The Birds is no exception. Socialite Melanie Daniels (played by Tippi Hedren) is chic and glam throughout the course of the film–sporting monochromatic suiting and perfectly coifed hair, even while being chased down by ravenous crows–making this a fashionable horror flick for the ages.
Mia Farrow plays Rosemary Woodhouse in this iconic 1968 horror flick where mod maternity wear-meets an otherworldy pregnancy. Rosemary's Baby is chock full '60s frocks and clever suiting–so much so that Kate Middleton made headlines in 2018 for stepping out with newborn Prince Louis wearing a dress similar to that worn by Rosemary in the film.
Stephen King's Carrie is a household name, sparking remakes and book-to-screen-to-stage adaptations. The name alone instantly brings to mind Carrie's prom dress doused in pig's blood, a moment amplified by suspense and that has since become a cinematic archetype.
Stanley Kubrick's The Shining might be best-known for its famous "Here's Johnny" line, but ignoring its place in horror fashion history would be remiss. Featuring peak woodsy '80s style, The Shining offers up colorful layering inspiration for any season.
This 1983 film features a whole lot of glam and David Bowie, two things synonymous with the best of 1980s fashion. This Yves Saint Laurent catsuit, created especially for Catherine Deneuve's Miriam, established The Hunger as one of the most fashionable horror films in history–so much so that the movie inspired Alexander McQueen's Spring/Summer 1996 runway show of the same name, and also influenced Clare Waight Keller's Spring/Summer 2018 collection for Givenchy.
The Lost Boys is a 1980s cult classic known for its punky, glam-rock vampire aesthetic. It plays heavily with androgynous dressing, establishing it as a memorable moment in fashion's horror film history.
The Winona Ryder-starring Heathers, which spawned an off-Broadway musical, provides plenty of edgy-yet-preppy suiting inspiration. Stylistically, it is like the Clueless of horror films, featuring trendy mean-girls, make-overs, and drama, only with a much higher body count.
This 1988 fashionable horror film may not be as recognized as its counterparts, but the style lends to its ornate visual mastery. While it is set on a farm, the sleek costuming suggests nothing of the sort, and feels more like it belongs on the runway than on the ranch.
Acknowledged as one of the most aesthetic presentations of the tale of Dracula, Bram Stoker's Dracula is a dreamy world of gilded gowns and ornate headdresses. Notably recognized are the vampire's brides, with their long flowing locks and dramatic dresses that give the audience the sense they might be watching a bloody Renaissance painting in motion.
This witchy 1996 movie serves up '90s school girl grunge. Featuring Neve Campbell of the Scream franchise, the punk-prep style balances the film's bewitching themes with its high school setting.
This 1999 film starring Rose McGowan features the peak of Y2K monochromatic fashion. While perhaps the lightest film to break the list of chic horror, it is a fashion heavy-hitter and perfect for the aspiring E-girl.
The Cell is chock full of early 2000s fashion and stars the ever-iconic Jennifer Lopez. The costuming is right out of a Y2K fever dream and right on trend with this year's re-emergence of early aughts hair and fashion trends.
The Love Witch is straight out of the kitschy aestheticism of the 1960s with the bonus of being made in 2016, enabling for this fashionable horror film to make its style choices retrospectively. Girly glam, combined with the more sinister layers of this horror comedy, make it the perfect spooky season watch.
High fashion abounds in this little-known 2016 horror flick that dramatizes the modeling industry. Elle Fanning stars in this on-the-nose fashion horror film filled with stunning neon imagery and looks from Armani, Saint Laurent, and other designer names.
The critically-acclaimed Midsommar, starring young British talent Florence Pugh, features beautiful costuming that can only be described as cottagecore with a dark secret. Set in a (not so) idyllic Swedish retreat, the characters frolic in flower crowns and embroidered frocks.
