The 15 Most Fashionable Horror Flicks To Watch This October
With October here and Halloween fast approaching, it's never been a better time to turn off the lights, curl up on the couch, and settle in for a good horror movie. While typically remembered for the bone-chilling experiences these films provide their audiences, there is no shortage of style in horror flicks, thanks the visual nature of film and its close ties with fashion.
Just in time for the spooky season, L'Officiel rounds up the 15 most fashionable horror films of all time.
Alfred Hitchcock went down in the history books for his carefully curated psychological thrillers, and 1960s classic The Birds is no exception. Socialite Melanie Daniels (played by Tippi Hedren) is glamorously chic throughout the course of the film — sporting monochromatic suiting and perfectly coiffed hair, even while being chased by ravenous crows — making this a fashionable flick for the ages.
Mia Farrow plays Rosemary Woodhouse in this iconic film, where mod maternity wear meets an otherworldly pregnancy. Rosemary's Baby is chock full of '60s frocks and clever suiting — so much so that Kate Middleton made headlines in 2018 when she stepped out with newborn Prince Louis wearing a dress eerily similar to Rosemary's.
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 that has since become a cinematic archetype.
Stanley Kubrick's The Shining may be best known for that famous "Here's Johnny", but ignoring its place in horror fashion history would be remiss. Featuring peak '80s style, The Shining offers up colourful layering inspiration for any season.
This film features a whole lot of glam and David Bowie, two things synonymous with 1980s fashion. This Yves Saint Laurent catsuit, created specially for Catherine Deneuve's Miriam, is a testament to The Hunger's fashion credentials — the movie not only inspired Alexander McQueen's Spring/Summer 1996 runway of the same name, but also influenced Clare Waight Keller's Spring/Summer 2018 collection for Givenchy.
A true 1980s cult classic, The Lost Boys stands out for its punk-rock vampire aesthetic. It plays heavily with androgynous dressing, establishing it as a touchstone in fashion's horror history.
The Winona Ryder classic Heathers, which spawned an off-Broadway musical, provides plenty of preppy yet edgy suiting inspiration. Stylistically, it is the Clueless of horror films, featuring trendy mean girls, makeovers and lots of drama, only with a higher body count.
This 1988 horror flick may not be as recognised as its counterparts, but its fashion lends to its ornate visual mastery. Although the film is set on a farm, the sleek costuming suggests nothing of the sort, with a feel that's more runway than ranch.
Acknowledged as one of the finest presentations of the tale of Dracula, Bram Stoker's Dracula is a dreamy world of gilded gowns and lavish headdresses. Particularly notable are the vampire's brides, with their long flowing locks and dramatic dresses, giving the audience the sense they're watching a bloody Renaissance painting in motion.
This witchy movie serves up some '90s school-girl grunge. Starring Neve Campbell of the Scream franchise, its punky, preppy style balances out the film's bewitching themes with a high school setting.
This '90s film with Rose McGowan hits the peak of Y2K monochromatic fashion. Although it's perhaps the lightest film to break this list of chic horror, it is nevertheless a fashion heavy-hitter and a must-watch for the aspiring E-girl.
Headlined by the ever-iconic Jennifer Lopez, The Cell overflows with outfits that throw it back to the 2000s. The costuming is right out of a Y2K fever dream and right on trend with this year's re-emergence of early aughts fashion and beauty trends.
Released in 2016 but straight out of the kitschy aestheticism of the 1960s, The Love Witch combines girly glam with the sinister overtones of horror, making it the perfect spooky season watch.
High fashion abounds in this little-known 2016 horror flick that dramatises the modelling industry. Elle Fanning stars in this on-the-nose fashion slash horror film that's filled with stunning neon imagery and looks from Saint Laurent, Armani and more.
The critically acclaimed Midsommar, starring British talent Florence Pugh, showcases beautiful costuming that is best described as cottagecore with a dark secret. Set in a not-so-idyllic Swedish retreat, the characters frolic in flower crowns and embroidered frocks — inspiring Ariana Grande's birthday bash this year.
