Victorian Gothic, with its dark romanticism and eerie elegance, has always lurked in the background of fashion. But in 2025, it has fully possessed red-carpet style.
With the recent release of Nosferatu (2024)—starring Lily-Rose Depp, Bill Skarsgård, and Willem Dafoe—the film’s gothic sensibilities have seeped into mainstream fashion, casting an eerie shadow on celebrity styling and high fashion alike.
During major events like the Grammys, BRITs, and BAFTAs, stars embraced Victorian Gothic, showing off dramatic veils, dark romance, and architectural grandeur. This aesthetic has long been tied to horror cinema, and with Nosferatu’s resurgence, gothic styling has taken center stage once again.
Victorian Gothic: Origins and Influence
Emerging in the 19th century as a reaction to industrialization, Victorian Gothic fashion reflected a growing fascination with the supernatural, death, and medieval architecture. Specifically, it drew inspiration from the mourning dress, a rigidly structured practice that saw women wearing all black, often with lace veils, jet jewelery, and heavy silks after the death of a loved one.
How Nosferatu Shaped Fashion
Few films have shaped gothic aesthetics like Nosferatu. The 1922 silent horror classic, with its shadowy cinematography and exaggerated silhouettes, defined gothic horror’s visual language. Eggers’ 2024 remake has modernized these elements, influencing both fashion and pop culture in a major way.
Since its release, the film’s influence has been undeniable. From Grammy veils to BAFTA mourning gowns, gothic styling has taken center stage.
Key Elements of Victorian Gothic on the Red Carpet
For those tracing the influence of Victorian Gothic on modern fashion, here are some hallmarks of the aesthetic:
• High Necklines – Often seen in mourning attire, adding drama and elegance.
• Corsetry – A hallmark of the Victorian silhouette, exaggerating the waist.
• Lace and Sheer Fabrics – Evoking ghostly elegance, often in veils and gloves.
• Veils and Hoods – A motif of both mourning and bridal fashion, adding mystery and romance.
• Draped and Layered Skirts – Flowing fabric that recalls the grandeur of 19th-century dress.
• Dark Palettes – Black, deep reds, purples, and blues contribute to the gothic aesthetic.
• Ornate Jewelery – Chokers, cameos, and gothic motifs such as crosses and ravens.
• Long Gloves – A nod to Victorian formality, often in lace, silk, or velvet.
Gracie Abrams’ Bridal Gothic at the Grammys
Gracie Abrams arrived at the 67th Grammy Awards in a look that juxtaposed delicate romance with an unsettling eeriness. Her custom Chanel gown, a butter-yellow chiffon dress with off-the-shoulder sleeves, might have seemed soft and ethereal at first glance. But the addition of a sheer veil transformed the look into something more spectral—like the ghost of a Victorian bride haunting the red carpet.
Draping lightly over her head and attaching to the dress, the veil created an almost funereal elegance, reminiscent of Victorian mourning fashion. Despite its pastel shade, the outfit carried a melancholic quality. It evoked gothic heroines from literature and film, harnessing an almost Corpse Bride-esque aesthetic. Black accents—a cinched belt and pointed-toe heels—added a necessary contrast, leaning into Chanel’s signature romantic style.
Notably, Abrams’ stylist Spencer Singer also styles Lily-Rose Depp, the leading lady of Nosferatu. The dynamic between high fashion and cinematic horror is evident here, as Abrams’ look captures the essence of gothic romanticism: fragile, mysterious, and slightly unsettling.
Lady Gaga’s Grammy’s Dark Heroine Moment
If Abrams embodied the ghostly side of Victorian Gothic, Lady Gaga embraced its full theatrics. At the 2025 Grammys, she wore custom Samuel Lewis attire. A dramatic black ball gown featuring a structured leather bodice with a high neck and puffed sleeves. It was a look that wouldn’t be out of place in a dark fairy tale or a Bram Stoker novel.
Her vintage Tiffany & Co. necklace, with a glowing green amulet, subtly referenced Dracula lore. Samuel Lewis, known for gothic craftsmanship, has worked with Gaga before, but this was their most cinematic collaboration yet. High collars and exaggerated structures recalled Victorian mourning fashion, worn for years after a loved one’s passing.
Charli XCX’s Veiled Seduction at the Brits
At the 2025 BRIT Awards, Charli XCX opted for a darker, more provocative take on Victorian Gothic. Wearing a sheer black Dilara Findikoglu dress from the Fall 2025 collection, she embraced the era’s signature elements—corsetry, veils, and layers.
Paired with a nude corset and black underwear, the dress played on the contrasts of Victorian modesty and sexuality. Findikoglu’s collection, Venus from Chaos, was rooted in mythology and dark romance, perfectly aligned with the intensity of gothic horror. Charli’s hooded veil and deep red lip completed the look, evoking classic vampire imagery.
There was controversy surrounding her outfit—particularly the criticism from ITV over its nipple-baring design—which only added to the look’s defiant spirit.
Jaden Smith’s Architectural Gothic Headpiece
No one leaned into Victorian Gothic fantasy or ‘Nosferatu Chic’ as literally as Jaden Smith. He arrived at the Grammys in a black Louis Vuitton suit paired with an ABODI headpiece—an intricately designed compact black castle, worn like a helmet. Inspired by Transylvanian castles and vampire folklore, the headpiece was a direct nod to Nosferatu and Dracula’s iconic home.
This reference goes beyond just aesthetics—Transylvania has long been central to Gothic horror, and ABODI, the Hungarian brand behind the design, frequently explores Eastern European gothic history, making Smith’s look a literal architectural interpretation of gothic horror.
Gwendoline Christie’s Gothic Aristocracy at the BAFTAs
Gwendoline Christie has long been known for her theatrical red-carpet moments, and the 2025 BAFTAs were no exception. Dressed in a bespoke black silk Giles Deacon gown, she channeled gothic aristocracy.
Likewise, her waist-length braids, woven with black ribbons, added a witchy elegance, while the heavy silk and lace paid homage to Victorian mourning dress.
Will the Gothic Revival Stick?
With Nosferatu (2024) bringing renewed attention to gothic horror, it’s clear that Victorian Gothic isn’t fading anytime soon. Its appeal extends beyond a seasonal trend—it taps into fashion history, cinema, and cultural nostalgia.
Relying on neutrals and universally complementary colors makes it a versatile and enduring aesthetic. Its silhouettes—structured bodices, flowing skirts, dramatic sleeves—echo historical aesthetics, from Regency style to French Renaissance and Baroque fashion, all of which have seen their own resurgences.
The resurgence of Nosferatu anchors this movement, ensuring the Victorian gothic aesthetic is here to stay, poised to haunt the fashion world for years to come.
