How The Addams Family inspired fashion in 21 shows

The phrase “femme fatale” has never sounded so right. With her ebony hair, her livid complexion, her blood-red lips, and her total look in black, the diabolical Morticia Addams and her gothic chic style are now iconic. Her daughter, the taciturn Wednesday Addams, is also an inspiration. After a show and three successful films – The Addams Family (1991) and Addams Family Values (1993) directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, and The Addams Family Reunion (1998) directed by Dave Payne – it is now Tim Burton’s turn to revamp the dark and biting universe that made The Addams Family so successful. This family came out of Charles Addams’ imagination, who published his cartoons in the American magazine The New Yorker in 1938. Entitled Wednesday, the series will be released on November 23rd on Netflix and will focus on the surprisingly endearing teenage character of Wednesday Addams, a fresher who has to solve a sordid murder case. American actress Catherine Zeta-Jones will take over the role of Morticia from Anjelica Huston, while the 20-year-old actress Jenna Ortega will play Wednesday after the American actress Christina Ricci. While fans of the series are eager to rediscover the signature macabre atmosphere of the director behind Beetle Juice (1988) and Edward Scissorhands (1990), the fashion world hasn’t wasted any time to revive the gothic style of the famous family on the catwalks. Whether it is in a Wednesday-like wise and austere version with braided hair and strict uniform, or in a Morticia-like femme fatale with sheath dresses and black lace, throwback to 21 catwalks from the Fall/Winter 2022-2023 and Spring/Summer 2022-2023 collections.

1. The Rick Owens Fall/Winter 2022- 2023 show

The Fall/Winter 2022-2023 silhouettes of American designer Rick Owens appeared in a fog bank. A sculptural black maxi dress with drooping sleeves, a sallow complexion, and long hair... the designer brings Morticia Addams’ wardrobe back to life. Echoing the gothic inspiration, a livid figure with deep features and shaggy hair, wearing a fur overcoat and matching waders, was reminiscent of the Addams Family’s butler, Lurch.

2. The Balmain Fall/Winter 2022-2023 fashion show

Among the soft and gentle color palette of the Balmain Fall/Winter 2022-2023 collection, black total looks also had their spot on the catwalk. A jumpsuit with square shoulder pads and black lace inserts revealing the skin gave a sexy feel to the collection. Paired with platform shoes and gloves with gold details, Olivier Rousteing combines power dressing and gothic- inspired fashion.

3. The Rochas Fall/Winter 2022-2023 fashion show

For the Rochas Fall/Winter 2022-2023 fashion show, Charles de Vilmorin offers a collection with the motto “more classicism, more mystery”. On his catwalk, a series of oneiric looks emerge, playing on contrasts between light and shadow. Several models were wearing pigtails or braids, reminiscing a fashionable version of Wednesday Addams, just like this wise schoolgirl look with a sheer-sleeved shirt enhanced by a fur skirt.

4. The Valentino Fall/Winter 2022-2023 show

If Pierpaolo Piccioli introduced PinkPP , a new fuchsia shade created with Pantone that was present everywhere on the catwalk, black was the second predominant color of his Valentino Fall/Winter 2022-2023 collection. An army of monochrome looks with gothic inspiration infused the show. Drawing both on the wardrobe and the history of fetishism, the Victorian-inspired long dress with a boat neckline was paired with black leather platform shoes, in an explosive mix of codes.

5. The AC9 Fall/Winter 2022-2023 show

After a successful first show at the Milan Fall/Winter 2022-2023 Fashion Week, the Italian designer Alfredo Cortese offered a Spring/Summer 2023 collection that brilliantly mixed classicism with fantasy. Some of his pieces completely revealed the chest, with a simple horizontal black raven feather magically levitating to cover the nipples. Combined with a voluminous skirt, the outfit revealed the silhouette of a 21st century witch, with a touch of refinement and mystery proper to Morticia Addams.

6. The Versace Spring/Summer 2023 show

The gothic universe was a major inspiration for Donatella Versace’s Spring/Summer 2023 collection, entitled “Dark Gothic Goddess”. A series of black lace looks with sexy cuts and veils appeared on a catwalk decorated on both sides with a bed of black candles. In this mystical and timeless atmosphere, it felt like we were propelled inside the Addams Family’s gloomy mansion for a moment.

7. The Christian Dior Spring/Summer 2023 show

Inspired by the Renaissance Paris and by Catherine de Medici, Dior unveiled its women’s Spring/Summer 2023 collection at the Tuileries Gardens in a cave-like setting designed by French artist Eva Jospin. In this cryptic atmosphere, the silhouettes seemed to come straight out of the 16th century, just like this black crinoline dress, as elegant and ghostly as Wednesday Addams’ one.

8. The Vetements Fall/Winter 2022-2023 show

Oversized leather coat with square shoulders and precious diamond earrings... for the Vetements Fall/Winter 2022-2023 collection, Guram Gvasalia plays with contrasts. For instance, this luxury version of gothic counterculture, at the crossroads between The Matrix and The Addams Family, which mixes minimalism and opulence.

9. The Ann Demeulemeester Fall/Winter 2022-2023 show

Raw, refined silhouettes walked the catwalk for the Ann Demeulemeester Fall/Winter 2022-2023 show. Wearing a bowler hat and a leather mackintosh with architectural lines, an androgynous model with Buffy the V ampire Slayer vibes seemed to come straight from a gothic rave party.

10. The Bottega Veneta Fall/Winter 2022-2023 show

The timeless leather trench coat at the Bottega Veneta Fall/Winter 2022-2023 show is proof that gothic style is in this season for both men and women. For his first show, artistic director Matthieu Blazy composed an androgynous silhouette in a black total look and added platform loafers to seal the reference to grunge culture.

11. The Christian Dior Pre-Fall 2022 show

Ebony pixie cut, smoky eyes, corolla skirt, and biker boots... for its pre-fall 2022 collection, the house of Dior drew its inspiration from Wednesday Addams’ aura in a couture and preppy look. Revealing the model’s underwear, the transparent tulle blouse gives a rock’n’roll touch to this schoolgirl look.

12. The Ambush Fall/Winter 2022-2023 show

Morticia Addams’ taste for torture is common knowledge now. If she was a dominatrix, she would have surely sported Bella Hadid’s look at the Ambush Fall/Winter 2022-2023 show. Platform thigh-high boots with garter belt buckles, a long vampire-inspired coat, belted choker, and plated hair – somewhere between fetish and gothic, this subversive look offered a sexy goth version of the women’s wardrobe.

13. The Alaïa Spring/Summer 2022 show

As an undeniable sensual second-skin material, leather was turned into a night owls’ armor at the Alaïa Spring/Summer 2022 show. Pieter Mulier offered a bustier evening dress in a shiny leather total look, whose reliefs subtly molded the body. A perfect outfit for a frenzied dance of death.

14. The Pressiat Fall/Winter 2022-2023 fashion show

A fur with asymmetrical volumes conferred a strange aura to an elegant silhouette dressed in a long dress. Like a creature coming straight out of the universe created by the cartoonist Charles Addams, this look from the Pressiat Fall/Winter 2022-2023 collection gave off a flamboyant and gloomy breath.

15. The Han Kjobenhavn Spring/Summer 2023 show

After dressing Julia Fox in a leather dress with a hand-shaped collar – evoking the famous Hand in The Addams Family – the Danish label Han Kjobenhavn presented a Spring/Summer 2022-2023 collection with surreal silhouettes and majestic volumes. Among the original creations, an asymmetrical dress with a train made of textured black fabrics turned the model into a dark queen. A piece worthy of Morticia Addams’ wardrobe.

16. The Avellano Fall/Winter 2022-2023 show

As the undisputed latex specialist, the label Avellano could not miss this season’s gothic trend. For his Fall/Winter 2022-2023 collection, designer Arthur Avellano composed an androgynous look. A simple latex scarf and a pair of gloves gave a sexy touch to the traditional black trench coat.

17. The Act N.1 Fall/Winter 2022-2023 show

The label Act N.1 founded by Galib Gassanoff and Luca Lin was endorsed by Valentino’s artistic director Pierpaolo Picciolini. And for good reason! The rising stars of Italian fashion take us into a strange and oneiric universe for their Fall/Winter 2022 collection. Like a gorgon rising from the water, wet hair formed a top for a bare- chested figure wearing a classic pair of black trousers. The look is topped off with a gothic cross around the head, as a pendant to ward off evil spirits.

18. The Dion Lee Fall/Winter 2022-2023 show

For its Fall/Winter 2022-2023 show, the label Dion Lee unveils a nighttime amazon wardrobe, in which lace and leather dress both female and male bodies. The silhouette of a woman wearing fine lace drapes, revealing her underwear and some part of her skin, is structured by an armor-like leather corset. As if mirroring this sexy look, a model wears a pair of utilitarian leather dungarees against the skin and long lace gloves, going up to her shoulders. A S&M variation on the iconic Addams Family couple.

19. The Versace Fall/Winter 2022-2023 show

A model wearing a suit next to the skin and structured at the bust by corset frames opened the Versace Fall/Winter 2022-2023 fashion show. Paired with latex gloves, an oversized pearl ring, and a fiery smoky eye, the look was an elegant take on gothic fashion, offering a sharp and contemporary interpretation of custom tailoring.

20. The Givenchy Fall/Winter 2022-2023 show

“I really wanted to create a synthesis of powerful, sophisticated femininity”, designer Matthew M. Williams explained about his Givenchy Fall/Winter 2022-2023 collection. What could be a better way to do that than drawing his inspiration from the dark and hypnotic audacity of Morticia Addams? The majestic cape-like leather skirt belted at the waist, the turtleneck, the piercings, and ebony hair were the order of the day on the catwalk.