Halloween, a night cloaked in darkness, mystery, and - generally speaking - abject style, has long held a bewitching allure. More recently, it has also become a frankly confusing call for all and sundry to dress up as literally anything or anyone and call it spookily 'ironic'. Lest we forget that Halloween is actually an ancient festival, steeped in both tradition and the supernatural, and tracing back to the Celtic festival of Samhain, a sacred occasion marking the end of summer and the onset of winter. Samhain, celebrated around November 1st, was a time when the boundary between the living and the dead blurred, opening a portal through which spirits and supernatural beings could enter our world. Now they choose to do it through that other hellhole of a medium known as Instagram. Bonfires were lit to ward off these malevolent entities, and costumes were donned to disguise oneself from vengeful ghosts. There are not enough ghosts if you ask us.
Over the centuries, the traditions of Samhain evolved and intertwined with Christian observances, particularly All Hallows' Eve (October 31st), which precedes All Saints' Day. This fusion birthed the name "Halloween."
If you enjoy dressing up, but would rather not go out in public looking like a nurse who has lost her way (and most of her uniform) in a red light district, then this newsletter is just for you! For the gents, we're taking a more romantic approach to the genre with a velvet jacket that is devilishly handsome after dark but won't also spontaneously combust in the cold light of day, while for the ladies it is all about the allure of our deep red velvet coats, which might be sanguine in colour, but very much seductive in attitude. We also celebrate 10 of the most stylish gothic films ever made, so you can come out from behind the sofa, it's all treats and no tricks this week.
The Nehru Jacket
Less ghoulish but so elegant as to give you chills, the Nehru jacket is a brilliantly versatile jacket for the winter socialising circuit. Unlike Dracula, this jacket can come out to play both day and night. For casual lunches it can be pair with jeans and loafers and an open collar shirt for a classy bohemian attitude, while in the evening simply switch out the jeans for smart dress trousers and slip your feet into some velvet slippers. Discover the many reasons why we think this sinfully underused jacket could become your favourite piece of tailoring this season.
Red or Dead - Velvet Coats
Looking for a gothic-inspired garment to get the blood boiling this Halloween? Our curation of red velvet coats are not just for the spooky season - these works of art provide a swathe of gothic romance and will add devilish intrigue to your wardrobe.
The Eight Most Stylish Gothic Films Ever Made
There are no nurses' outfits or Where's Wally costumes here, just solidly stylish gothic films that will give your wardrobes the chills! We've curated what we believe to be eight of the most stylish gothic films ever made, from the likes of Roman Polanski's Rosemary's Baby to Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho. Sit back, dim the lights, and treat yourself to hours of adrenalised jump scares this Halloween!
