Boo-tiful Down Under: Australia Embraces Ghostcore Glam
In 2025, the fashion world’s taken a hard turn from normcore to necromantic. What’s in this season? Being dead – but fashionably. Yes, it’s official: “haunted couture” is not just for Halloween or weird aunties with lace gloves. It’s international. It’s serious. And it’s spectacularly spooky.
From Dior’s ghostly tulle gowns in Rome to Australian Fashion Week’s see-through sheers, fashion is in full ghoul mode. Think Miss Havisham meets cottagecore at a séance in the bush.
Haunted Couture: Fashion Trends by the Numbers
| Key Designers/Labels | Highlight Moment | Spooky Factor (5/5) |
|---|---|---|
| Dior (Resort 26) | Natalie Portman in a half-visible tulle gown + ghost film | 5 |
| Chloé (FW25-26) | Bloomers, chiffon, and barely-there nighties | 4 |
| Zimmermann (AW25) | Inspired by Picnic at Hanging Rock, but still a bit too “boho” | 2 |
| Beare Park (AFW) | Off-the-shoulder taffeta on grey-haired models | 4 |
| Courtney Zheng (AFW) | Undies-as-silhouette and bullet bras in sheer grey chiffon | 4 |
| Amy Lawrance (AFW) | Floating silk and ghostly seams that defy gravity | 5 |
| Nicol & Ford (AFW) | Runway fading into translucency to reflect queer erasure | 5 |
What Is Haunted Couture?
According to The Guardian, haunted couture is like a beautifully dressed emotional breakdown:
- Worn wedding dresses
- See-through chiffon
- Chaotic layering, loose nightgowns, ghost-white taffeta
- “Sexy matron” vibes – high necklines, voluminous skirts, visible lingerie
- Literal inspiration from burial shrouds, Victorian mourning dress & Ophelia’s descent into madness
It’s the fashion equivalent of stress eating fairy bread during an apocalypse – chaotic, nostalgic, a little unhinged, but undeniably fabulous.
Academic Breakdown: Dead Fancy or Politically Charged?
Professor Catherine Spooner, Gothic fashion scholar, says this isn’t just about frocks. It’s resistance in silk.
“It’s the party at the end of the world,” she explains.
“Marie Antoinette pioneered underwear-as-outerwear. Miss Havisham perfected it.”
She ties the trend to:
- The French Revolution (chaos chic)
- Burial traditions (undergarments were reusable – not buried with you)
- Films like Picnic at Hanging Rock and literary ghosts like Ophelia
Aussie Style: White Dresses with a Haunting Twist
Australian Fashion Week (AFW) fully leaned into the aesthetic:
- Beare Park: Gowns that looked like they’d just wandered out of a moonlit manor
- Courtney Zheng: Dresses sheer enough to get you kicked out of brunch
- Amy Lawrance: Undyed silks floating like a dream gone wrong
- Nicol & Ford: Outfits literally fading to nothing – a comment on gender erasure in politics
“This place is Picnic at Hanging Rock meets runway glam,” said no one officially, but definitely someone emotionally.
Fashion Forecast: What to Wear When Society Collapses Politely
| Must-Have Item | Why It’s Hauntingly On-Trend |
|---|---|
| Vintage nightgown with no slip | Show off those existential undies |
| Bullet bra under sheer poplin | 1950s meets Twilight Zone |
| White lace with ragged hems | Because ghosts don’t hem things cleanly |
| Chiffon scarf that looks accidental | Wraps like a whisper and screams elegance |
| Taffeta gown on a rainy day | Dry-cleaning is for the living |
Final Thoughts: Haute & Haunted
Whether it’s rebellion or just runway-induced existential crisis, haunted couture speaks to the times: chaos outside, vulnerability underneath, and a splash of gothic romance.
“It feels inappropriate because it’s overtly intimate. That makes it revolutionary,”
says Spooner.
So the next time someone tells you to “dress like you’re going somewhere,” tell them:
“I am. I’m going ghost.”
