The Art of Adornment: Gothic Accessories to Obsess Over
Because style lives in the details
Accessories are the punctuation marks of an outfit — the subtle embellishments that transforms attire into identity. In alternative fashion especially, adornment is more than decoration; it’s declaration. A scarf can frame a mood, gloves can whisper seduction, a necklace can turn mourning into mythology. The gothic wardrobe lives in this space between function and fantasy — where accessories tells the story before a word is spoken.
The practice of adorning the body stretches back to the first civilizations. Shoes evolved from necessity to symbol, their craftsmanship tied to class and ceremony. Jewellery became a form of language, used to signify faith, fortune or defiance. Bags emerged as both practical companions and intimate vaults of selfhood. Across centuries, these items have moved from the margins of fashion to the forefront of self-expression — extensions of who we are and what we choose to reveal.
Cathedral-Core: Gothic Fashion’s Ode to Architecture
How gothic cathedrals inspire the runway, the wardrobe and the home
World Architecture Day (October 6) is a celebration of the structures that shape our lives and our imaginations — and in the world of fashion, few inspirations loom larger than the gothic cathedral.
Rising in popularity this season under the banner of cathedral-core, we see runway looks evoking stained glass hues as well as patterns inspired by soaring spires and ribbed ceilings.
From couture gowns traced with echoes of ornamental stone work to ready-to-wear silhouettes modelled after vaulted arches, the fashion world is turning to stone (literally) for inspiration.