How Horror Films Influence Runway Trends
As the eerie season reaches its peak with All-Hallows-Eve tonight, let’s explore how horror films have seeped into high fashion, transforming cinematic chills into runway thrills.
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JW Anderson’s Carrie Collection
JW Anderson’s AW22 collection channels the horror classic Carrie, Stephen King’s tale of teenage vengeance. Featuring designs inspired by Carrie White’s infamous prom scene—where bliss turns to bloodbath—Anderson’s collection juxtaposes the supernatural with the horror of human cruelty through button-ups, hoodies, and shirts emblazoned with iconic imagery from the 1976 film.
Heaven by Marc Jacobs x Donnie Darko
Marc Jacobs’ sister label, Heaven, made waves with a capsule collection inspired by Donnie Darko. This collaboration features hoodies, tees, and accessories echoing the film’s haunting atmosphere. The campaign, shot at original LA locations and overseen by the film’s director Richard Kelly, includes a recreation of the intense dinner scene and features James Duval reprising his role as the eerie bunny, Frank.
Gucci’s Kubrick-Inspired Exquisite Campaign
Gucci’s AW22 “Exquisite” campaign pays homage to Stanley Kubrick’s cinematic genius. Under Alessandro Michele’s creative direction, the collection merges Kubrick’s filmic worlds into a high-fashion spectacle, blending elements from The Shining, A Clockwork Orange, and 2001: A Space Odyssey. The result is a glamorous yet macabre collection that channels the essence of 1970s cinema with a modern twist.
Altuzarra’s Rosemary’s Baby Collection
Altuzarra’s SS24 collection draws from Rosemary’s Baby, Roman Polanski’s psychological horror. The collection melds 1960s silhouettes with contemporary fabrics, creating an enigmatic allure reminiscent of Mia Farrow’s character. Pastel babydoll dresses evoke the film’s unsettling themes of motherhood and paranoia.
Louis Gabriel Nouchi x American Psycho
For AW23, Louis Gabriel Nouchi took inspiration from American Psycho. The collection features razor-sharp tailoring and latex, embodying the film’s chilling portrayal of excess and toxic masculinity. Models, drenched in blood-like accents, reflect Patrick Bateman’s disturbing elegance, transforming horror into a statement on modern masculinity.
Prada’s Alien-Inspired SS24
Prada’s SS24 menswear collection, a collaboration between Miuccia Prada and Raf Simmons, delves into the sci-fi horror of Alien. With garments featuring slimy, reptilian graphics and silhouettes enveloped in dripping textures, the collection explores the fragility of masculinity through the film’s grotesque extraterrestrial lens.
This Halloween, fashion’s crossover with horror not only chills but thrills, proving that even the most terrifying films can inspire the most avant-garde collections.
