It’s the most wonderful time of the year: witchy season! The start of October brings an autumnal warmth fueled by cozy attire, comforting scents—and the mysterious, creepy, and macabre.
For Halloween lovers, this time of year is our calling. We delight in all things darkly romantic: lots of black, velvet, and lace, plus hints of a fairy tale, just to keep things from getting too dreadful (but a dash of dreadfulness is totally welcome).
This year I can’t help but picture the opening sequence of the Evermore era (my personal favorite) from Taylor Swift’s Eras tour: bewitchingly beautiful, with green velvet cloaks, fog, mystical orbs tossed in the air, and the pop of an embroidered golden gown.
There’s now an apt name for it all: whimsigoth. This term, which Architectural Digest says was coined in 2020 by architect Evan Collins, is used for an aesthetic that mixes dark elements with those that feel more magical or romantic. It’s an edgy or gothic look that has a lighter twist instead of being overly funereal.
I love this aesthetic for jewelry because it combines some of the best period styles with a bit of brightness—mourning jewelry of the Victorian age, for example, with modern colored gemstones and diamonds (jewel tones and metallics take this style next-level, according to Architectural Digest). Like a playful memento mori, if such a thing can exist.
Whimsigoth needn’t be so specific, though. If something’s slightly spine-tingling but also makes you smile, I think it’s fair game. So, basically, anything we already love for this season fits the description. These are some of the latest and greatest examples.
Top: A Dark Fairytale necklace in 18k rose gold with dendritic agate and sapphire, $4,000; Beenish Mahmood Fine Jewelry
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