How to channel Wednesdaycore this Halloween

Last year, Netflix’s hit show ‘Wednesday’ harnessed a new era of Addams family fans, almost sixty years after the original sitcom was released. The ‘OG’ Goth Girl, Wednesday Addams’s unique style has brought with it a resurgence of gothic makeup and fashion this year. Enter, Wednesdaycore.

With Halloween upon us, we can say with certainty that Wednesday costumes will be all the rage. But beyond spooky szn, we’re also seeing components of Wednesdaycore seeping into the aesthetics of Gen Z fashion, seemingly existing simultaneously with other current trends. But what is driving this macabre revival?

Wednesdaycore has entered the chat

In a year of Barbiecore, clean girl aesthetics and other hyper-feminine fashion trends, the dark and brooding aesthetic of Wednesday Addams has seemingly persisted and cemented its influence on Gen Z fashion.

Nick Drewe, Trend Expert at Discount Platform Wethrift, weighs in on the growing popularity of ‘Wednesdaycore’ in the run-up to Halloween, claiming the trend itself has seen a 4900% increase in Google searches in the past month, with gothic fashion also inclining by 194%.

“The Wednesday aesthetic doesn’t stop at your wardrobe, as Google searches for gothic makeup shot up by 190% in the lead-up to Halloween. The look encompasses the traditional aspects of gothic makeup, but rather than the typical dramatic features – dark heavy eyes and lips – this trend instead utilises a softer approach. Soft goth, as the name suggests, is all about presenting a more mellow and toned-down look. The makeup is still dark, however, it is less dramatic.”

The influence of TikTok trends and beyond

TikTok provided virality to the Wednesday Netflix show (remember *that* Wednesday dance trend?), but the rise of the Wednesday aesthetic also exists synonymously with other core trends like dark academia and dark feminine energy discourse. In the past year or so, the internet has also taken to ‘siren makeup’, opting for makeup looks that make you dark and mysterious.

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This past year has also seen some celebrities embracing a gothic style, from Megan Fox to the infamous ‘Kravis’ fashion moments. We can see fragments of gothic and dark aesthetics existing in several aspects of pop culture, in turn contributing to the rise of Wednesdaycore.

Wednesdaycore staples

Wednesdaycore fashion is dark and monochrome at its core. We also see pairings of whites and greys, as well as the iconic black and white stripes. Accessories lean into the gothic aesthetic a bit more, with lace gloves, chokers, chunky shoes, long socks and, of course, the braids, taking center stage.

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Key components of the Wednesdaycore aesthetics are also synonymous with other, current fashion trends. The rise of Wednesdaycore comes at a time where ballet flats and classic Mary Janes are the it-shoe of the season. The classic Wednesday Mary Janes and loafers have quite literally never been more on-trend. The shoes naturally pair with other components of the Wednesday wardrobe, with stripped jumpers, oversized blazers, big coats and white shirts all trending pieces this season, too.

Another big trend this season has been bows and ribbons (especially in braids and on items of clothing), which in itself is another Wednesday staple. With key elements of the Wednesday fashion trending, it’s no surprise that Wednesdaycore is having its moment.

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