Most Wanted: Dark Romance

A darkly romantic – and suitably gothic – mood swept the fall/winter ’26 runways, with brands including Simone Rocha, Colleen Allen and Khaite all embracing velvet, corsetry and lace in their collections. The fact that the shows coincided somewhat serendipitously with the release of Emerald Fennell’s epic adaptation of Wuthering Heights only added to the allure – it was easy to imagine a modern-day Cathy Earnshaw roaming the moors in a floor-sweeping lace gown by Erdem or a corseted top embellished with jet-black beads and sequins by Anna Sui.

Fast forward to now and the trend is finally coming into its own – just in time for Halloween this weekend and the festive season ahead. “This is my favorite time of the year to dress for an occasion,” says NET-A-PORTER’s buying manager Lydia Zacharis. “I love leaning into dark jewel tones and playing with rich fabrics, from velvets and brocades to sheer layers and accents of lace,” she adds. Whether you’re going to a party or an intimate candlelit dinner, Chloé’s ruffled lace camisole is a spellbinding choice, especially when paired with Colleen Allen’s wide-leg pants in sumptuous purple velvet. Echo Allen’s presentation styling by adding red into the mix, either via accessories or shoes such as Khaite’s high-vamp pumps in red velvet.

Alternatively, embrace a witchy ’90s vibe (think Nicole Kidman in the original Practical Magic) with Anna Sui’s flocked skirt from NET-A-PORTER’s exclusive edit. Slip it on with a long-sleeved tee during the day and a lace-trimmed camisole come evening, completing the look with Khaite’s cropped velvet ‘Samo’ jacket and Saint Laurent’s knee-high boots. Finally, no party look is complete without a hint of sparkle, so don’t leave home without Bottega Veneta’s ‘The 1998’ bag, which is covered in scores of glittering black sequins.

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