Death Becomes Her

Unzipping the Skeletons from Fashion’s Closet

The universal experience.

The great equalizer.

The finality of life and the topic of countless angsty teenage poetry.

And, of course, the unexpected muse of the ever-evolving fashion world.

Now, I hear you. “Fashion and death? Isn’t that a bit morose?” Well, my fashion-forward friend, it turns out that the style moguls and their acolytes have had an undying (pun intended) fascination with the macabre for centuries.

Let’s time travel, shall we? Remember the Victorian era? Okay, maybe not personally, but you’ve seen the movies. They were flowing black dresses, intricate lace, and a sprinkle of morbidity. The Victorians were notorious for their obsession with death. Mourning jewelry made of deceased loved ones’ hair, post-mortem photographs, and seances were all the rage. This was the same era when skulls, skeletons, and other symbols of death began to sneak their way into the fashionable wardrobe.

Fast forward to today, and we’re not just talking about the occasional Halloween costume. Death and mortality have sewn themselves deep into the fashion industry’s fabric.

Walking Dead on the Runway

In recent years, high-profile designers have drawn inspiration directly from the crypt. Alexander McQueen, the bad boy of fashion, once said, “There’s something kind of Edgar Allan Poe about my designs.” And boy, did he deliver. With runway shows featuring holograms of ghostly figures and dresses seemingly inspired by the tattered garb of spirits, McQueen turned death into a wearable piece of art.

But he’s not the only one. Skull-print scarves?

Thank Gucci.

Skeleton-inspired watches? Tip your hat to Cartier. Oh, those cute little skull earrings you saw at the mall kiosk? I’m not a high-end designer, but you get the idea.

Why So Grave?

Here’s a thought. Maybe, in an industry always chasing the fleeting idea of youth, there’s an ironic allure in flirting with its stark opposite. Or something is grounding about connecting with the eternal in a world of transitory trends.

It’s also possible that it’s edgy.

Addressing the Bone of Contention

However, this love affair isn’t without its critics. There’s a thin line between edgy and disrespectful, and sometimes fashion has tiptoed right on the edge. Remember the uproar over bone-inspired heels that looked eerily like actual human feet? Yikes!

The challenge for designers lies in balancing inspiration with sensitivity. Death is, after all, a profound part of the human experience, and while it’s great to wear your heart on your sleeve, maybe keep the skeletons in the closet (or at least tastefully accessorized).

To wrap up this tour de mort, let’s remember that fashion, like life, is cyclical. One day, deathly imagery is in; the next, it’s all about unicorns and rainbows. So, if sporting a skull and crossbones isn’t your style today, wait a decade or two. The afterlife might be your next fashion life!

In the end, whether you’re draped in black lace mourning the loss of your favorite lipstick (R.I.P.), or you’re just here for the bone-chilling aesthetics, fashion’s dalliance with death reminds us of one indisputable truth: even in the face of mortality, we can always look fabulous.

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