The daughter of Gomez and Morticia Addams may be full of woe, but she’s got style to spare. I’m talking specifically about Wednesday Addams, one of the most beloved characters from the 90s hit movies The Addams Family and Addams Family Values. With a headlining spot in the new Tim Burton-helmed Netflix series Wednesday, our titular heroine (played by Jenna Ortega) finds herself thrown into a web of intrigue as she enters Nevermore Academy, a school for outcasts where the pecking order proves to be just as brutal as in any high school. Navigating everything from her unlikely friendships to psychic abilities, Wednesday Addams is never less than the epitome of sass and stoicism.
Paying homage to different versions of Wednesday, including Jenna Ortega’s fresh new take as well as Christina Ricci’s iconic 90s rendition, I’ve come up with three all-black ensembles balancing doom and gloom with unabashed whimsy. A starched white collar paired with a demure-looking dress? Check. Black ribbons on raven black locks? Check. A tulle dress paired with combat boots – all in black, of course? Also check. Add an arsenal of one-liners delivered in deadpan style and you’ve got the Wednesday Addams persona down pat.
Read on for three goth-inflected looks that’ll take you from family reunion to midnight séance.
1. Winsome and Woeful
Halloween may be over but take a page from the Wednesday Addams stylebook to keep those dark vibes flowing all year round! What better way to do so than with the little black dress, a wardrobe staple tailor-made for goth girls? A key look for Wednesday involves an austere black dress featuring an iconic white collar – that outfit gets a sensual makeover in the Netflix series with a form-fitting cut and a spangled velvet fabrication. The result? An outfit that’s a perfect blend of witchy and whimsical.
Preserving its eccentricity while upping the glamor, I’ve gone for this velvet mini dress with a pointy collar that echoes Wednesday’s signature look. Block-heel Mary Janes keep those vintage vibes strong, as do rose-shaped earrings amped up by faux pearls. Pull the outfit together with a statement clutch like this monochrome specimen featuring girlish yet macabre floral embellishments. For comic effect, repeat this piece of life advice like a mantra at the start of every morning: “Value Yourself. Know Your Worth.” Wednesday will relish the irony, even if she secretly agrees.
2. Punked-Up Academia
Even amongst a sea of outcasts at Nevermore Academy, Wednesday stands out – in a thrilling way. Part of that has to do with her death obsession, as reflected in her morbid interests in everything from carnivorous plants to homicide statistics. There’s also her maverick fashion sense in the form of pretty yet punkish all-black ensembles. Her school uniform is in customized black and gray rather than the standard royal purple, while her idea of casual wear involves emo ensembles with Y2K flair – think slouchy striped sweaters, black tights and chunky footwear.
Inspired by the preppy vibes of Wednesday’s school uniform and her grungier take on casualwear, I’ve produced an all-black outfit that’s moody yet clean, and as far away from a Wednesday Addams Halloween costume as it can get. There’s the black sweater emblazoned with motifs of funeral flowers, tucked into a pinstriped mini and teamed with square-toe platform loafers. Then there’s a bevy of goth girl touches, such as black ribbons, faux pearl jewelry and nails painted black – in true 90s style. Don’t forget to up the action-ready vibes with a utilitarian-looking nylon waist bag, and keep something sharp inside just in case you run into a monster or two.
3. The Subversive Debutante
Wednesday Addams’s style may be moody and emo-esque in line with her dark personality, but it’s not without the occasional dreamy touch. A case in point is the tulle dress she wears to Nevermore’s equivalent of prom, the Rave’N dance. Embracing a hyper-femme aesthetic with goth girl touches, Wednesday’s look immediately sets her apart from all the other students dressed in silver and white. It’s a far cry from the dark, sleek and sensual style of her mother Morticia Addams, whose influence Wednesday is trying to escape from. It’s also a thrilling match for the punkish dance moves she launches into with abandon.
This winter, punk up your party looks by purging your wardrobe of color, Wednesday Addams-style. It’ll do wonders at keeping things clean yet edgy! Inspired by Wednesday’s school dance outfit, I’m going all-out with this flouncy number in black tulle, complete with cascading skirts and a sensual neckline for a look that’s part prom queen and part grunge goddess. Continuing in a glam-grunge vein, I include chain earrings embellished with heart-shaped charms, a boxy vintage-style handbag with a golden buckle, and a delicate lace choker. Combat boots add unexpected but appropriately angsty touches to the look.
