Goths, Ghosts, and Witches, Oh My! 5 Dark Fashion Inspirations

I recently started to read It by Stephen King. Since Halloween (a holiday which I have a love-hate relationship with) is coming up, I thought to myself, "What better way to get into the spirit than by spooking yourself so much that you'd have a difficult time sleeping at night?" And so, after a few days of anxious deliberation, I gave in. I'm nowhere near the thick of the plot, but let me tell you—it sure is delicious to get scared the old-fashioned way (through a good story, of course).

See, the thing about me is that I absolutely love getting creeped out. Asian horror flicks on cable TV? Documentaries chronicling ghost activities in centuries-old establishments? Anthologies of real-life paranormal encounters? Yes, yes, and yes. As mentioned previously, the only thing I dread is when I'm lying awake at night and my over-active imagination decides to go haywire. And, before I know it, it's 3:00 a.m.

Earlier in February and March, the fashion crowd descended upon New York, London, Milan, and Paris to view the Fall 2012 collections. I, of course, had to make do with online coverage of the shows. Each day, I logged in to Style.com to see just what new things we'll all be wanting to wear come the -ber months. And there, amidst the oversized silhouettes, the Far Eastern touches, and the military influences, she was: my gothic anti-heroine come to life.

On the runways of McQ, Gucci, Salvatore Ferragamo, Nina Ricci, and Andrew Gn she stood—romantic and dark, brooding and beguiling, with swathes of dark fabric floating around her. As I was considering the collections, five particular femmes came to mind. With their pale complexions and dark clothing choices, these movie characters embody Fall 2012's gothic trend. Once more, fashion and art (and Tim Burton!) collide.

(Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures)