Spooky season is here. Curtains up for all you freaks!

Velvet, lace, corsetry and a little gothic drama: six whimsigoth fashion essentials for making spooky-season dressing your own.

ctober is your time to shine if you consider yourself slightly unhinged. For me, October and November start making my skin itch as early as September. The type of itch a smoker experiences after being unable to have a puff for more than four hours on a flight. I cackle and rub my hands together like the villain of a kids' movie as I sit back and savour every day of this month.

And then there’s Halloween, lurking at the very end of October. The suspense of finally crawling out of your introverted hole for that one glorious night brings on a deranged flutter of butterflies in your stomach, much like the anticipation of silently waiting for Santa to come down the chimney.

While the permanent freaks already know how to get their freakiest dance on, those of you going through a temporary phase might need a little helping “hand” to test the waters of the whimsigoth world. So, here is a list of fashionable suggestions for you to sink your claws into:

1. The must-have maxi dress

As a lifelong fan of Morticia Addams and a former witch-costume wearer, I love the maxi dress for how it accentuates the body. It’s time to show off that silhouette; opt for long bat-like sleeves, plunging necklines, and fabrics that follow your every move like a shadow. A black, floor-length dress is practically a birthright for anyone with a slight obsession with the supernatural. Consider it your daily dose of main-character witchcraft.

Hervé Léger Fall/Winter 1997 Ready-to-Wear

2. Velvet, my beloved.

If there is one fabric that deserves to be worshipped during spooky season, it is velvet. The rich, soft, almost hypnotizing texture makes anything look like it belongs in the wardrobe of a mysteriously wealthy woman who hasn’t been seen in daylight since 1847. Opt for a crushed velvet dress, a fitted blazer, and skirts that lean into purples or crimson. The trick is not to fear dark colors; think wine red, forest green, and midnight blue.

3. The Victorian corset

I occasionally fantasize about living in a gothic mansion with a tragic backstory, and the Victorian corset is the backbone of that story. The romance of a tightly structured waist and a lace-up bodice can be layered over a white blouse or paired with a flowy maxi skirt. The corset adds an edge of historical madness to an otherwise innocent outfit. Look for brocade, satin, lace, or embroidered details.

4. Lace, and lots of it

I’ve heard people say “never too much lace," but in my whimsigoth dictionary, there’s no such limitation. Associated with mourning widows or dead female ghosts, lace is the key element of a good October wardrobe. Sheer lace tops, delicate tights in all colors, lace-trimmed skirts, and high-neck blouses—this is where you can play with a little layering. Envision an exceptionally fashionable funeral.

5. Boots made for haunting

You cannot possibly expect to wander through a cemetery at midnight wearing your everyday trainers. The dead adore the rhythm of a horse walk. The ideal shape for a good pair leans into a pointed-toe, knee-high, slightly chunky platform, and leather. Personally, I need mine with an exaggerated heel.

6. Sentimental Jewellery

A piece of jewelry that looks like it's been inherited from a distant relative is the cherry on the cake. Because the whimsigoth is deeply sentimental and emotional. It embraces the purge of feelings in all its nature. Stone necklaces, oversized rings, or even a great pair of earrings with a Baroque/Rococo effect will do the job. After that, it’s entirely up to you.