With lockdown seeming like some kind of twisted nightmare from another life, the stakes for this Halloween couldn’t be higher. Say goodbye to the tired costumes of Pulp Fiction’s Mia Wallace and your standard bedsheet ghost, because the world of high fashion has more than enough material to see us through the scariest night of the year. Providing some luxury inspiration, we’ve rounded up a collection of classic runway shows that made us scream with delight. 

Kicking off the list is seasoned drag, sorry, scream queen, Violet Chachki. This RuPaul’s Drag Race winner had hearts racing at the Pre-SS20 Moschino show. Why, you may ask? Well if her killer gown wasn’t enough to get your blood pumping, she doled out a few bloodcurdling screams to the unsuspecting front row. Horrible cow energy, but a great costume nonetheless.

This fashion moment is in a league of its own. Nothing screams horror like thousands of droopy snakes gnawing at your entire body. As one of Van Herpen’s most audacious 3D Printed masterpieces, and believe us there are tons, this daring fit has already been tapped up by Björk, which is about as kooky as costume commendations can get. 

We know we vetoed Quentin Tarantino costumes in the intro, but hear us out on this one. Hedi Slimane’s submission from his trailblazing tenure at Dior Homme is all about subtle gore, channelling the uniforms of the diamond stealing cartel in Reservoir Dogs, wounds and all. In this tailored fantasy, blood-red beads take centre stage as glistening lesions gushing from the wearer’s heart, contrasting Slimane’s crisp shirting in captivating fashion.

Alexander McQueen’s reputation as the king of dark glamour is still yet to be bested by the next generation of design talent. A purveyor of all things taboo and horrific within his bewitching creations, his FW01 collection will go down in history as some of his most harrowing work to date. Two decades on, any look from this Pennywise meets America’s Next Top Model extravaganza is sure to turn heads at your Halloween motive.

Raf Simons’ ode to American Cinema at Calvin Klein went down a bloody treat – literally. Latex gloves, rubber dresses, blood-spattered coats and broody Warhol prints all comprised Simons’ gory take on American style. Even outside of the spooky season, you can’t tell us those greasy leather trousers wouldn’t serve up a killer look on their own.

For those of you who are just after a graphic print, don’t worry, we haven’t forgotten about you. Undercover made a grand case for the art of printed fashion for FW19, splashing scenes from two of the most oft-kilter cinema classics of the past century – Suspiria and A Clockwork Orange – across coats, sashes and jumpers. Take this avenue for a more subtle take on Alex and his droogs’ signature white pants, braces and bowler hat outfits – “real horror-show disguises”, as Alex would say. 

We couldn’t resist revisiting more McQueen magic, but this time we’re hailing back to the nineties, right down to the third circle of hell where indulgence reigns supreme. With beady red contacts and pallid complexions to boot, here the legendary designer effortlessly toes the line between life and death. But if you are going to imitate the iconic finale look, a slinky red leotard adorned in fringe, we would advise you to cut some eyes in the mask – flammable costumes have only ever *really* worked in The Hunger Games.

A little more… glam than McQueen’s streetwalking demons, Gareth Pugh’s high-fashion clowns still give us full-body chills. Think Jessica Rabbit if she slapped her make-up on over a pair of stockings or a sexy sleep paralysis demon who happens to love blazers. We’re sure a five-minute rummage through your mum’s wardrobe will give you all you need to recreate this unnerving collection.

Raf Simons closes the list with his genius clawed up FW16 offering. Slashing up oversized varsity jumpers and chunky knits with audacious bell-sleeves, part-naive-student-attacked-by-a-werewolf, part-the-werewolf-itself-after-a-particularly-violent-morphing. Cult following NOT guaranteed.