Sartorial magic: our favourite witch fashion to shop

Not long ago, pulling tarot cards at a dinner party might have felt a little esoteric. Now it feels… strangely normal. It seems like our appetites for mysticism, ritual and the occult has appeared overnight, with tarot jewellery, lace maxi dresses, velvet minis, corsetry and protective talismans all dominating runways, cinematic releases and wardrobes alike.

In part, there feels like a renewed interest in superstition during uncertain times. When the future feels precarious, ritual offers steadiness. We’re studying Jonathan Anderson’s tarot card splay on Instagram. Birth charts are examined as carefully as CVs. Crystal and tinctures have moved from fringe to familiar. We were all abiding religiously to the superstitions of this most recent Lunar New Year (we still can’t figure out if we were supposed to wear red or not…)

In 2026, the witch isn’t a Halloween trope. Not only have we already declared it the Year of the Witch, we’re finding the aesthetic rooting itself into fashion trends as well.

What is the witch fashion trend?

The witch aesthetic pulls from folklore, gothic romanticism and cinema of sorcery, merging historic silhouettes with contemporary sensuality.

Where dark academia feels structured and studious (think blazers and ties), the witch aesthetic is more fluid, intuitive and slightly unruly: picture bias-cut black dresses, velvet capes, stacked and stone-filled jewellery, corseted waists, undone hair. It’s a trend that also thrives on contrast – sheer lace against weighty suedes and leathers, delicate lockets layered over sharply cut capes.

Palette-wise, it’s unmistakably nocturnal: obsidian black, oxblood, forest green, deep plum, flashes of metallic silver. These tones conjure candlelit rooms, midnight rituals and antique spell books. Even the simplest outfit shifts when anchored by symbolism — a crescent moon pendant, a signet ring, a charm slipped onto a handbag.

Where are we seeing it?

Cinema remains one of the clearest reference points for the witch aesthetic’s migration into mainstream fashion. Film has long shaped our understanding of the witch – not just as Disney villain, but as magnetic, layered and powerful – even feminist.

One of our personal favourite reference points is The Witches of Eastwick, fronted by Cher, Michelle Pfiefer and Susan Sarandon (in serious contention for the most iconic witchy trio to ever grace our screens). The recent reboot of Sabrina the Teenage Witch starring Kiernan Shipka brought a gentler, more playful mysticism to the beloved 90s sitcom, while Hocus Pocus (another witchy trio best in class contendor) recently got its own sequel nearly three decades after the Sanderson sisters’ corsetry and sweeping cloaks took us in a chokehold.

Then there’s Practical Magic, arguably the modern template for witch dressing: loose hair, Victorian lace blouses, flowing skirts and a sensuality that doesn’t limit witchy dressing from donning a pair of jeans when necessary. With a sequel officially in development, nostalgia for coastal covens and midnight margaritas is resurging once more.

What to look for:

Prioritise mood over costume. The witch aesthetic is about nuance not over drama. Think more about subtle symbolism, layering different textures, and thoughtful styling.
Look for elongated silhouettes: slip dresses, asymmetrical skirts, longline coats and even capes that introduce movement.
Look for fabrication like velvet, lace, silk chiffon, leather and brushed wool add depth and dimension.
Accessories should feel meaningful: crescent motifs, antique-inspired lockets, weighty silver rings, charm necklaces and slouchy, worn bags with an air of history. Even a black ribbon tied at the neck.
Footwear balances practicality with poetry: lace-up boots, heeled Mary Janes, pointed flats or sturdy loafers. Pieces that feel equally suited to ritual and routine.