Introducing Dark Academia's Cooler Sister Trend For Fall: Whimsigoth

Over the past few years, niche fashion and beauty trends have been all the rage, from dreamy cottagecore to maximalist cluttercore. One thing all of them have in common is a very distinct aesthetic that allows for plenty of self-expression, which is why these trends have managed to take over social media so quickly. And one that's again on the rise for fall 2024 is whimsigoth. What is it, you might ask? Well, think of it as the cooler sister of dark academia but with whimsical elements of fairycore and the dark and witchy aesthetic that often comes with gothic styles. Hence its name: whimsigoth.

"The best way to describe it is Sabrina's bedroom from the '90s show 'Sabrina the Teenage Witch'," whimsigoth style lover Sophie Seddon explained to NYLON, adding that the aesthetic is all about "velvet, lace, corsets, maxi skirts, floral, paisley, maxi dresses, chunky boots, rings, sheer tops, rings, bell sleeves, lots of layered jewelry featuring stars, moons and suns." In fact, plenty of '90s classics have inspired this trend, with "Practical Magic" and "Charmed" being only a couple of them. And then there's, of course, one of the biggest fashion inspirations for the trend, '70s style icon Stevie Nicks. So, if you want to explore this trend with cooler weather finally ahead of us, here's how to add a magical and mystical touch to your look.

The perfect place to source whimsigoth fashion is undoubtedly the thrift store, as most of what constitutes a whimsigoth outfit was popular in the '70s and '90s. "I'm drawn to whimsigoth because it combines dark, rich colors with feminine silhouettes and celestial motifs," designer Maranda Vandergriff told Teen Vogue back in 2022 when TikTok's iteration of the trend first took off. "It's a little bit fairytale, a little bit witchy, and a lot of fun to style."

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Different textures and lots of layers are crucial for this trend, as movement is an important aspect of whimsigoth style. As such, bell sleeves, cardigans, and dresses are whimsigoth closet staples. For instance, you can style a star-patterned cardigan over a flowy denim skirt like one user did on Instagram.

Even though whimsigoth is mostly a fashion and makeup trend, it can still enchant your hair. Of course, any hairstyle could work with a witchy and magical 'fit, but you'll rarely see someone rock a slicked-back bun or pin-straight hair with it.

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Just like its fashion, whimsigoth's hair is also about flowy magic. Think of it this way: If you're in the wind, you want your hair to move with it. A casual, '90s-inspired updo is a great choice, but so are low pigtails, waves or curls, and loose braids, as seen on folks on Instagram. And as far as color goes, anything is fair game except for neon shades, as they're a touch too bright for this trend.

Whimsigoth makeup draws plenty of inspiration from classic gothic makeup in terms of its color palette. Dark hues like burgundy, navy, and purple are musts, and a dramatic eye and lip combo is totally allowed when it comes to this trend, as seen in one Instagram user's post.

Now, what sets whimsigoth makeup apart from gothic looks is its addition of sparkle, glitter, and metallics. In fact, almost every whimsigoth eye look will include a bit of shine. As far as the base goes, light coverage with added freckles is the way to go — or skipping a base is completely acceptable, too.

With this style trend, accessories are crucial, and when it comes to jewelry, whimsigoth has plenty in common with maximalism. While the choice of jewelry is individual, anything vintage-looking and celestial is a great start.

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In fact, when it comes to whimsigoth, forget about the rule of wearing only one statement piece — this trend is all about combining multiple statement pieces. Take notes from the above Instagram photo on the right: At least three statement necklaces are a must, big earrings are crucial, and when it comes to rings, more is more.

Similar to makeup, whimsigoth nails are also all about deep, rich colors. In combination with lots of rings, your hands quickly become a major whimsigoth accessory. As previously mentioned, any magical and celestial details are crucial for this trend, so even if you don't like darker nail polish, simply adding moons and stars to a nude base will do the trick. 

And now that your whimsigoth style transformation is complete, feel free to enjoy some whimsigoth self-care activities such as admiring the changing seasons during a fall walk, reading magical books by candlelight, or simply hanging out with your familiar — er, cat — like some folks on Instagram do.