10 Celeb Outfits That Scream Dark Romance To Inspire Your Spooky Season Style

There's plenty to love about autumn, especially come October when the moodiness of the season gets cranked up several notches. Enter: spooky season. And for the style lovers who want their 'fits dripping with dark, dramatic romance for those Halloween parties, for date nights, or for girls' nights, let these celebrities be your inspiration. Whether you find yourself drawn to the dreamiest vintage-feeling lace, sexy sheer details, or intense black velvet, we've got the pics you'll want to screenshot right now.

So many of our favorite looks perfectly capture the ability of fashion to transport us. We're thinking about Joey King's flowing fit-and-flare dress that could be straight out of a New Orleans-set ghost story and Jessica Williams' blood-red, bead-covered gown from an Emmys after-party. And, of course, the tulle-laden look Sarah Paulson wore to promote the newest season of "American Horror Story" made our list, among other celeb outfits that scream dark romance. Cue the mood lighting and the eerie piano riffs. 

Nicole Kidman hit the Los Angeles premiere of "Practical Magic 2" in August 2026 draped in ethereal black lace that was part slip dress, part goth-girl bridal. The star wore an Atelier Versace dress with an asymmetrical hem that went from micro mini to dramatically sweeping the floor, and we're obsessed with her matching lace choker. Plus, her rose-adorned pumps and tousled bright blond hair offered a pinch of sexy, country-western flair. Nicole Kidman has had a head-turning style evolution, and this look is proof that she doesn't appear to be letting up anytime soon.

In May 2026, actor Joey King attended the opening reception for "Marilyn Monroe: Hollywood Icon," an exhibit at the Academy of Motion Pictures. King wore a simple yet impactful A-line black dress with a black lace bodice, featuring a plunging V-neckline. If that wasn't dreamy enough, the dress' flowing skirt looked lighter than air. We can imagine King looked like she was floating when she walked in the Elie Saab creation; you know, in that dark romance sort of way. And her auburn hair, styled in undone waves, was the perfect choice.

For the world premiere of "Sense and Sensibility" in London in September 2026, one of the film's stars, Ceara Coveney, opted for a chestnut brown slip dress that was oh-so right now, but still delivered that dreamy vintage feel that we never tire of. The saucy Amiri dress boasted smartly placed lace panels at the bust that trailed along Coveney's sides, and the delicate veins of beading on the sheer portions twinkled like liquid. Follow this up-and-coming it-girl's lead, because a little bit of lace trim is the trendy detail we'll be adding to our outfits ASAP.

Actor and comedian Jessica Williams knows better than most how to use her style to marry dark glamour with vintage romance, and the dress she chose for the Apple TV+'s Primetime Emmy party was no exception. For the September 2026 Hollywood affair, Williams donned a structured Oliver Tolentino tea-length dress that was dusted in blood-red beads. Between her Old Hollywood hair, the dress' sweetheart neckline, and her black velvet pumps, the whole look felt equal parts eerie and romantic. 

For a totally hip approach to dark romance, Maisie Williams reached for an outfit in August 2026 that perfectly captured the idea without skimping on the cool-girl energy. Photogs caught Williams outside of the BBC Radio Studios in London while promoting "Practical Magic 2," wrapped in a plum-colored lace jacket featuring a high neck and a structured peplum from the 2012 Gucci archives. The actor paired the dramatic top with a silky asymmetrical slip skirt and knee-high, coven-approved boots.

When Penélope Cruz showed up to the premiere of "Bunker" during the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2026, the actor reached for a sexy layered look, busy with leather and lace. Cruz wore a black Christian Cowan gown with a cool leather bodice and a flowing lace skirt with a slit up to there. She paired the romantic dress with a sharp jacket, showcasing one of the best unexpected ways to style a blazer. Cruz accented the look with an on-trend blunt bob and classic black strappy sandals.

Back in May 2024, Salma Hayek walked the red carpet for "Emilia Pérez" during the 77th annual Cannes Film Festival in a look that was dark romance personified. Hayek looked like a total goth babe in the Saint Laurent strapless column dress that was equal parts cheeky and sexy. The gown was covered in wet-look black sequins, and she popped on a pair of disco-approved gold platforms and reached for matching accessories. Hayek's beaded necklaces recalled enchanted talismans and really brought her look together, along with her tousled dark waves.

Actor Daisy Edgar-Jones stopped for pictures outside of the Saint Laurent menswear show during Paris Fashion Week in June 2026 draped in a two-piece lace 'fit that looked straight out of a sexy horror flick. The "Sense and Sensibility" star rocked a blood-red V-cut body suit, completely visible beneath a black lace midi skirt. The lace-on-lace layering created an unforgettable moment that was as whimsical as it was romantic. And Edgar-Jones' pointy-toe pumps and her signature auburn hair, styled in loose waves, made for the perfect effortless accessories.

Janelle Monáe turned up the dark and saucy glamour with the outfit she reached for when she attended the opening night celebration of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles in September 2026. Aptly, the actor and musician looked like a work of art in the spellbinding Antonio Grimaldi dress, the gown's sheer base covered in strategically placed rope-like rows of shimmering beads and pearls. Monáe looked like an Egyptian queen meets sexy mummy, and we're so here for it.

Leave it to Sarah Paulson to put on a masterclass on how to use an outfit to display dark, dreamy romance. Paulson showed up and showed out at an "American Horror Story:13" celebration event in New York City in September 2026. The actor opted for a voluminous jet-black Valentino gown crafted from thick velvet. The look was made even more special with a mane-like neckpiece of fluffy tulle that delivered heavy drama. And Paulson's choice to slick her hair back was a smart one; it really let the wow garment sing.