What Do You Need to Pull Off the Penny Dreadful Look?

This week critic favourite Penny Dreadful hit UK screens, and that’s why we thought we’d take the opportunity to let you know what you need if you wish to pull off the Penny Dreadful look!

Penny Dreadful is a series that reimagines the characters of classic 19^th Century literature such as Frankenstein, Dorien Grey and Dracula, using them to tap into the popular appeal of the era’s gothic literature. With stars such as Josh Hartnett, Eva Green, Timothy Dalton and Billie Piper involved, it’s sure to achieve cult following by the time the end credits roll on the last episode of the first series.

The Rise of Gothic Fashion

There’s something extremely powerful about the gothic genre. Tales such as Dracula and Frankenstein have stayed with us, even after their authors have long since shuffled the mortal coil, and part of the knock on effect of their popularity is the modern gothic fashion that typified the 1990’s.

The 1990’s were very much a decade of counter culture. The bubble gum pop of the 80’s had passed, and teenagers were very much ready to re-embrace their angst. Thus gothic fashion became more popular than ever, and even stars such as Madonna, Marilyn Manson and Rose McGowan took the trend to their hearts as the decade progressed.

Luxe Models Top Four Tips to Pulling Off the Penny Dreadful Look

Penny Dreadful is sure to bring gothic fashion back to the fore, and if you want to rock this darkest of trends, you might want to try these four tips, courtesy of Luxe Models.

1)      Black on Black: There can never be enough black in this fashion trend. Go all out – black clothes, black makeup, black hair. If you have to ask yourself, ‘am I wearing enough black?’ the answer is no!

2)      A Lace Print for Every Occasion: Lace was arguably the most fashionable material of the 19^th Century and the goths of the 1990’s incorporated the lace look of their favourite horror characters into their clothes. Tops with long lace sleeves work wonders here!

3)      Statement Makeup: Go big or go home: Statement makeup such as black nail varnish, ruby red lips and heavy mascara typified goth chic, and that is because our poplar imaging of the characters that inspired the look relies heavily on overstated physical features.

4)      Formal Wear: The Victorian era was probably the most conservative of modern times, and formal wear was a must for fashionistas of the day. The gothic look subverts this 19^th Century trend, using classic formal pieces such as top hats, cravats and bow ties to emphasise the jarring nature of this most statement of styles.