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.𖥔 ݁ ˖🕸️🕷.𖥔 ݁ ˖ .𖥔 ݁ ˖🕸️🕷.𖥔 ݁ ˖ .𖥔 ݁ ˖🕸️🕷.𖥔 ݁ ˖
If you’re looking for inspiration to get you in the autumnal, spooky mood, here are some past dispatches (some deep from the archive!) that just might be worth browsing through….
🕷 A Witchy Weird Medieval Boho Spooky Goth Ghost Girl Autumn
🕷 Something Wicked This Way Comes
🕷 Eat, drink and be (maybe not so) scary
The year is probably 2006. The recollection of memories past, hard to conjure up on a whim without counting on my fingers or slowly working backwards. I’m at my just-met-in-high-school-second-period-gym-class new friend’s bedroom. It’s Friday night. A sleepover.
I’m vacillating between feelings of compunction and shame, liberation and exhilarating anticipation. I have escaped the claustrophobia of my hostile home life for one fateful evening, where the air is consistently stifled with abrasive anger, erratic tempers, and terse words.
My new friend’s home is warm, the scent of luxurious nutty aroma’ed bath products and Victoria Secret’s Love Spell lingers in the air. She tells me she wants us to watch her current favorite movie.
Queen of the Damned.
A lightning strike of untapped rebellious teenage anarchy storms behind my belly button. The cover image looks scary, though I am lured by Aaliyah’s ethereal aura. I know there will be blood. It’s rated R. I think, surely there is a Mormon Sunday school lesson I should be referencing to tip toe my way right out of this.
But I don’t want to. I am intrigued by the unknown! I want to feel a little brave and a little tough and very cool. I yearn for teenage self discovery outside the parameters of religion and closeted shame and being smothered by loneliness.
The VHS tape rolls. The movie begins. Something shifts.
Even by early 2000s standards, Queen of the Damned is unmistakably camp. Loosely—and I do mean loosely—based on Anne Rice’s The Vampire Chronicles, the film follows the vampire Lestat (played by the unbearably bland and mildly terrible Stuart Townsend—his predecessor Tom Cruise in the 1994 film Interview with the Vampire) as he emerges from a years-long slumber to famously front an industrial goth band, songs penned (and dubbed) by Korn’s Jonathan Davis. His sound awakens Akasha, the original vampire, and from there, chaos unfolds in the form of a murky, fever-dream plot, an abundance of early-’00s cyberpunk leather fashion, an iconic (true meaning of the word) soundtrack and some truly questionable acting (except from Aaliyah, who really did have an incredibly ethereal aura.)
It’s fantastic, bordering on masterpiece and gets better with every annual rewatch.
Since that fated weekend sleepover in high school, I’ve seen a million looks walk down a runway that exude eternally undead frontman (non gendered), each one mentally bookmarked, hopeful that I might one day channel just a hint of beyond-this-realm energy into my own wardrobe. And while I thank the Goth Gods we were spared the sight of Tom Cruise stepping into the spotlight of vampire rock stardom, I am filled with a hum of anticipation, anxious to see Sam Reid (who I am wholly convinced is the Lestat possessing the body of a mere mortal) fully embody the rock ’n’ roll lifestyle (and wardrobe) in Season 3 of Rolin Jones’s reimagined The Vampire Lestat on AMC+.
Don’t worry, we won’t be diving too deep into costuming nerd land — I’ll save that energy for lurking (and judging) fandom subreddits late at night.
Spooky season aside, vampires have been used as allegories for centuries, exploring everything from race and religion to queerness and identity beyond the lens of the binary. (Ahem, yes, everything *is* political.) In Jones’s interpretation, Lestat’s eternal companion, Louis, is reimagined as a Black Creole man in 1910s New Orleans, opening up Anne Rice’s world into something far more dynamic and culturally resonant for 2025. From Louis and Lestat’s crazy-sexy-but-wildly-toxic love story to Joseph Le Fanu’s 1872 sapphic gothic novel Carmilla, the vampire has long served as a lens for what society tries to repress, obscure, etc etc etc. (a 2000+ word essay on this, another time, or if you ever get more than two martinis in me…)
While the metaphorical weight of the vampire has always been political, sensual, subversive, it’s also indulgently theatrical— hunters, haunters, performers! The stage a natural habitat as they navigate (un)living and acting amongst mortals.
Anyone can front an eternally damned ensemble, with stage presence emanating masculine and feminine frequencies, fluid!! electrically untouchable!! The serpentine swaying swag of a young Robert Plant, the gauzy diaphanous elegance of Florence Welch or Donna Summer, the thrilling guitar shredding badassery of Lady Bo… the only requirement, if you ask me, is a killer (no pun intended) wardrobe to match: sumptuous, moody hues, decadent, ornate textiles, and, ideally, a truly unhinged, absolutely wild pair of leather pants.
If you’re dreaming of headlining your own undead tour, might I suggest adding a few of these pieces to your onstage wardrobe?
Let’s get into it.
Perhaps your onstage persona rocks a little like this….
90s mongolian fur tapestry coat (fem m, $325, purchase on eBay) (honorable mention to this one, and this one and this one) (a very cool plus size short coat option here — i love the toggles)
art deco amethyst pendant necklace ($159, purchase on eBay)
expect lots of art deco jewelery in this dispatch, which i think is wildly underrated and will likely be making a fast fashion comeback given the uptick in flapper purse dupesgucci cat eye sunglasses ($295)
1970s yellow maxi tapestry coat (see measurements, $380, purchase on eBay) (this one with a pair of long black leather gloves would be delicious, this vintage saks fifth ave one is killer)
victoria beckham green floral dress (fem l, $97.50)
art deco blue bezel necklace ($143.50, purchase on eBay)
carnelian marcasite art deco earrings ($225, purchase on eBay)
green ponyhair gucci purse ($1600, purchase on eBay)
this is !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1970s char leather lace up belt ($495, purchase on eBay)
char is a mexican leather brand that made some incredibly ornate and masterful leather pieces in the 1970s and are highly collectible (like this, this (with a chloe-esque white gauzy gown?!), and this)1960s balloon sleeve velvet dress (fem xs, $138)
dries van noten knee high boots (fem 10.5, $487.50)
wilsons purple fur leather purse ($254.99, purchase on eBay) (honorable mention to this purple option)
so unique and fun and coolvintage coach hampton miranda green purse ($500, purchase on eBay)
me char brown leather clutch ($80, purchase on eBay)
round carnelian and marcasite earrings ($125, purchase on eBay)
christian louboutin tapestry velvet boot (fem 10, $476)
1970s east west musical instruments leather jacket (fem s, $2345)
another leather brand worth knowing and as you can see, highly highly collectible (with incredible craftmanship) — this price is actually better than a lot of other options floating around eBay!red velvet box purse ($30, purchase on eBay)
blue art deco bezel necklace ($143.50, purchase on eBay)
art deco amber glass necklace ($165, purchase on eBay)
sterling silver art deco marcasite dangle earrings ($45, purchase on eBay)
etro floral coat (fem m, $178.50!!)(honorable mention to this cutie vintage one — the buttons!!!!!!!)
art deco green beaded flapper belt ($42, purchase on eBay)
art deco blue chalcedony marcasite earrings ($99.99, purchase on eBay)
art deco carnelian bracelet ($85, purchase on eBay)
tom ford sunglasses ($196)
mongolian fur handbag ($179, purchase on eBay)
never seen anything quite like this and it intrigues mevintage jean paul gaultier blouse (fem 4, $528)
the garter belt bottom trim is *chef’s kiss* perfect and this color is v yumvictor costa fur trimmed brocade jacket (see measurements, $140, purchase on eBay)
just add cigarette pant and manolo mules and a lot of smudged eyelinerloewe layered sunglasses ($300)
green glass art deco necklace ($149.99, purchase on eBay)
taller marmo green kaftan dress (OSFM, $567) (honorable mention to this vintage karl lagerfeld chiffon number)
this color is truly delicious, would be a good annual/forever “holiday dress” investment if you ask memiu miu floral lace up knee boots (fem 6, $416.50)
etro floral patterned yellow pants (fem 4, $106.25) (or these ones! or these!)
vintage jean paul gaultier blouse (fem xl, $363.75)
90s bebe purple leather pants (fem 6, $55, purchase on eBay)
gold gucci platform loafers (fem 7, $357)
on my holy grail list, if you don’t, i might…betsey johnson green ostrich feather cardigan (fem m, $215, purchase on eBay)
fun! fun! fun!striped metallic mesh purse ($29.99, purchase on eBay)
fun!green snakeskin jimmy choo mules (fem 37, $299, purchase on eBay)
Or maybe you’re a little more…..
ralph lauren velvet floral dress (fem 10, $164.99, purchase on eBay)(honorable mention to this floral embroidered velvet jacket that would probably be absolutely worth the tariffs)
brighton sterling silver medallion belt (fem m, $80, purchase on eBay)
vintage black velvet culotte set (see measurements, $268)
this is insane someone plz adopt this setanne fontaine white button up blouse (see measurements, $80, purchase on eBay)
anne fontaine is a vampire rockstar wardrobe essential and the secondhand prices are *amazing*art deco blue beaded flapper purse ($156, purchase on eBay)
the marbled lid top on this is incredible and theres a mirror inside!art deco carnelian dangle earrings ($95, purchase on eBay)
swirly marcasite art deco earrings ($55, purchase on eBay)
antique velvet purse ($45)
studded manolo blahnik heels (fem 7.5, $183.75)
black doen lace dress (fem m, $455)
wilson cutout leather pants (fem 8, see measurements, $59.39, purchase on eBay)
velvet ostrich feather blouse (fem s, $45, purchase on eBay)
gucci platform loafer pumps (fem 7.5, $780)
brown distressed leather purse ($38, purchase on eBay)
anne fontaine hook and eye blouse (fem m, $64!!)
it’s giving that one chan luu setvelvet burnout mini dress (vintage fem 12, see measurements, $69, purchase on eBay) (some other fabulous velvet options here, here, and here)
jessica mcclintock black opera coat (see measurements, $153, purchase on eBay)
so goodgucci rhinestone sunglasses ($269.50)
sterling silver ruby velvet choker ($108 on sale)
unique!!gianvito rossi velvet lace up booties (fem 9, $192.50)
ann demeulemeester long sleeve red blouse (fem 4, $207)
this color is one of my favoritesbrighton silver western belt (fem m, $119.95, purchase on eBay)
these are going going gone on eBay as the trend cycle churns — snatch them up before they’re $round glass bezel necklace ($64.95, purchase on eBay)
marcasite emerald cut red oversized earrings ($59.62, purchase on eBay)
anne fontaine ruffle blazer (fem m, $115.50) (or how about this incredible beaded jacket?)
miu miu lace up booties (fem 7, $262.50)
giorgio armani black velvet pant set (fem 8, $100, purchase on eBay) (or you could go the suede route with this set, or this set, or the snakeskin mini skirt route here)
there are no measurements listed, but this is insane!!oval onyx marcasite earrings ($245, purchase on eBay)
sterling silver marcasite pearl drop earrings ($49, purchase on eBay)
black embroidered piano shawl (60'“x60”, $150, purchase on eBay)
a well priced piano shawl, a must for any vampirewhite linen lace blouse (fem s, $49.88, purchase on eBay)
ann demeulemeester black skirt (fem l, $287)
the cargo pockets are very cool and this price is goodmarcasite amethyst art deco drop earrings ($59, purchase on eBay)
cult gaia silver booties (fem 7, $153)
isabel marant wide studded waist belt (fem s, $202.50)
floral tapestry top handle bag ($49.99)
morgane le fay silk evening jacket (fem s, $65)
Well there ya have it! I had so many links open my computer crashed not once, but twice, so I might make a ShopMy edit with more finds, if the spooky season spirits move me.
eBay has been giving me some issues when exporting links, so please let me know if something is showing up broken, as that is the portion of the activity that makes my brain hurt.
Anya Kordonowy, Trash Panic’s resident expert on all things interiors and design and color and creativity will be in your inbox next week with a delightfully whimsical Halloween party dispatch (you can catch up on her first two here and here), and I’ll be back once again early the following week with a cornucopia of costume ideas….
Until then,
xo,
G
I feel at home here... Also! I highly recommend checking out Matt Baume's video essay on Anne Rice and Interview with a Vampire. He's one of my favorite historians who creates content centering around how television and movies have shaped queer history. It's endlessly fascinating and gives me so much hope!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3g514OMXRc
You would be an amazing costume designer! The film industry needs you