At this year’s Golden Globes, the usual parade of liquid metallics and bridal-adjacent gowns met an unexpected foil: a small but powerful squad of goth-adjacent looks that turned the red carpet into a runway for dark romance. While most A-listers stayed loyal to traditional glamazon styling, the so‑called “Golden Globes goth girls” leaned into black lace, sharp tailoring, and quietly subversive silhouettes—offering a moody counterpoint to the high-gloss status quo.


A Golden Globes attendee on the red carpet wearing a dramatic black gown with gothic-inspired styling
A goth-inflected black gown stands out against the Golden Globes’ traditional red carpet glamour. (Image: Getty Images, via CNN)

This shift isn’t just about wearing black—Hollywood has been doing that since the earliest Oscar nights. What feels new is the tone: less minimalist chic, more cinematic darkness, with references ranging from Victorian mourning dress to 1990s alt culture and the streaming-era obsession with Wednesday Addams–style aesthetics.


From Old Hollywood Glam to Golden Globes Goth: Why Now?

Red carpets have always been a barometer of cultural mood. At a time when pop culture is deep into a nostalgia loop—reviving everything from 2000s pop punk to 90s neo-noir—dark glamour feels strangely inevitable. Shows like Wednesday, the continued dominance of genre cinema, and the rise of “coquette goth” and “romantic goth” aesthetics on TikTok all prime audiences to recognize and appreciate these looks immediately.

Traditionally, awards shows like the Golden Globes reward safe fashion: flawless, photogenic, and light enough to appease network lighting and publicists alike. The goth-leaning contingent, however, suggests a willingness among certain celebrities and stylists to embrace narrative dressing—using clothes not just to look beautiful, but to tell a story that survives the 24‑hour news cycle.


Key Elements of the Golden Globes Goth Girl Aesthetic

The Golden Globes goth universe isn’t one-size-fits-all. Instead, it’s a spectrum—from softly moody to fully vampiric. A few recurring signatures stood out across the carpet:

  • Inky black and midnight tones: Deep black, oxblood, and near‑navy dominated, often rendered in luxurious fabrics like velvet, silk satin, and tulle that catch the flashbulbs rather than absorb them entirely.
  • Sheer drama: Strategic transparency—lace panels, illusion necklines, and tulle overlays—softened the severity of full‑black looks and nodded to gothic lingerie and Victorian underpinnings without veering into vulgarity.
  • Architectural silhouettes: Sharp shoulders, exaggerated sleeves, fishtail hems, and corseted waists created a sculptural presence that read more “heroine in a dark fairytale” than minimalist starlet.
  • Statement accessories: Chokers, oversized crucifix‑style jewelry, ear cuffs, and jet‑black stones anchored the looks, steering them away from generic evening wear and toward subcultural language.
  • Beauty with an edge: Smudged eyeliner, berry or wine‑stained lips, and alabaster skin finishes referenced both 90s grunge and classic film noir. Occasionally, a precise dark lip or graphic liner sealed the aesthetic with precision.
Woman in a dramatic black gown with lace sleeves standing in a grand hallway
Lace, tulle, and sculpted silhouettes are at the heart of modern goth glamour. (Representative fashion imagery)

CNN’s “Look of the Week” and the Power of a Smaller, Stranger Trend

CNN’s Look of the Week column, which framed this moment as “the good, the bad and the ugly” of the week’s most talked‑about outfit, underscores how radically expectations have shifted. Once upon a time, the column would focus almost exclusively on the biggest ballgown or the most expensive diamond suite. Now, a niche‑feeling, darker look can dominate discourse precisely because it feels out of step with the default template.

“At the awards ceremony, many A‑listers went the way of the traditional glamazon. A smaller number, though, came dressed in something with a little more edge.”

That “little more edge” is the currency of 2020s celebrity. In an age of algorithmic sameness, the outfits that linger are often those that walk the line between wearable and weird. The Golden Globes goth cohort did exactly that—polished and camera‑ready, yet tinged with theatricality.


Why Goth Glam Works So Well on a Modern Red Carpet

Beyond the visual punch, goth‑inflected dressing solves a long‑standing red carpet problem: how to look formal without looking interchangeable. Dark glamour reads chic under harsh lighting, photographs well from multiple angles, and offers enough visual complexity—textures, cutouts, embellishments—to stay interesting in close‑ups and full‑length shots alike.

It also taps into the modern celebrity’s need for duality. A goth‑leaning dress can suggest vulnerability (sheer fabrics, delicate lace) and power (corsetry, tailoring) simultaneously. That tension aligns neatly with how stars are framed in interviews and social media: hyper‑visible yet still “misunderstood,” human yet mythic.

Close-up of a dramatic black evening dress with lace pattern and sheer fabric
Details like lace, beading, and sheer overlays photograph beautifully under red carpet lights. (Representative detail shot)

There’s also an element of brand alignment. For performers known for darker roles—thrillers, prestige horror, anti‑hero dramas—leaning goth on the carpet reinforces their on‑screen persona without feeling costume-y. It’s method dressing, but in couture.


The Strengths and Weak Spots of This Year’s Goth Looks

Not every experiment landed perfectly. But collectively, the Golden Globes goth cohort made a strong case for pushing the dress code’s envelope.

What worked

  • A sense of narrative: Many looks felt like fully realized characters—romantic heroines, cinematic villains, or 90s club kids reimagined for the couture age—rather than generic “pretty dress” moments.
  • Textural richness: Layered fabrics, embroidery, and considered accessories ensured that even monochrome black outfits had depth on camera.
  • Confidence in styling: When hair and makeup committed—sleek hair, defined eyes, or a sculpted cheek—the results felt intentional and editorial rather than accidental.

Where it faltered

  • Proportions under pressure: A few gowns suffered from overly heavy skirts or excessively long trains, which can read clumsy on a crowded carpet and in candid shots.
  • Over‑the‑top accessorizing: When jewelry, gloves, and dramatic makeup all fought for attention, some looks edged toward costume rather than fashion.
  • Lighting challenges: Under certain angles, high‑gloss black fabrics can appear flat or lose their detail—an ongoing technical issue stylists will need to factor into future goth‑leaning outfits.
Model in a black gown and gloves posing against a dark background
Accessories can elevate a goth look—or tip it into costume—depending on balance and proportion. (Representative styling)

Cultural Influences: From Vampy Actresses to Viral Algorithms

Today’s Golden Globes goth aesthetic owes debts to several style lineages. Classic screen sirens like Morticia Addams (in all her incarnations), Elvira, and the coolly severe heroines of Hitchcock films laid the foundation. The 1980s and 1990s then mainstreamed goth codes through music and cinema, from The Cure to The Crow.

In the 2020s, the feedback loop runs through social media. When a celebrity appears in a darkly romantic dress, the look is instantly sliced into moodboards on TikTok and Instagram—tagged with “goth glamour,” “vampy,” “dark academia,” or whatever micro‑trend it most closely resembles. Stylists are acutely aware that one strong, slightly offbeat look can do more for a client’s cultural cachet than ten safe ones.

Woman in cinematic dark makeup and black outfit looking into the distance
Cinematic, character-driven styling resonates strongly in the streaming and social media era. (Representative portrait)

How Red Carpet Goth Differs from Everyday Goth Fashion

It’s tempting to equate Golden Globes goth with subcultural goth fashion, but they operate on different planes. Red carpet goth is less about community membership and more about controlled references—borrowing the drama and symbolism while staying within the bounds of luxury evening wear.

  1. Materials and construction: Haute couture and luxury ready‑to‑wear rely on complex construction, boning, and custom tailoring that transform familiar goth staples—corsets, capes, long coats—into something fit for archival museum pieces and brand campaigns.
  2. Palette: While classic goth style embraces heavy hardware, PVC, and aggressive contrast, celebrity red carpet goth tends towards softer, more romantic interpretations: silk, Chantilly lace, and hand‑beaded details.
  3. Purpose: Everyday goth fashion can be personal armor or identity expression. On the Golden Globes carpet, it’s narrative branding: a carefully calculated signal to photographers, fashion critics, and social media users all at once.
High-fashion black dress with veil and dramatic silhouette on a model
Red carpet goth tends to soften traditional goth codes through couture fabrics and precise tailoring. (Representative runway look)

What This Means for Future Awards Shows

The Golden Globes often function as a fashion test lab for the rest of awards season. If the goth‑leaning looks resonate—measured in social media engagement, think‑pieces, and brand call‑outs—expect echoes at the SAG Awards, the BAFTAs, and even the Oscars, albeit in slightly more conservative form.

We’re unlikely to see an entire carpet go full goth any time soon, but we are entering an era where a single, strategically dark look can command the same attention that a multi‑million‑dollar diamond necklace once did. In the attention economy, a little darkness goes a long way.


Conclusion: The Golden Globes Goth Girls Have Changed the Dress Code

For anyone tired of cookie‑cutter red carpet glamour, the Golden Globes goth girls offered a welcome jolt of theatricality. Their looks proved that you can be polished without being predictable, romantic without being saccharine, and glamorous without defaulting to gold sequins.

As award shows adapt to an era where every look is instantly dissected online, dark glamour’s rise feels less like a fad and more like a new language in celebrity style—one that lets stars flirt with danger, mystery, and power, all while staying firmly in the frame of high fashion. The next time the red carpet rolls out, don’t just look for the biggest ballgown. Look for the shadows. That’s where the most interesting style story is probably unfolding.