Wireless : Trends For Less: Haute Halloween, Gothic Glam & Velvet Crush

RALPH LAUREN A/W 2013

You don’t have to wear a costume this Halloween; the fashion pack have created some spooktacular designs that blend horror and glamour without a squirt of fake blood in sight. We have picked out some of the hottest Halloween-inspired looks on the high street as well as some deliciously dark pieces that work all year round.

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HAUTE HALLOWEEN

Halloween isn't just for kids, nor is it simply an excuse to wear a tiny dress and stockings in public. It’s the perfect time to get creative with costume pieces and fake cobwebs, an opportunity to experiment with style. Try out new prints and textures.

If your experimentation goes a bit wrong, it doesn’t matter.
Just pretend that you meant to look scary!

Quite a few shops are stocking Halloween-inspired everyday wear. Try these items:

Topshop’s Ghoul Girl range transforms bold cartoons into subtly spooky patterns

Ghoul Girls Green Skirt [£34.00]/ Ghoul Girls Bat Print Skirt [£30.00]

Missguided add a bit of naughtiness to this plain black crop top [£9.99]

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GOTHIC GLAM

Gothic glam is a trend that takes influence from the sultry allure of traditionally macabre elements - think lusty vampires, nibbling temptresses and domineering spirits, all of which are oddly sexual. Gothic glam can be hard to pull off, but if you pair one or two items with casual, understated clothing you can avoid looking like Morticia Addams. You could always start by accessorizing a la Addams - plum lipstick, chokers and lace are feminine touches that are worth a try.

The intricate decoration on Topshop's embellished high neck top [£40.00] oozes 1920s dark glamour. Their Victoriana tea dress [£50.00] uses lace and sheer panels to

amp up the sexiness of an inherently demure cut.

With falling lace bat-wing sleeves, Missguided's floaty black crochet top [£26.99]

is a vision of romantic gothic glamour.

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VELVET CRUSH

This '90s trend is making another come back, this time fiercer than ever. Recently worn by fashion icon Alexa Chung in New York, velvet is one of the key textures this season.

It is effortlessly plush, irresistibly strokable, flattering and can be dressed up or down.

That’s pretty rare for a fashion fad, huh?