It’s that time of year again – the special month when blood-curdling screams are welcomed as we travel through life in a hazy sugar high. So, what better way to celebrate than by honoring our favorite women of horror? This Halloween, we’re hailing the genre’s most iconic leading ladies, from cursed mother-to-be Rosemary Woodhouse to The Shining’s Wendy Torrence.  What these women lacked in security they made up in style, delivering looks as notable as their petrifying stories. So, as a “thank you” to the characters that merged fear with fashion, we’ve recreated their legendary looks (so you don’t have to). With MOTHER on top of costume planning, now you can finally focus on the important things: which candy you’ll buy for the “children.”

Sure, dating is tough, but at least you’ve never met a man at a pet store, driven to his family’s farm, and caused a city-wide bird attack that nearly killed you both. Let’s pour one out for our girl Melanie Daniels, the ill-fated, starry-eyed romantic in Alfred Hitchcock’s, The Birds. Though her high-society fashion emanates refinement and ease, the socialite swiftly transforms from playful flirt to desperate survivor as she navigates the non-stop aviary assaults that began upon her arrival. The onslaught of violence has no clear cause, capturing themes of helplessness, fear and confusion that mirror the uncertainty of new relationships. Thankfully, despite narrowly avoiding death, Melanie and her love interest, Mitch, remain together at the end of the film, proving that “if they can’t handle you at your worst, they don’t deserve you at your best.” Maybe we really can find love in a hopeless place.

What’s the only thing more terrifying than a teenage girl? A teenage girl who’s trying to kill you. Blending adolescent insecurity, magic, and iconic 90’s occult fashion, The Craft tapped into a new brand of witchcraft. Trading in rags and conical hats for boxy leather jackets and pleated skirts, the film follows four high school outcasts as they discover combined magical powers. Naturally, what starts as harmless fun soon degrades into dangerous acts of vengeance. But what could we expect? With the devastating chaos of high school, it’s a miracle they managed not to kill each other (though they did try). In the end, The Craft shows us that the real magic happens when women join forces. That, and black is always a good idea. 

As one of the most beloved horror films of all time, The Shining isn’t just MOTHER’s favorite.  Based on a Stephen King novel, the film tells the story of Jack Torrance, played by Jack Nicholson, as he unravels within the haunted halls of the Overlook Hotel. Jack brings his wife, Wendy, and five-year-old son, Danny, to the property after agreeing to manage it during the frigid winter months. As if this didn’t already sound like a terrible idea, paranormal entities soon begin to prey on Jack’s mind. Battling isolation and crippling writer’s block, Jack descends into further madness with each passing day. Wendy, who serves lumberjack-chic throughout the entire film, gets the brunt of his progressive outbursts until, ultimately, he’s chasing her with an axe. A gripping tale of survival, isolation, and family, this is not your average ghost story.

Who knew horror could be so fabulous? The cult classic of all cult classics, Rocky Horror Picture Show remixes the frightful genre with the joy and glamour of musical theatre. When newly engaged couple Brad and Janet seek refuge in a strange castle, they encounter none other than Dr. Frank-N-Furter, an eccentric, boundary-pushing alien scientist. Dressed in stockings and a slinky lace-up corset, the gender-fluid professor proceeds to immerse the two in a vibrant world of sci-fi experiments, burlesque costumes and rock-and-roll. Janet and Brad’s conservative, pastel-colored garb stands in stark contrast to the black, provocative attire of the castle’s characters, further emphasizing their discomfort and fear of the unknown. With campy musical numbers and addictive dance routines, the film’s impact can’t be understated. Don’t believe us? Just check the show list at your local theatre.

As if pregnancy isn’t challenging enough, try adding on the crippling fear that your child may be the spawn of Satan. Directed by Roman Polanski, Rosemary’s Baby redefines the worst-case-scenario for any mother-to-be. When innocent, trusting wife, Rosemary Woodhouse, begins to suspect her husband and neighbors of maliciously interfering with her pregnancy, she progressively unravels into a state of fear, paranoia, and desperation. Constantly dismissed and undermined by those around her, Rosemary’s sense dread increases with every scene, immersing the audience in an unnerving state of tension. Rosemary’s demure and often infantalizing attire serves as further evidence of her sheltered insulation, exemplifying her anxiety and powerlessness. Diving into themes of control, manipulation and female autonomy, Rosemary’s Baby delivers a bone-chilling take on the horrors of domesticity. But hey, no one said MOTHERhood was easy. 

Artwork by Lisa Vaccino

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