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The Sorceress Style Trend Channels Winter's Moody, Mystical Energy

For all its dark dreariness, there’s a distinctly mystical quality about winter—out of all the seasons, it by far feels the most otherworldly. Maybe it’s the drama of the holidays or the haunting, decayed look of bare trees and blanketed snow, but if there were ever a time to attempt a connection with the cosmic, it’s right now. With what feels like actual magic in the air, is it any wonder so many are turning to a sorceress-inspired aesthetic? Velvety textures, deep, rich color palettes, and enchanted-seeming accessories can work together to channel a more sorcerous alter ego, and it can be done in a way that feels more like heightened holiday dressing than straight-up cosplay, too.

Many of our ultimate cool girls have been doing the sorceress thing for a while, too, sharing plenty of inspiration along the way. When FKA Twigs uploaded a video of herself crushing a handful of berries with a pestle and mortar, then dabbing the deep purple juice across her lips in lieu of a designer lip stain, the whole effect was as close to numinous as any human being can get. In that same vein, think of the Olsen twins with their cascading waves and huge elf-queen eyes. When they dressed in deep, flowing robes with long crystal jewelry at the Met Gala, the twin designers practically looked ready to start speaking in riddles.

While the sorceress aesthetic feels familiar, it deserves to be separated from its witchier cousins. This vibe is darker, sleeker, and far more opulent – think lace, velvet, dramatic silhouettes, and more rooted in fantasy than nature. Where the witch brews a spell in a mossy woodland cottage, the sorceress works her craft in a crumbling stone keep, surrounded by winter fog and a scarily luminous moon. Consider small but critical differences in Stevie Nicks’ and Tilda Swinton’s auras and you’ve cracked the code.

@ladygaga/Instagram

On a practical level, this look calls for a lot of jewel tones (the richer, the better) and wintery fabrics, ideally paired with either very flowy, gauzy, or period-inspired pieces. Maybe that’s a velvet duster over a lacy dress, or a cape-and-corset combination. Layering is the easiest way to affect that I-keep-all-my-clothes-in-a-dusty-jeweled-chest feel, not unlike Lady Gaga’s costuming on her Mayhem Ball tour.

Sorceress Beauty

Fashion is only half the fun, though. So much of what sets this trend apart are hair and makeup choices. Long, air-dried waves and curls of all types is the most quintessential sorceress style, though it’s not a necessity—an embracement of natural texture is the only real guideline here. Bits of braids or twists interspersed throughout the midlengths add even more interest, and you can always double-down with a metallic or crystal hair accessory—there’s really no such thing as “too much” with the whole sorceress thing.

@lacyredway/Instagram

That applies to makeup, too. To stay in line with the haunted undercurrent running through this entire trend, opt for a silvery or other cool-toned highlighter—it mimics moonlight—and don’t be afraid to really layer it on. Bleached brows, another very of-the-moment trend, are an even faster shortcut to the mystical look.

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December 21 marks the winter solstice, the official start of the season and a powerful period for transformation in general. You can kill time shivering in simple sweaters and wishing for summer, sure, or you can embrace the dark, moody months ahead by conjuring up a more mystical version of yourself.