So here’s a chilling fact about Wednesday Addams – we’re both ‘boomers. Her first appearance on screen (The Addams Family/ABC) was in 1964; the year of my birth. That’s right, Wednesday and I are both lumbering towards 60 but, whilst the vision that greets me in the mirror every morning is a fright for sore eyes, our ghoulish girl who loves to hate is looking better than ever; darn it.
I’m old enough to have lived through all the spooky and kooky manifestations of The Addams Family and, whilst the 1960s series holds nostalgic charm (the series was re-run throughout my childhood), and the 1990s movies were so good they spawned a franchise; I think the 2022 re-boot ‘Wednesday’ (Netflix; if you haven’t yet – your really must) is my favourite Addams family incarnation to date.
And I’m not alone.
Photo courtesy; MGM TV/Paramount and Netflix
“I really enjoyed Wednesday so much that I felt compelled to cosplay her!” says Bumble, a well-known attendee of cosplay events around Florida where fans not only dress in costumes (usually from comics or video games) but also inhabit the character roles.
“She is witty, talented and hilarious. I also loved her cat costume for the boat races so much I had to throw on the cat ears (below) it’s hard for me to pose without smiling or pouting but I was really trying to embody her intense energy.”
Bumble is a teacher and – a full year on from the launch of the Netflix series – she says school students across the age grades ‘still love Wednesday so much’.
“Last year it was really extreme but it’s continued this year as well. Any time I put my hair in braids I’m met with “IT’S WEDNESDAY” even if I’m not dressed in black,” she says when I ask why Wednesday has such an enduring fan-base.
“I think part of the appeal is they think the things she says are off-handed and silly. A lot of students in many grades were dressed as Wednesday this year, it was still the number one costume.”
Just who is Wednesday Addams?
The other day my husband – who only watches sport and serious documentaries – on TV caught me re-watching ‘Wednesday’ and remarked; ‘Who is that character and why is she everywhere?’
Although she seems to have been everywhere since the series launch November 2022, the Addams Family cartoon strip was created in 1938 with Wednesday following in 1943.
For more of Wednesday’s back story then read the excellent ‘The Dark Evolution Of Wednesday Addams into a Goth icon’ by David Crow.
‘Wednesday has only had one season, but Ortega is already drawing a commanding portrait of an adolescent Wednesday who is resourceful, tenacious, and unrelenting.’ – David Crow.
The wonderful Wednesdays (above) are;- Tina @justatinabit Lua @luatod and Robbie @fantasticmundorobbie
From little menace to glam goth; why Wednesday Addams is still stealing the show…
In ABC’s The Addams Family TV series (1964-66), Wednesday is a little girl obsessed with death, spiders and ballet. While she is undoubtedly creepy, Wednesday is capable of being sweet-natured. Christina Ricci’s Wednesday – 1990s movies – is decidedly darker; in place of dancing and smiling, she memorably tries to electrocute her brother Pugsley in a game she calls ‘Is there a God?’.
In Tim Burton’s Wednesday, Jenna Ortega does nothing to lighten the macabre moodiness of the character. The series played to mixed reviews from critics but it was an instant hit with the viewers. According to The Guardian, within three weeks, the series had wracked up ‘a staggering billion hours worth of views’.
Speaking as a fan, my obsession with Wednesday had nothing to do with the murder/mystery plot – from what I recall it was some twaddle about an evil pilgrim forefather and a monster lurking in the woods – and everything to do with Jenna Ortega’s Wednesday.
Without seemingly changing her facial expression, Jenna manages to make us fall for a sulky – verging on cruel – teenage misfit and its all down to her deliciously snarky asides and those delectable Goth-inspired fashions. After the show was aired there was a huge spike in internet searches for ‘black’, ‘gothic’ and Wednesday Addams biker boots.
“Wednesday Addams has become a pop culture phenomenon,” agrees Dr Martina Paglia, a London-based psychologist (see her full in article for The International Psychology Clinic here).
“The character’s unique and quirky personality… and relatability to those who may feel like outsiders in society have all contributed to her enduring popularity. Additionally, Wednesday Addams’s wit and sarcastic sense of humour, as well as her iconic style, have helped to keep the character fresh and relevant.”
Photos courtesy of Netflix
Talking about her style – ‘I’ll stop wearing black when they make a darker colour’ – Wednesday’s glam goth monochromatic look has filtered into mainstream fashion for Autumn/Winter ’23.
Fashion magazine’s Natalie Michie says Wednesday’s terrifying teen look has never been more on trend; ‘She’s the inspiration behind endless fashion homages, from Halloween costumes to runway shows,” Natalie observes.
“She’s kooky, spooky and loves a capsule wardrobe. And that’s what makes Wednesday Addams a true icon,”
According to Glamour magazine, ‘glam grunge’ and ‘goth girl’ makeup has been seen on all the major runways (think Paris, not Heathrow) this season.
Elle magazine has gone so far as to dub this trend the start of the ‘Goth Era’.
“Goth kids have often been on the sidelines and in their own league when it comes to fashion and beauty trends, but the style has become more and more centre-stage,” says Madison Rexroat
“Like it or not — darkness, weirdness, and punk-rock vibes are here to stay this winter.”
If you haven’t got quite enough in your vault to buy the designer versions of Wednesday Addams look (above), follow our guide to achieving her killer style without fatally injuring your bank balance.
Wednesday Addams look part one; Halloween
My new cosplay friends tell me that Wednesday is one of the easiest costumes to re-create without leaving the house. Wednesday Addams is what’s known as a ‘closet character’ in that most people have got the key elements of a black and white outfit lurking in their wardrobes.
Black is not one of my favourite colours (it’s about as kind to the ageing face as the beam from a security guard’s torch) but even I have two little black dresses, a skirt, tights, black boots, and cropped jeans. As for the XXL white shirt, I could lend one to all the pupils at Wednesday’s Nevermore Academy and still have a few to spare; I’m a bit of a fanatic.
I did have to buy a wig. I went for the straight hair version. You can buy pre-plaited ‘Wednesday Addams’ wigs but – if you want to re-use – that limits your dressing up options to Wednesday/ Dorothy (Wizard of Oz)/school girl whereas I plan to delight everyone on Christmas Day with my ‘Claudia Winkleman’.
If you are the one person on the globe without any black or white in their closet…can I re-introduce you to old friend the charity shop.
At this time of year (October 31st, 2023) they are crammed to bursting with black trousers, dresses and skirts. I went out to visit all six charity shops on my local high street and could honestly have put together endless combinations of Wednesday Addams’s monochromatic looks from just two stores (see above for my two purchases).
Watch a few Wednesday Addams tutorials on YouTube or TikTok for makeup tips and that’s a wrap. A complete, and re-usable, Halloween costume for under £20.
Then when fright night is over, just subtract the wig and those clothes will take you beyond Halloween.
Wednesday Addams look part two; beyond Halloween
‘She’s trying to conform but not quite fit in,’ explained Academy Award-winning costume designer Colleen Atwood, when asked to describe Wednesday Addams’s style.
Photos; Vanity Fair/Netflix/Screen Rant
Although the black and white look could be on the dour side of dull, there’s something almost playful in the chequer-board patterns and ditsy prints and edgy becomes elegant thanks to the black lace, cut-out Broderie anglaise collars, starchy cuffs and cocoon-sized hoodies and knitwear.
Although the dress Wednesday wears to the prom is designer – Alaïa; 2020 – some of Wednesday’s clothes were sourced from well-known brands like Zara and LK Bennett. But, for the sake of the planet, I’m still urging everyone to cut down on buying new clothes, especially those from fast fashion brands.
Here’s a selection of Wednesday Addams-inspired inter-changeable separates available on eBay during the past September/October 2023 with their sold prices.
The sheer simplicity of this look means you can dress it all up, or down, by adding Wednesday’s core accessories; the biker boots, a tie, a scarf, a neck-tie, platform sneakers, knee-high socks and Mary Janes; all in black and white of course.
Happy hunting.
For a go-to guide to how to dress like Wednesday Addams, here’s inspiration from Teen Vogue.
Will Wednesday live to fight another day?
Netflix has confirmed the series will be back for a season two but there’s been no official date…just speculation it will be in late 2024.
According to Jenna Ortega, the writers plan to dial up the fear factor. “I think we want to up…the horror aspect a little bit and then get Wednesday out of the romantic situation and just let her be her own individual and fight her own crime.”
In the words of Wednesday herself; ‘Be afraid. Be very afraid.’
Source; Radio Times
