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Boldy feminine and infused with Gothic romanticism, The Vampire’s Wife has quickly earned cult label status. The brainchild of Susie Cave—a former model and muse to designers such as Vivienne Westwood— the collection is composed of luxurious pieces that fuse together nostalgic references with unique fabrications.
Named after her husband and rock legend Nick Cave’s abandoned book project, The Vampire’s Wife has achieved that rare feat of drawing a diverse range of fans in terms of both style and profession—Margot Robbie, Florence Welch and Catherine, the Princess of Wales are just a few of the women who have spotted in Cave’s romantically gothic dresses.
The universally flattering silhouettes, intricate details and arresting color palettes are certainly part of the universal appeal of The Vampire’s Wife’s styles. Yet it’s the label’s inherent creative spirit that ground the label, with Cave drawing on a variety of inspirations to craft her collections, many of which she charts on the brand’s blog.
Take the signature frills that adorn most of her dresses, which can be traced back to her love of ballet, particularly the Ballet Russes. In 2021, during pandemic times, she even enlisted members of the Royal Ballet who were unable to take to the stage to model her latest designs for a special film, with their movements showing off the thoughtful tailoring of the dresses to brilliant effect.
Although most of the designs may appear modest— a far cry from the mini skirts and cut-outs of the Y2K aesthetic—there is something inherently sensual about them, from the way they accentuate the female form, to the mix of decadent fabrics, including the matte metallics and the sumptuous velvet (there is a darkly romantic black velvet mini dress for those who do love the higher hemlines.) Whether cut from a retro bold floral print or a gorgeously glamorous metallic chiffon, each dress is a timeless piece that reminds the wearer of the pure joy of dressing up.