How Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein” Predicted Spring 2025 Runway Trends
Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein”, released October 17, 2025, captivated audiences not only through the performances, but the costuming. Filled to the brim with rich textures and historical motifs, the film's fashion aligns with Spring 2026 runways in an almost prophetic way.
Mia Goth’s melancholic portrayal of Elizabeth Lavenza was underscored by breathtaking gowns designed by Kate Hawley, the designer for both Crimson Peak and Mortal Engines. The costuming merged 19th-century restraint with modern couture with perfection, and despite filming beginning in February 2024, Hawley began curating far before then. Goth’s ensemble not only shaped the character’s emotional tone, but also anticipated key trends seen months later in New York Fashion Week’s Spring 2026 collections, just weeks before the film's release.
For instance, feathers dominated Chanel’s 2026 runways. Most notably was Maison Lemarié’s white feather headpiece from the Ready-to-Wear collection. A strikingly similar look took on deeper meaning in one of “Frankenstein's” most visually appealing scenes. In the film, Goth wears a blue feather headpiece as she begins to assert herself within the limits of her time. The piece feels fragile, yet purposeful, capturing how the character’s misunderstood gentleness will soon push against the expectations surrounding her.
Another iconic piece from the film was Goth’s nightgown. She wears it in a particularly vulnerable scene in which she visits Dr. Frankenstein's creation, viewing him not as such, but as a human. Her pure intent is mirrored by the sheerness of the white chiffon. Despite being filmed over a year prior, Vogue's Spring 2025 Ready-to-Wear collection featured several pieces with the same billowing silhouettes, and alluring transparency.
Outside of her ghostly nightgown, the film's color pallet was also perfect for the November 2025 release date. Throughout the film, Goth’s character is also constantly draped in haunting, jewel toned chiffons that are perfect for winter viewing. Dressed head to toe in warm crimsons and sharp jades, the hues serve a narrative function as well. She adds a sense of warmth and empathy in an otherwise cold and manic landscape as Victor Frankenstein obsesses over controlling his creation.
“Frankenstein”’s costuming functions as a kind of cultural benchmark, picking up on the same visual cues that then surfaced much later in fashion. Though the costumes were designed in 2023 for a 2024 shoot, they align closely with the Spring 2026 collections now appearing on designer runways. The costume department didn’t just happen to match the 2026 trends; it predicted the broader mood that fashion is now shifting into with masterful precision.
Written by: Kat O’Connor
Cover Design: Victoria Lechon
