Red carpet premieres are almost always fashionable, conversation-sparking affairs. But there was something special in the air at the premiere of the second series of Netflix’s Addams family spin-off Wednesday last night at Central Hall in Westminster, London.
On the purple carpet, the glamorous style on show spanned all ages.
Stars marking the return of the Emmy-winning series from Tim Burton included 22-year-old protagonist Jenna Ortega and Joanna Lumley, 79, who plays Wednesday’s grandmother, Grandmama Hester Frump.
There was also Catherine Zeta-Jones, who portrays the memorable Addams matriarch, Morticia, and Billie Piper, who plays a new character in the upcoming series.
Across the generations of British national treasures and bright young American things, an unofficial dress code became clear: gothic glamour. The first series of the macabre comedy sees Wednesday investigate a series of murders, while the second promises to be even eerier, and the outfits honoured this increasingly supernatural tone.
L-R: Joonas Suotamo as Lurch, Catherine Zeta-Jones as Morticia Addams, Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams, Isaac Ordonez as Pugsley Addams and Luis Guzman as Gomez Addams
Ortega was the star of the premiere in an ethereal semi-sheer gown that resembled a shedding snakeskin and featured a peplum waist with a frayed, almost burnt, hemline.
The piece was from the Autumn/Winter 2025 couture collection of Ashi Studio, which is founded by Saudi Arabian couturier Mohammed Ashi and known for fusing ancient Arabian aesthetics with classic European codes. Styled by noted stylist Enrique Melendez, Ortega paired the piece with co-ordinating Jimmy Choo heels and jewellery by art deco-inspired Parisian label, Rainbow K.
Jenna Ortega in Ashi Studio couture, styled with Rainbow K jewels and Jimmy Choo heels for an elegantly modern twist on Arabian-inspired design – Aimee Rose McGhee/Dave Benett/WireImage
In a more literal interpretation of the gothic theme, Ortega’s co-stars Zeta-Jones, Piper and Lumley all chose black for the occasion.
The former was the picture of Morticia-inspired glamour in a dramatic backless halter-neck gown with a keyhole cutout and sheer layers. The couture piece was by French designer Stéphane Rolland and styled by Kelly Johnson, who accessorised the gown with dramatic diamond-adorned ear cuffs.
“The gown felt like the perfect balance of gothic romance and modern sophistication,” says Johnson.
Catherine Zeta-Jones wears a dramatic backless halter-neck gown by French designer Stéphane Rolland at the premiere – WireImage
“We knew we had to really go for it, and the Yeprem ear cuffs and Hassanzadeh ring stacks really set the gothic tone while keeping true to Catherine’s beauty and glamour that she brings to every red carpet.”
Her beauty look also struck this balance, with long-time make-up artist Brett Freedman opting for dark, rusty tones, and a slicked-back bun providing a simple counterpoint.
When it came to the theme of the evening, Joanna Lumley was perhaps most committed of all. Her all-black ensemble was topped off with an elegant embellished cape, and she was quick to remind viewers that Morticia’s gothic style is, in fact, inherited from Lumley’s character, Grandmama Hester Frump.
Joanna Lumley, who plays Wednesday’s grandmother Grandmama Hester Frump, styled her all-black ensemble with an elegant embellished cape – Dave Benett
“Remember, she’s my daughter, I taught her how to dress, she learned it all from me,” she said in a red carpet interview with Entertainment Tonight.
“You need a bit of a cape to swirl around because you never know when you’ll need to keep warm or keep the bats at bay.”
Piper continued the witchy mood in a plunging black dress with a lace-up front. It was certainly a departure from the punk-rock princess red carpet look she adopted earlier this year for the Bafta television awards.
Piper embraced gothic glamour in a plunging lace-up black dress – Samir Hussein/WireImage
For that occasion, Piper donned a bubblegum pink Vivienne Westwood gown that featured a pleated micro mini skirt with a long train, plus a signature Westwood sculpted corset bodice. The spidery dress she chose for the Wednesday 2 premiere will likely prove a less divisive choice.
Piper made headlines in a bubblegum pink Vivienne Westwood gown at this year’s Bafta’s – Getty
There were also a few flashes of blood red on the purple carpet courtesy of McQueen and a pair of emerging American actresses who play Wednesday’s fellow students. Joy Sunday, who stars as Bianca Barclay, wore an argyle knot cable knit dress with floral lace tights and lace-up boots, while Emma Myers, who plays Enid Sinclair, wore a striking lace dress. Both looks were drawn from McQueen’s Autumn/Winter 2025 Collection.
The cast of Wednesday brought drama to the purple carpet in bold, gothic looks – Aimee Rose McGhee/Dave Benett/WireImage
It may be high summer, but the Wednesday look is firmly in fashion.
A gothic mood has proliferated on social media, where there’s growing interest in what the Business of Fashion recently referred to as “sugar-coated macabre”.
Think dark lips, spiky jewels and the kind of dark, sculptural creations you’d see on a Schiaparelli Couture catwalk.
Gothic style is thriving this summer, from dark lips and spiky jewels to sculptural, Schiaparelli-esque couture creations dubbed ‘sugar-coated macabre’
It was only a shame that Lady Gaga, who makes a guest appearance as a teacher in the second instalment of the Netflix series, was not in attendance, due to a clash with her ongoing Mayhem Ball tour.
“She’s such an artist and so for me, working with an artist is inspirational,” Burton told Variety of Gaga.
The pop star-come-actor is also a reliable statement dresser, so it would have been a treat to see her interpretation of the marvellously macabre dress code. Fans keen for a glimpse will have to wait for the series to be released on 6 August – a Wednesday, of course.
