Spooky season is the time when celebs like Olivia Rodrigo and Jenna Ortega come alive. Their signature edgy style is heightened during the month of October, putting further emphasis on the dark and punky undercurrents of their wardrobes. It's not, however, the time you'd expect girly-girl stars—like Sabrina Carpenter, for example—to shine.
The "Please Please Please" singer is known for her hyper-feminine, Polly Pocket style, which leans heavily on babydoll designs like lace jumpsuits and custom, crystal-coated lingerie. But she put all that aside for her latest look, delving more into "dark academia" territory fit for Taylor Swift's Tortured Poets Department era fashion (read: a crop top and plaid skirt).
On Oct. 7, Carpenter popped out in NYC wearing a look that felt unequivocally fall. She was bathed in plaid (the unofficial print of the season), wearing a midi-length skirt with accordion pleats and a moody gray-and-mustard color story. Leaning further into the spooky librarian look, she merchandised the statement piece with a mock-neck crop top in inky black.
Sabrina Carpenter abandoned her all-pastel wardrobe for a moody fall look.
A major departure from her usual all-pastel color palette, Carpenter accessorized with even more dark details. She wore a glossy oxblood shoulder bag and a pair of archival Gucci mules. The brand recently dropped a modernized iteration of the style, however, you can easily find Carpenter's exact style for a fraction of the prince online.
Beyond Carpenter, even more femme-leaning celebs are trading up their mini dresses and corset tops for darker styles. Taylor Swift, too, has seemingly been bitten by the punky bug, as the pop star went full goth on the VMAs red carpet last month. Like Carpenter, she went for a yellow plaid skirt with all-black accessories—and her favorite Nars lipstick. (Swift's outfit came from Dior's Cruise 2025 collection.) Swift also wore her fair share of plaid mini skirts while out and about between stops on the Eras Tour.
Taylor Swift walked the VMAs red carpet wearing a yellow plaid high-low skirt and corset.
Looks like leaves aren't the only ones changing color this season...
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Jenna Ortega's Teeny Versace Suit Embraces Spring's Reigning Color TrendThe actor pulled $8,900-worth of spring staples for her appearance at CinemaCon.
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Katie Holmes Kicks Off Sandal Season EarlyShe paired a new suit with the most unexpected shoe.
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Meghan Markle's As Ever Collection Finally Launches—And Sells Out Within MinutesJam for the win.
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Dua Lipa's Beloved $6,900 Chanel Bag Puts an Old Money Spin on Fashion's Cargo Pocket TrendShe truly can't stop carrying it.
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Katie Holmes Elevates Her Little Black Dress With a $2,450 Lipstick Red ClutchThe future of themed dressing is here.
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Gigi Hadid Breaks Out a Kitschy Archival Moschino Bag for Vintage Shopping in New York CityShe hit a vintage market looking the part.
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Hailey Bieber Adds The Row's $2,000 To-Go Tote to Her Extensive Bag CollectionShe carries it everywhere.
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Doechii Takes Tabi Shoes, Fashion's Most Divisive Style, to the 2025 GLAAD AwardsShe's a Tabi girl.
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Selena Gomez Breaks Her All-Black Billionaire Dress Code for Two Inescapable Spring 2025 Color TrendsColor felt so nice, she tried it twice.
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Hailey Bieber Dresses for Her Tax Bracket at Church, in a $4,450 Trench CoatIt's the ultimate rich-girl staple.
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Selena Gomez Proves Skinny Jeans Are Cool Again With Khaite's $680 Benny BeltHear her out!
