Happy Tuesday and happy (early) Halloween! In honor of Halloween this weekend, I’m covering a powerful black shade that is alive, ritualistic, and very much tied to the origins of Halloween itself…Witch’s black!
Psychology
This specific black carries the slightest bit of warmth from its slight blue-gray undertone (though it may be hard to see). Psychologically, it represents mystery, transformation, and protection. Concealment and power, too.
And in color therapy (yes it exists), it is believed muted blacks like this one can foster grounding and introspection.
History
The origin of Witch’s Black can be traced to the Celtic festival called Samhain (essentially the ancient precursor to Halloween), where people would smear soot on their faces and wear dark clothing.
Black later somewhat officially became the color of the witch in Medieval Europe, both feared and revered. Black robes and hoods were worn during night rituals to honor the dead and protect against curses.
Then, during the witch trial era, “witches’ black” became symbolic of hidden knowledge, and black ink used to record spells, trial confessions, and grimoires.
In Victorian times, black transformed from superstition to mourning elegance. Women wore elaborate black crepe dresses for months to even years after loss, blending sorrow with status…
Today, Witch’s Black continues to sort of embody the duality of mourning and magic. Now let’s see some fashion & interiors!
Fashion
Today I have a quite a few examples! Thought it would be fun to showcase some brands that not only embody a somewhat macabre and gothic essence, but are known to frequently feature black. (Heavily.)
Balenciaga F/W 2025 RTW
Balenciaga definitely cloaked the runway in black with their 2025 Fall RTW, featuring sharply tailored silhouettes, leather corsetry, and sweeping coats. Notorious for heavily using black.
McQueen F/W 2025 RTW
McQueen played around with black in texture and transparency, going from a shadow-absorbing shearling to some ethereal sheer lace.
Rick Owens F/W 2025 RTW
Rick Owens distilled black into matte shearling, distressed leather, and architectural silhouettes. His intense, post-apocalyptic work is also more often than not, black.
Ann Demeulemeester F/W 2025 RTW
Demeulemeester cast the black across chiffon, leather, and tailoring for her fall ready-to-wear. Another brand that uses a ton of black yet always stays incredibly versatile in its approach.
Interior Design
Starting off with some gothic interiors (naturally), here you can see a blend of ornate detailing with dark, moody furnishings. Carved wood, grand mirrors and antique accents.
The next two interiors follow a more industrial minimalist style with clean lines, neutral tones, black leather seating, and monochrome portraits. Gives for a sleek, urban, and slightly avant-garde atmosphere.
Pantone® & More
If you’re looking to work with a similar black, I’d recommend Pantone C “Armor Wash”. RGB and HEX details are included in the image:
As per usual, thank you so much for reading! I hope you learned something new about Witch’s Black! If you enjoyed reading, please give this post a like so I know what you guys want to see more of :)
Or tell me, which color should I feature next? See you next Tuesday!