Witch Fashion in Film: Exploring a Century of Costumes Design 

Hey all, thank u for the amazing response so far ❤❤ I just realised I have made 2 mistakes - i’ve mixed up the onscreen birth/death dates of Guillaume Ediline with a Belgian painter from the 1900s! The Ediline I’m discussing was alive in the 1400s. Secondly it’s been pointed out to me that Viy is considered a Ukrainian story as the author Gogol is of Ukrainian origin. Not trying to argue with this but most online sources called it a Russian novella, which is why i said it was russian in the video! Sorry for missing these before publishing xxxx

Mary poppins is absolutely a witch. I never noticed the awesome cloak to train detail in Witches, thank you for pointing it out!!!

I don't know why, but as a gay man I've always felt a connection with witches in media. Perhaps it's because we share a common struggle in finding acceptance and navigating societal expectations, but I think what really sold me on them was seeing these powerful, magical beings unapologetically being themselves. There's something truly empowering about witnessing their unwavering sense of self, their defiance against a world that might not always accept them. In a way, their journey mirrors my own.

I dont remember ever seeing it come on tv when I was a child, but as an adult I found an episode of Mr Rogers’ Neighborhood featuring the actress who played The Wicked Witch of the West. In an unusual choice, she simply came to his “house” set for an extended segment, where she was introduced as having played the Wicked Witch, and the two just talked about acting and playing pretend and characters and how it’s okay to explore the emotions you might feel - like being scared - when you play a character or watch one on screen. I believe they got out and handled her costume pieces, and she transformed her persona for a minute or two, to show that she could become the Witch and then come right back. She was so reassuring and empathetic to children who get scared by fictional characters, but she also expressed such joy and a sense of fun about acting, telling stories, and playing pretend. I kind of fell in love with her. Anyway, I know that’s off-topic but what I felt distilled in the experience of watching that episode kind of captures something about what costume in general makes me feel and why I never get tired of hearing discussion about costume

i would eat up a full video on suspiria's costumes and i've never heard of this film until now

Really loved your Vampire fashion one, I keep replaying your video because it's almost like a comfort background noise now 😂❤

Back to the beginning of the video another interesting thing about common witch imagery I learned from my dad who studied beer brewing in Munich: back in the day, beer was often brewed by women known as Ale Wives. They kept cats to keep their brewery clear of pests, wore pointed hats to indicate their status as a guild member, and placed a broom outside the door or had a symbol of crossed brooms above the door to indicate the brewery was open and had beer available. Not entirely sure how those images got mixed into witchcraft but I’ve always found it interesting that that such classic witchy imagery was used by these alewives first!

on the 'Vyi" segment: here in Ukraine flower crowns or wreaths used to be worn at weddings (by the bride) traditionally, so even if it isn't stated directly, her dying unmarried would be assumed by the audience

Viy is based more on Ukrainian folklore and pAnochka is a shapeshifter, clearly evil. Her "public" form is an unmarried girl, so your logic is right about her flower crown. Gogol wrote the original, he has nice folklore-based tales not only hard-to-translate satiric novels

And we KNEW Angelica Huston would be featured twice

in defense of mary vogt, i think changing the symbols slightly was a good idea not because they might have literal mystical powers, but because you can never really research or predict what real-world symbols might become or have once been hate symbols. like i think it's pretty well known that swastika/swastika-like symbols were symbols of peace in south asia but obviously have a different connotation now. so i think she was really smart to adapt ancient runes even though i agree they probably aren't actually magical also now that you've put the idea of butch witches into the world i need to see that portrayed IMMEDIATELY. amazing video!!!

This video isn't just up my alley, it IS my alley. Love this series so much! Will be crossing my fingers for a Ghost Costumes in Film video in the future 👻

If I could add my interpretation to the analysis of The Wiz: The story, both Dorothy's real world and the land of Oz, are based on boroughs and attractions in New York City. Dorothy starts off in Harlem (she's never gone south of 125th street) and the goal is to make it to the Emerald City, which is Manhattan based on the large buildings and wealthy people dancing in the center. We can see more of this strange NYC in the area with crumbling buildings where she meets the Scarecrow (the Bronx circa arson insurance scheme era), the amusement park where they meet the Tin Man (Coney Island), the location where they meet the Lion (the Lion is one of the two lions, Patience and Fortitude, that "guard" the main NYC library in Manhattan), where they meet the Poppy Girls (Times Square when it used to be the Red Light District), and the chase scene with the Flying Monkeys (Yankees Stadium?) Michael Jackson's outfit has always been interesting to me because it appears to be based on the garbage that was left around the Bronx at the time. His head is full of garbage (discarded fortune cookie fortunes) his nose is an empty Reese's cup, and his torso and legs look like pieces of long-mended fabric barely handing on. Evilline and the sweatshop also reminded me of the sweatshops that exist(ed) in the Garment District of Manhattan. The circular, mechanical elements of her clothing feel like a reference to the fake and broken clocks that are sold in that area and the Chinatown nearby. It would also explain the gaudy and shiny elements of her clothes (more fake jewelry) and the outfits the laborers are wearing (so trapped in their destitute conditions that they eventually become masked/faceless creatures whose bodies become enmeshed with the clothing they create). I have yet to see the Broadway production (as of July 2024 it's still running) but would love the costume designer for the original play and film to discuss the context of their designs. The film is absolute trash but it's trash I love!

Abby Cox, a Dress Historian and a great content creator did a video about three years ago about the history of the witch hat.

48:54 I don't think Mary Vogt meant that using an ancient symbol would actually summon something evil - I think it's more likely she wanted to avoid any symbols that could have a negative connotation in another culture, as to not upset anyone or make the witch characters appear as genuinely 'evil'.

It’s a small thing, but I love how you introduced the green outfit/set early on, then used different scenes to teach us about the symbolism of green. When you go back to the green set, we actually notice it, with the dress, the candle and the leaves. It’s such a nice touch for the video and it makes the viewer (or at least me) feel excited to have learned something. I found you thought the Immaculate video and have been loving the channel ever since! :))

This was so interesting and would've taken the longest time to do, i love your outfit homage to The Craft the most, immediately recognized the reference!

To add to the "why wasn't she red or purple" about the Wicked Witch of the West, I love that her green contrasts the ruby slippers. It adds a visual layer of Dorothy and the witch's battle through the film. This is such a great video!!!!

Also, probably worth mentioning regarding the use of nudity, specifically, in 1970s films... this time period was right after the Hollywood studio system fell apart and (by association) the Hays Code. Suddenly a lot of filmmakers were finally able to include things in films they had never been allowed to before, like nudity. It was, also, the time of the sexual revolution and suddenly being sexual was perceived as "modern". So, many filmmakers went a little crazy adding nude scenes into their films both because they were suddenly actually allowed to do it and it made them more likely to be perceived as "cool" by the younger generation (since it would automatically associate them with the sexual revolution). So, in this particular time in film history, merely suggesting nudity ran the risk of seeming prudish or old-fashioned in a way that is not true today. Not saying that this was always the motive but, I do think some younger 1970s filmmakers, in particular, did feel some expectation or pressure to include nudity if they had the chance and/or that adding nudity would give them some extra "cool points" with the young counterculture crowd. (I mean, watch the 1970 Woodstock documentary and spot how many naked people you see... hippies of the early '70s were really not shy about nudity). P.S. The dissolution of the Hays Code is also why you get a lot of really disturbing/dark storylines in late '60s/early '70s films because, directors really did go a little freakin' wild doing all of the "deviant" plot lines they were never allowed to include before. 😅

Hi something I have noticed with the Sanderson sisters costumes is: 1. Winnie is the only to have a metallic color in her costume that being gold possibly another way to show that she’s the leader of the sisters. 2. Mary’s costume resembling a baker kind of goes with my theory she may have been the inspiration for the witch from Hansel and Gretel who is also associated with baking and cooking. 3. All three sisters have purple in their dresses that shows them they are a group but Winnie’s is more of a bright jewel purple where her sisters purples are more faded and another way that could represent her as the leader. (Though the purple in question does show up in Sarah’s cloak)

Black can hide itself so well; I never realised the Wicked Witch of the West's costume was so pretty.

Love how dense this video is, between the movie clips, the analysis, the jokes, the textual sources, the reference images… I know i will be rewatching this a few times. I loved the vampire costumes video and this one is a new favorite. (the different colors and fonts on the title cards were a great choice btw)

I highly recommend an addendum looking at the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, particularly when looking for warlock fashion.

Hmmm interesting. please note that everything that is in all caps was done solely for emphasis not to yell. The ICON Angela Basset truly embodied THE VOODOO QUEEN Marie Laveau! In Coven she truly snatched the edges off of Fiona Goode’s head when she told her that “EVERYTHING you got, you got from US! ✊🏽Through Tituba this is 1000% correct! 2. HOW in the world did you not mention the LEGENDARY Lena Horn as Glinda the Good witch. 3. They did Rachel True absolutely wrong and dirty. I do LOVE❤your take on witches fashions throughout the movies and in history. Have an amazing weekend!🎉🎉🎉)O(

in eastern europe flower crown is a very strongly established traditional bridal gown (and overall a symbol for girl's youth, beauty and aspirations for marriage), and there is also a tradition (not completely gone even to this day) to burry young unmarried women dressed up as brides.

What a delightful, insightful, well researched video! I must admit I'm very interested in the contrast of the portrayal of witches from the male gaze versus the female gaze. Maiden witches (Charmed, the VVitch, The Craft) often retain their soft femininity to appeal to men and make sure they're not TOO unpalateable; they're often 'redeemed' in some way that signals their ongoing innocence (I love your discussion on bonnets/free hair which I feel connects to this kind of innocent sexuality). It's the crones/hags that I find interesting, and your discussion of beauty = morality is SO on point. From the male gaze they are true creatures of horror who are simply to be subdued and killed, as they have no sexual value to men, and categorically eschew the nurturing/caregiving aspects that are the only things the male gaze finds useful about older women. From the female gaze, however, they are starting to be reclaimed as vessels of power and individualism; a rejection of patriarchal values. Thank you for the informative and beautifully researched video!

Would not have noticed the "bad" makeup because I'm pretty sure that zipper cast a spell on us all

I’ve also heard that the wicked witch’s skin was green because they were having some sort of issue with her wearing all black with the technicolor and they needed her skin to stand out next to it

Good video, I like the depth of it, however I want to correct the example about Viy as a "russian novel", because it is in fact novel written by the author of Ukrainian descent, it is set in Ukraine and based on Ukrainian folklore. The life story of Gogol, the author of the novel, is very nuanced regarding his national identity, considering the times he live in, but it is still imo must be stated that Viy belongs to Ukrainian culture as it is speaking about Ukrainians(I mean, even the names of characters in Ukrainian, Pannochka means "young lady, daughter of wealthy man or noble" and Viy literally means eyelash.) Also quite interesting in this whole situation is difference of perception of witch in the Western Europe and in Ukraine in general. Due to the fact that we are located in the very diverse religious region(islam on the south, roman and greek catholicism on the west and north, orthodox on the north and east, and all of them has specific paganic roots), personal religious paths of many people were very unorthodox and much more acceptable by society, comparing to the west. So, considering that, Ukrainians were and still kinda are neutral towards the witches, It's only when they bring harm to the crops or livestock etc, they are judged in folklore. And that's for me, kinda changes the whole perception of the Pannochka in the novel, since it is, to me personally at least, not talking about the witchcraft as the source of horror, but of the death, which is kinda leaning onto the vampire territory, if we're talking about the symbols behind the creatures of the night. Pannochka is to be feared not because she is a witch, but because she is dead, and the whole summoning of the creatures is more of the "Dance Macabre" type than devils from the hell of whatever. Therefore, while there is a great deal of the witch symbolism in her character, I really do think that she is kind of hybrid character, heavily leaning into the vampiric side rather than the witch one. P.S. Russians and their sympathizers dni

First I want to say thank you for this amazing analysis on the costume analysis of Witches. As you know, Witches have always fascinated me and I self-identify as one. I remembered when I first got into witches when I watched most of Disney's films, then later with the Hex Girls in Scooby Doo, Harry Potter and everything else that came after that. But the thing about witches in general is that they really had a long complex history. In the Ancient times, witches were originally medicine women, midwives, alchemists, advisors and oracles and they were trusted people in those times because the word "witch" meant "wise woman/person". When the rise of the Church came into power, it became an excuse to commit massacres and torture hundreds of people who didn't conform to their ways. But as much as we like to portray witches as either a god-fearing monstrous villain or the embodiment of female individuality and agency, many times the Witch is actually a human made into a monster by society's prejudices towards free-thinking women. It's like in that scene in "The Witch" where while we hear the witch's laugh in the barn, we also hear the mother laughing simultaneously while she's being poked by a raven. That shows that the "witch" could very well be any woman you know in your life, be it your mom, grandma, wife, sister or friend. The Witch lies within all of us. It's good that it's making a comeback and that more people can see how far the Witch has come throughout history. Also great video though!

Thank you YT recommendations for knowing me so well. This feels like a channel about to blow up.

Hoodoo practitioner here! This was absolutely lovely and I have subscribed! While similar too Vodun, I think we both need more positive representation. Honestly it's inspiring me to make a video on Hoodoo/Vodun stereotypes and fashion.

I did not come into this video expecting to see Goya, but can't say I'm surprised lol. He did draw a lot of witches (los caprichos was a series made to criticise spanish society in his time so it made sense) Honestly I'm really enjoying your videos 😭

Great takes! As for the worry over symbols on Winnie's dress: it's not going to summon a demon, but could draw negativity and bad luck. That's the last thing you want to put on your best actress! I'm speaking as a witch, btw. Symbols are my preferred form of magic. I also love that they created new symbols for the dress with such care in mind, it created new magic energies and likely contributed to the enduring legacy of Hocus Pocus. Well, maybe the real magic came from Bette Midler!

I was absolutely not expecting Nobuyoshi Araki to come up in this video, lol

... why "the love witch" is one of the best indie films ever made!!!

For the green skin, there is “green with envy.” This phrase dates back to the ancient Greeks, who believed jealousy could trigger bile production and turn skin slightly green, a sign of sickness.

Emma Rossums wardrobe in Beautiful creatures was stunning Like Tim Burtons Sleepy Hollow with Christina Ricci All of the woman were amazingly dressed.

Great analysis! I actually don't think the overtly feminine aesthetic is inadvertent at all - I'd argue that witches represent this fear of powerful women via the perversion of everything that women "should" be. Associations with objects of cooking and cleaning, the hearth, but they're not using it to sustain, they're using it to blight and corrupt. They have hovels in the dangerous woods which should represent shelter and safety, but don't. Instead of nurturing children they lure them away and eat them. The symbolism around witches take all of these traditionally "feminine" associations and twist them into something evil. So then, it makes a lot of sense that our cultural aesthetic associations for the *fashion* of witchcraft would lean heavily toward the feminine as well.

As a witch, I want to offer an alternative perspective to your statement that it's "surreal" and "ridiculous" to not want to use actual religious/spiritual symbols. It would be HIGHLY offensive, in several cultures, if you did use those symbols. Unless you're practicing, you don't always know what these symbols mean and you can unintentionally reinforce harmful stereotypes and create an unwanted level of discomfort for your viewers. You don't have to believe in magic to be respectful to those who do. I think more people should have the same deference that Vogt did when making those choices. Also, I used to believe that the Wicked Witch's green skin was because they were trying to get the most use out of the movie being in technicolor and, where that might still be partly true, I think we should collectively agree that the choice was still rooted in antisemitism. Nazi propaganda films would depict Jewish people as having different colors of skin to show them as scary and monstrous. Green was pretty common and so the choice of having the pointed nosed, haggish witch having green skin was as damaging as it was iconic.

Oh! Hi lol I just finished watching your vampire fashion video and I liked what you had to say

10:00 this is a concept also nicely represented in The School For Good And Evil, especially the movie. The main characters’ looks are an important plot device in multiple instances and sometimes directly correlate to the moral alignment of the person. Very interesting considering the message of the story.

If you do another episode, I'd love to see either werewolf, fairy, or menfolk fashion ngl

iNSTANT lIKE!!

Witches, historical fashion and fashion analysis, wrapped up in a video by one of my current favourite video essayists, this was just the video I needed while sick! 💜

I've never heard about green being the color of the devil, but I do know that green was considered the color of the faeries. And there is definitely an association between witches and the fae. And speaking of fae, the hag image of the witch being ugly I think can indicate their being monstrous, inhuman. In fact hags can be considered a kind of fae, hence Jenny Greenteeth (and Meg Mucklebones, the swamp hag from the movie Legend). In certain depictions witches are considered inhuman beings, if not fae. As far as masculine clothing wearing witches, there are male equivalents to the female witches in American Horror Story. And there is the movie The Covenant....

I remember "Kunksmoor". An estonian kids cartoon of a witch who lived on a Island alone. (she had interesting outfits when she moved to the city. Looking over the top and camp.)

I’ve heard the green skin and crooked nose was a reference to antisemitism (a.k.a. Olive skin tone and a stereotypical “Jewish” nose. 😢 and, it can be argued that black and white magic also has some racial connotations. And, this is coming from a modern witch who is not Wiccan. And, btw, I have a degree in sociology.

Great video! I wanted to mention that in "Bell, Book and Candle" (spoilers for an almost 70 year old film), the witch protagonist wears pants, hangs out in a jazz bar with other witches (Jack Lemon!) and is a strong independent woman but when she falls in love with a mortal and renounces her witch self she starts wearing dresses and gets excited about being a housewife (you really can tell that was a 1950's movie).

You have to take Glinda's statement in context. Up until "The Wizard of Oz" was written, it was believed there were no "good" witches at all. Witches could only be evil. Baum was challenging society's ideas about women by creating powerful witches who were not evil, but worked for the good of their people. (Not to mention the fact that Oz was itself a matriarchy - the Wizard's rule was accidental, and he was only able to hang onto power because the hereditary ruler, Ozma, had been kidnapped and held prisoner for years.) So Glinda's assertion that only evil witches were ugly was a step _away_ from the misogyny of the time by implying that witches could, in fact, be beautiful at all. Keep that in mind next time you assume something is an insult when it's really a show of support.

Not me subscribing before even watching the video because I’m so excited about this.

Amazing and interesting video❤❤ P.S. about "Black Sunday " film: it is based on the book of Mykola Gogol who was Ukrainian author, not russian and this is Ukrainian heritage, not russian. Thank you

I know they're not all technically witches, but considering the film they were featured in, what are your thoughts about the "witch" characters in "Scooby-Doo and the Witch's Ghost"?

The white witches dreads, as narnia, is based on native pre Christian European culture. Dreads were worn in the Nordic and Celtic region. The dreads are not questionable at all. (I’m Jamaican fyi)

What?? No Endora?? Her influence seen definitely in Hocus Pocus. I think she's the first real fashionable witch.

What I find very interesting is what you said in the end about femininity and witchcraft, specifically feminine clothing being so present in our idea of what "a witch" looks like. I am currently writing a story in which I have a gender fluid witch character who's more male than female in pronouns and body but is extremely androgynous otherwise. He's also wearing mostly dresses and I like your theory about why might have subconsciously done that!

Amazing video, the amount of effort, and dedication this must’ve took. I love it. However, and I truly don’t understand why no one else is mentioning this. But maybe next time, skip over the word negro. It’s just you as a white woman using that word, it’s just a no for me. Overall amazing video though, love your work. ❤

Love the video and I agree with almost everything in it, except at 26:17. Saying "... nudity never needs to be shown and can always be implied..." gets a little too close to the Hays code idea that anything morally questionable should never be depicted on screen. Like "We can depict this unmarried couple are sleeping in the same bed! It's immoral!" I agree with the rest of the quote saying it's fair to question when a director makes the choice to depict nudity, but only because I think it's always fair to question anything a director does. You should be allowed to question any part of art.

I know they're not all technically witches, but considering the film they were featured in, what are your thoughts about the "witch" characters in "Scooby-Doo and the Witch's Ghost"?

make a siren/mermaid one!!

You SHOULD do a whole video on Suspiria 2018, yessss 39:17

7:26 I refuse to pronounce The Witch with a w. It’ll always and forever be vvitch to me

'Is Mary Poppins a witch?' Yes. Next question.

Girl you need to watch buffy the vampire slayer ur missing so so much fashion with vampires and witches esp from the 90s 😭🙏

Had to pause to say that, even though the 70s eye makeup wasn't quite what you'd've hoped for, as a femme who greatly appreciates other femmes, your cleavage was spectacular for that part of the video

I want to correct you, that “Viy” is actually a representation of the Ukrainian culture and mythology.

Panochka was dressed like a bride because she died before she got married. Yes, sometimes in eastern Europe unmarried girls who died can be burried dressed like brides, in white dress with a brides headdecoration.

this is my favorite video ever created thank you miss girl on film

Exceptional analysis!!! Bravo! Was amazed that you mentioned the Ukrainian folk horror film and also Blood on Satan's Claws! How the green color connects to witches or something evil.. loved it💚🖤

actually your makeup kooks like comical cartoonish eyes, in a delightful contrast to your mature sleek and seductive outfit that's no mistake, just a happy accident btw, love your purple multi-textured crochet sweater made of various types of yarn. v witchy indeed

Snow white, a tale of terror, is my favorite snow white movie ❤

Emmy Rossum got shafted on beautiful creatures, some of her best costumes (or atleast more interesting costumes) got cut out of the film! at Lena's party Ridley is wearing a mint green Chanel inspired skirt suit with a long bob (with 60's volume) wig and matching pill box hat which gives a very Jackie O appearance. in more deleted materiel shes wearing a full lace basque with garters and stocking worn under a trench coat with a sleek straight black bob wig

Is there a video about werewolves or mermaids?

THIS is EXACTLY why i subscribe to your channel! i LOVE your topics and the way you present said topics!

No your makeup in every scene is so fun! You’re gorgeous too! I am a modern day witch- not like Wiccan but like women who used to be accused of witchcraft. I even have a black cat named October. Thanks for this awesome video

With the while accidentally using an evil ancient symbol... While she could be referring to magic, she could've also meant using something akin to the swastika from a time hundreds or thousands of years ago that wasn't widely recorded but certain groups would still take great offence at seeing. Doesn't really matter I suppose, just though I'd throw out a more mundane possible explanation than accidentally summoning a demon through costuming.

Need a list of all the movies featured in this vid!

you've helped me immensely with writing my diploma work on witches and ther clothing in cinema. thank you, thank you, may you live in happiness and remain free of worries forever

Thank you for showing a variety of films! There are many that I haven't seen or heard of. Hooray for Summerween!

I would absolutely love if this became a series! I discovered your channel through the vampire costume video and thought the way you presented everything was so informative but also entertaining! keep up the amazing work!

Please tell me your “thin villainous lips” is from Katya Zamo 😜

Wow... imagine now if the Witch of the West WASN'T green after all this iconography surrounding that one simple creative decision "like a froggy, ferny cabbage, the baby is unnaturally... purple!!"

I really appreciate your work, I love all the research that you do. Please keep it up!!

As a puertorican with olive toned skin, green looks best on me. Therefore, I must be a witch! Ah-Ha!!! Religious science, FOOLproof!!!

What about the witches in the opening scene of "The Beastmaster"?

I have basically binged watched all your videos in less than two days! Loved them all! I'm excited to watch the next ones :)

I think The VVitch is the first time I got freaked out by the concept of an antagonistic witch. Not just the baby mushing and goat titty suckling - although still, f’ck! 😮 - but the primal chanting at the end. It sounded so primal and pissed off. Really should watch that again, it’s been a while

First flying on a broomstick or animal is transvection. 2nd the brush part faces forward 3rd A transvection is a linear mapping of a vector space over a skew-field with certain properties. It generates the special linear group and induces a projective or affine transformation in the projective space. (How they fly with anything also Saints did too.)

It's like you go in my brain to find a video I will love! Adore Witch fashion, especially the practical magic and the witches of east wick! Also the suspiria outfits, madame blanc's red dress especially!

I think the biggest overview is that you didn't cover Baba Yaga, played by Georgy Millyar in Vasilisa the Beautiful (1940), Jack Frost (1964), Fire, Water, and Brass Pipes (1968) and The Golden Horns (1973). Granted, all those movies are deeply interwined with Russian Fairy tales, so covering them might've taken a whole video of It's own :p

If Marie Laveau’s a witch, then so are nuns. I’m not saying I disagree, but we just need some consistency. And Mary Poppins is 100% witch

You should see Hocus Pocus fantastic

a french youtube channel (occulture) did a video on the salem witch tial and mentioned a lot of misinformation on the event as they explored a lot of theories as to why it happened, including a half an hour segment on a theory they created themselves based on their understanding of the source material they could get their hands on. Accordin to them it's suspicious to say the least that all of the accused parties were enemies or affiliated with enemies of the putnam family, an affluent family (whom the head of was a reverend) in the village who saw their estate threatened by said enemies in the few years leading up to the trials. The theory reaks a bit of conspiracy theories and i won't assume it was the truth until it's backed up a source more knowledgable in the matter than a couple of filmmaker (who worked a lot on the project don't get me wrong) but it's a storyline i find really compelling and fascinating to explore

19:49 all the indecisive folks and parents who change multiple times a day looking real wealthy rn 🙏🏻😂

So, my critiques come from a man who IS a practicing Warlock (Occultist) and also holds a degree in fashion design & production (me). I understand this in a very different way than most people do. It's clear that you have done a lot of research, however, there are somethings I'd like to clear up. This is in no way to shame or bully you, I want to make that very clear. On Occultism: The "Old Ways" include practices such as Paganism (which is what Christians stole and appropriated and perverted into 'Christianity"), Druidism and Stregheria, to name a few. There is also specific parts of Occultism that are considered religions by those who practice them such as Satanism (created by Anton LaVey) because it literally has a book a scripture (The Satanic Bible) as well as what we call "companion books" and Thelema (created by Aleister Crowley). Those "symbols" are called Sigils and they all mean different things in the Occult. Sigils range from the Pentagram (a five pointed star), Pentacle (Pentagram in a circle), Hexagram (six pointed star that was created by Aleister Crowley), The Ouroboros, The Leviathan Cross, The Sigil of Lucifer, etc. Even the Christian Cross and the Star of David are considered sigils. They date as far back as the Egyptian Hieroglyphs, Runes and even The Zodiacs. The costume designer for Hocus Pocus DID actually do her research. If you place a sigil on a specific part of your body or if your drawing a pentagram on the floor to summon (conjure) an entity, if certain things do not align with the directions of North (Earth), East (Air), South (Fire), West (Water) and you speak your lines or dialogue, YES you could accidentally summon something. As an Occult practitioner I never speak the words of a spell out out unless I actually intend on casting it and putting out that energy into the universe. There is also a lot of philosophy behind Occultism, such as "The Rule of Three" in Wicca that states "whatever energy you put out into the universe (be it positive or negative) has the ability to come back to you three times as strong" or "As Above, So Below" meaning that whatever you do and whatever energy you put out in the plane of the living will ripple and echo into the higher planes and the lowers planes. In media: I very rarely see Occultism accurately represented in media. Films like The Witch and The Conjuring 3: The Devil Made Me Do It are what I would consider to be somewhat accurate representations of witchcraft in cinema. When it comes to designing costumes for these characters (from a creative and historical POV) using black is most common because it represents darkness and fear (particularly if you are working with a character that primarily practices Baneful Magick) which you did mention. From a historical POV, Occultist are often depicted wearing black because black is a shade that banishes and protects one from negative energy. Just as Priests wear white to represent god, heaven, the angels, etc. This ties into, "Are you a good witch or a bad witch?". If your analyzing works such as The Wizard of Oz, Oz The Great & Powerful (2013), Wicked or even Ryan Murphy's AHS: Coven, the costume designers try to create a very clear juxtaposition of "good and evil". Color is a huge component of this process because it has roots in the Occult. Bette Midler's velvet look from Hocus Pocus is green because it represents a witch whose primary practice is green magick (plant magick and potions). If we're talking about Satanism (which is in direct opposition to Christianity) red is commonly used the represent Satan. However, red also represents love, the heart, blood, masculinity and sex (this is from a historical POV). It's always interesting to see and hear other people's take on Occultism. I would LOVE to see more representation of Warlocks in media because the Occult is open to everyone (not just to women) and does not impose limits and rules on who can practice and how they can practice. It's made me feel very powerful and more in control of my life as I get older. And YES, I do agree with you. Us Witches and Warlocks do dress for ourselves and we have every right to wear a pentagram necklace just as a Christian has the right to wear The Cross or a Jew has the right to wear The Star of David. These are just my thoughts.😊

I love clothes, i love costumes, i love witches! I wrote my final degree essay on suspiria and had to dig so deep to find info on the costumes! Your video on the film helped me get my head round the themes :))

TBH as a practicing rootworker, the idea of what we're meant to look like is so so SO annoying lol. Witches were just people the public didn't like. Or the neighborhood midwife whose money was made without a man's help through delivering babies and providing herbal remedies. The whole history is so frustrating. I'm Afro-Indigenous and my entire EXISTENCE is suspicious to people in general. The history of "witchcraft" is so muddy and buried because so much of history is about MEN. Kiki Rockwell plays with this a lot in her music videos and i'm disappointed you didn't really include her work given y'all live in the same country (she was born here in northern California but has lived in Aotearoa so long you can't tell lmao). If it's on IMDb it still counts as film :P I guess I'm demonic then because green is my favorite color and I LOVE nature. Anyway: wouldn't have known the makeup looked bad to you had you not said anything, so maybe just don't worry about it (I think it looks fine, you're staring at yourself all day, we aren't)

Julian Sands played in a movie called Warlock (1989?) He played a male witch in the movie who escaped to the 20th century for the 17th to of course destroy the world. Also, The Covenant (2006) with Sebastian Stan. I have seen Warlock the costume was 16th/ 20th century men's dress but not The Covenant, so I don't know what kind of costume they wore other than 21st century. These are the only male witch movies I can think of unless you include Harry Potter Series which I have also never seen. Was not a big fan of the books.

Has there ever been a movie about men being witches/warlocks?

I have not heard of some of these older movies or some 20teen movies. but i should this was cool. I just realised that Gomez and Beetle Juice wear the same stripped suit??? Also what was that Beetle Juice looking character in the Wiz (big nose ans glasses)? And you really glossed over MJ in a witch movie????? PS-it wasnt that 90's teens couldnt get wierd clothing they were just as easy to find no issues. we bought clothes like anyone in a shop, less by cataloge and nothing online like these days.