Fashion in Motion: Gothic - A Night of Record

October 2003

Fashion in Motion is a series of live catwalk events presented at the V&A. Featuring some of the greatest designers of our time, Fashion in Motion brings catwalk couture to a wider audience by modelling it against the beautiful backdrop of the Museum.

On Friday 31 October 2003, the Victoria and Albert Museum staged its fifth Day of Record. Day of Record is a series of events cataloguing applied and decorative arts in relation to the body and the Goth style was featured on this Friday evening. The Goth style is one that has been significant for many years now. With influences taken from past, present and beyond, it has had an enduring appeal.

During the Gothic Halloween Friday Late the V&A placed two photographers in the Sculpture gallery where they photographed queues of people against a dramatic architectural backdrop between 6pm and 10pm. Participants were also asked to fill out a questionnaire to describe their style and to help convey what it is to be a Goth, laying to rest popular misconceptions about Goth culture.

Friday Late is a Contemporary event held on the last Friday in every month. As well as Night of Record, the V&A presented an evening of ghoulish pleasure that included; Halloween make-overs by MAC, the Gothic magician Dr John, tarot card readers roaming the museum, guided tours looking at the V&A’s most macabre and chilling objects, Slimelight DJ Steve Weeks, and a Victorian hearse awaiting visitors at the Museum entrance. The Halloween Society, in association with the ICA, presented Gothic Shorts, a selection of dark and macabre short films from new directors - including a short vampire movie and two chapters adapted from the cult 19th century novel by Comte de Lautréamont, Maldoror. Plus, Liverpool darkwave metallers Unsanctum created a new musical soundtrack to the classic silent film The Cabinet of Dr Caligari. To view images recording the Gothic Halloween Friday Late use the Record of the Night option in the menu to the left of the screen.

Below are a selection of images showing just some of the events taking place for the Gothic Halloween Friday Late.