Once upon a time, in a small village nestled in a dense forest, there lived a wicked witch. This witch was known for her evil ways and her notorious reputation spread far and wide. However, there was one thing that set her apart from other witches - her bicycle. The wicked witch had a peculiar bicycle that was unlike anything the villagers had ever seen before. It was a dark shade of purple with intricate, swirling patterns engraved on its frame. The handlebars were twisted and crooked, resembling the gnarled branches of a twisted tree.
Men’s Theatrical Shoes, circa 1870-1900
Deborah Everton, the film s costume designer, had to consider several different factors when creating the costumes She had to depict them as witches, convey accessible teenage style, consider the limitations of their school uniforms, and keep each characters arc at the forefront, all at the same time. Putting lipstick on shifts my energy and as a Libra rising and Venus devotee; glamour is naturally part of my craft, regardless of what I wear, she says.
The handlebars were twisted and crooked, resembling the gnarled branches of a twisted tree. The wheels were large and made of thick rubber, providing a bumpy ride for anyone who dared to hop on. As wicked as the witch was, her bicycle held an odd fascination for the villagers.
Echoes from Salem: Witchy Fashions of the 17th Century
Whether you know it or not, you’re familiar with 17th century fashion. Our modern ideas of witch clothing trickled down to us from the 17th century, most notably from our fascination with the Salem witch trials of 1692. You see the 17th century all over the place this time of year! For example:
This little darling is a fairly classic, modern witch: pointed hat, “renaissance” dress, and criss-cross “corset” lacing. This polyester masterpiece bears little resemblance to anything we might normally consider historical, but the pieces are there; you just have to look!
The Dress
Our little purple witch is wearing a dress with a faux-stomacher front covered with silver rick-rack. In the 17th century, stomachers were an important part of a lady’s wardrobe. They held jacket-like bodices together and were often heavily decorated, especially with embroidery and gilt threads:
“Portrait of a Bride” by Johannes Cornelisz Verspronck, 1640
“Woman of the Stuyvesant Family” by an unknown artist, late 17th century (1670-1700)
The color black is also very 17th century. Black was the color of wealth, modesty, and respectable mourning, so it’s a bit surprising that the somber color was attached to witches. Most “witches” accused in the Salem trials and elsewhere were often of the lower classes and would not have been able to afford expensive black cloth. They would have worn something more along the lines of this:
“Woman Warming her Hands over a Brazier” by Maestro della Tela Jeans, late 17th century
“Peasant Interior” by the Le Nain Brothers, 1642
The criss-crossing rick-rack mimics the lacing pattern of a pair of stays. Here is a pair of 1660s stays with sleeves that shows the criss-cross front lacing modern costume manufacturers have come to consider standard:
Stays and Busk, circa 1660
These wouldn’t have been outerwear for wealthier women, but would have been under the bodice. A lower class woman would not have had such fancy stays. Instead, she would have worn a reed or leather pair of stays over a chemise and skirt.
The Apron
Another 17th century aspect of the modern purple witch dress is the apron. Aprons were universal in 16th, 17th, and 18th century fashion. Everyone wore them, even if they were wealthy and never cooked a meal in their life!
“Citizen’s Daughter” by Wenceslaus Hollar, circa 1643
It’s especially fitting that the girl wearing the purple witch outfit has an apron on because it was standard practice in the 1600s for a child under 6 to wear an apron constantly to protect their skirts.
The Hat
Nothing says “witch” like a tall, cone-shaped hat! It’s been a Halloween witches’ staple since the 19th century, especially during the Edwardian era when costume balls and Halloween parties became popular.
Antique Postcard Design
Girl Dressed in a Witch Costume, circa 1880-1905
The photo of the young lady above shows how the traditional Halloween witch morphed from a variety of influences. Her dress is very 18th century (complete with quilted petticoat and fichu), while she herself is very Victorian. In addition, there’s that ever-present pointed hat! The hat style is undeniably 17th century. The tall, conical shape is derived from the capotain: a felted hat popular with both men and women since Elizabethan times.
“Head of a Man with a Pointed Hat” by Adriaen Brouwer, circa 1630
These hats were worn by every level of society from rich to poor. These big, funny-shaped hats seem really comical to our modern eyes, but they were considered a common essential for protecting your face from the sun and, for women especially, a sign of modesty. One of the best examples of the conical capotain is in this spectacular painting by John Michael Wright:
“Portrait of Mrs. Salisbury and her Grandchildren Edward and Elizabeth” by John Michael Wright, 1675
Detail of the Fabulous Hat
This is a later 17th century painting from 1675, but the style of the hat is a few decades earlier, around 1650-1660. The woman in the painting is not a witch; she’s just an upper class grandmother posing with her rambunctious and brightly-dressed grandchildren on a cool autumn day. But there’s no denying that it is the perfect historical example of what we’ve come to consider the ultimate symbol of Halloween magic!
The Shoes
Lastly, we come to the other wicked essential everyone loves to wear. The young girl in the purple witch costume is wearing simple Mary Jane flats, but for the adults, there is an iconic witch accessory with pointy toes and exaggerated heels…”Witch Shoes!”
As soon as they’re mentioned, everyone knows exactly what you mean. Just do a search on Google or Etsy and you’ll discover thousands of options that vary widely, but generally boil down to black, pointed or square toed, buckled or laced, and…well…witchy! Some of the styles are Edwardian in shape with straps and lacing. More traditional witches’ shoes, however, are 17th and early 18th century-inspired.
English Leather Shoe, circa 1640-50
Women’s Silk Shoes, circa 1700
Now I say “inspired” because over the centuries, the iconic buckle shoe had gone through many changes, each time re-emerging more cartoonish each time:
17th Century:
Men’s Leather Shoes, circa 1660
19th Century:
Men’s Theatrical Shoes, circa 1870-1900
20th Century:
English Underground Platform Shoes, circa 1974
21st Century:
Spider Buckle Witch shoes by Pleaser, circa 2012
So to Conclude:
The caricaturization, combination and evolution of the past is what defines our current ideas of Halloween, from witches and vampires to butterflies and hamburgers. Fashion itself is always evolving, so it makes sense that our “dress-up” fashions would follow suit. Being completely over-the-top is half the fun of dressing up in costume! You don’t want to be just a hippie. You want to be a technicolor, tye-dye-wearing, afro-topped, peace-sign-covered tower of disco glory…even if it’s not quite what you remember wearing back in the day. And you know what? That’s totally groovy.
Happy Halloween!
Another 17th century aspect of the modern purple witch dress is the apron. Aprons were universal in 16th, 17th, and 18th century fashion. Everyone wore them, even if they were wealthy and never cooked a meal in their life!
Many had tried to steal it in hopes of ridding their village of her wickedness. However, the bicycle seemed to have a life of its own - it would always find its way back to its owner, no matter how far it was taken. This only added to the mystery and allure surrounding the bicycle. Legend had it that the bicycle held magical properties, granting the witch extraordinary speed and agility. It was said that she could swiftly glide through the forest, leaving a trail of green smoke in her wake. Some even whispered that the bicycle could fly at night, taking the witch to distant lands where she would wreak havoc and cast spells on the unsuspecting. Despite its enchanting powers, the wicked witch's bicycle was also her downfall. The villagers, tired of living in fear, gathered their courage and devised a plan to trap the witch using her beloved bicycle. They lured her into a trap, using a trail of enchanted breadcrumbs to lead her to a hidden pit. As the wicked witch rode her bicycle, thinking she was invincible, she suddenly found herself falling into the pit. Her precious bicycle tumbled with her, crashing onto the ground. The villagers quickly covered the hole, effectively trapping the witch and her bicycle. With the wicked witch finally defeated, life in the village returned to normal. The bicycle, now abandoned and rusty, was kept as a reminder of the witch's reign of terror. It stood as a symbol of the power of unity and bravery against evil. Though no one dared ride it, the villagers understood the importance of never underestimating the power of wickedness - for even an innocent bicycle could become a weapon in the wrong hands..
Reviews for "Wicked Witch Bicycle: Embrace the Spooky Spirit of the Season"
1. Emily - 2 stars:
I was really disappointed with the "Wicked Witch Bicycle". The story felt forced and the characters were underdeveloped. It lacked the magical and captivating elements that I was expecting from a book about a wicked witch. The plot felt predictable and the writing style was mediocre at best. Overall, it just didn't live up to the hype for me.
2. Michael - 1 star:
I found "Wicked Witch Bicycle" to be incredibly boring and poorly written. The story dragged on and there wasn't enough action or excitement to keep me engaged. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it hard to relate or care about their journey. The pacing was also slow, and I found myself constantly checking the page count, hoping for it to end. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for a thrilling witch-themed adventure.
3. Sarah - 2 stars:
"Wicked Witch Bicycle" was a major letdown for me. The concept sounded interesting, but the execution fell flat. The writing style was dry and lacked the enchanting and immersive quality that I look for in fantasy books. The plot was disjointed and didn't flow well, with random subplots that didn't add much to the story. Overall, it felt like a wasted opportunity to create a truly magical and captivating tale, and I couldn't help but feel disappointed.
4. John - 2 stars:
I was really excited to read "Wicked Witch Bicycle," but it just didn't live up to my expectations. The storytelling felt unpolished and the dialogue was cliché and unrealistic. The characters, including the wicked witch, lacked depth and their actions and motivations often didn't make much sense. The pacing was also inconsistent, with slow sections that dragged on and sudden bursts of action that felt forced. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and wouldn't recommend this book to others.
5. Lauren - 1 star:
I struggled to finish "Wicked Witch Bicycle" as I found it to be poorly written and confusing. The plot was convoluted and hard to follow, with unnecessary twists that made the story more confusing than engaging. The characters were forgettable and lacked any real development, and the dialogue was stilted and unnatural. The world-building was also lacking, as I never felt fully immersed in the magical elements of the story. Overall, I was highly disappointed and wouldn't recommend this book to anyone.