In the Matter of Masks and Midnight
There are many doors into the House. Some open with a key. Others, with a whisper. But on the night of the masquerade, the threshold is crossed not with words—
But with presence.
The Requiem is no ordinary gathering. It is a love letter to shadow and splendor. To the soft rustle of silk in a dim corridor. To the hush before a waltz. To secrets stitched between seams.
What, then, does one wear when stepping through the veil?
Let me offer guidance—
not commandments, but suggestions, as one who has seen many centuries of elegance pass through these halls.
THE ESSENCE
Think gothic romance:
Midnight hues, rich textures, heirloom lace. A touch of the tragic, a whisper of the divine. Velvet that remembers hands, satin that murmurs in candlelight, corsetry that holds more than bone and breath.
But this is not a reenactment. This is reverie. Let your attire honor the spirit of the era, not its constraints.
THE SILHOUETTES
Victorian silhouettes are welcome—sweeping skirts, cinched waists, high collars, and trailing sleeves. But equally welcome are modern ball gowns, tailored suits, and formalwear with a shadowed twist.
Tulle and silk. Brocade and leather. Something from the past reborn, or something that feels like it stepped out of a dream.
THE PALETTE
Black, of course. But also oxblood, midnight blue, tarnished gold, pewter, bone-white, forest green, bruised plum. Think of a cathedral at dusk. Think of forgotten gardens and thunderclouds.
THE MASK
Compulsory, naturally.
Whether simple and sinister or ornate and opulent—your mask is your talisman. It conceals and reveals. It transforms you into who you were always meant to be.
THE INVITATION IS FREEDOM
Whether you wear something stitched in another time or something sleek and modern—
what matters is intention. Adorn yourself in a way that makes you feel haunted… and holy.
You are not dressing for others. You are dressing for the moment.
We are not creating a costume party. We are summoning a world.
Let what you wear help us open the door.
Should you find yourself without suitable attire—fear not.
The House has always whispered its secrets to those who know where to look. Below, I’ve listed a selection of modern tailors, purveyors of enchantment, and artisans of the mask who understand the delicate balance of shadow and splendor.
They are not of the House, but they are… aware of it.
As for your mask—your talisman—seek what calls to you. Many have found theirs through the winding halls of Etsy or the ever-watchful gaze of Amazon.
For further inspiration—threads, silhouettes, and masks that echo the spirit of the Requiem—the House has curated a visual ledger.
You may peruse it here if you feel the pull.
