Jenna Ortega—Hollywood’s reluctant It-girl—returns with Wednesday Season 2 (August 6), but it’s her off-screen velvet-and-steel aesthetic (and refusal to play by Hollywood’s rules) that’s truly spellbinding.
The Unapologetic Gothicism of Jenna Ortega
Let’s be clear: Jenna Ortega didn’t just wear black in Wednesday—she weaponized it. That razor-sharp fringe, the deadpan glare, the now-iconic Wednesday dance that sent TikTok into a collective swoon? Pure alchemy. But off-screen, Ortega’s style is a quieter rebellion—a mix of Dior’s polished elegance and downtown LA’s frayed-edge cool.
Take her recent Fabulous cover shoot: a structured blazer (Saint Laurent, spring 2025) paired with a vintage Beetlejuice-inspired corset (hello, Tim Burton synergy). No frills, no apologies. “I got sick of my own face,” she told Variety, referencing her 2024 ubiquity—Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Dior campaigns, that controversial Miller’s Girl scene. Yet here she is, grinning through gritted teeth on another magazine cover.
Fashion as Armor
Ortega’s red-carpet evolution mirrors her career—calculated, with a hint of mischief. At the Beetlejuice Beetlejuice premiere, she channeled Winona Ryder’s Lydia Deetz with a custom Rodarte gown: jet-black taffeta, spiderweb embroidery, and a neckline sharp enough to draw blood. “Gothic romance, but make it annoyed,” quipped The Cut.
But it’s her street style that’s most revealing. Paparazzi shots from Reykjavik (where she briefly fled post-Wednesday burnout) show her in oversized hoodies and combat boots—a far cry from Disney’s Stuck in the Middle. “I’m not here to be palatable,” she told Harper’s Bazaar, shrugging off the pressure to conform.
The Method Behind the Macabre
Ortega’s aesthetic isn’t just aesthetic. It’s a middle finger to Hollywood’s cookie-cutter starlet mold. Consider:
- Dior Beauty Campaign (2024): Smudged kohl liner, bare lips—a “no-makeup makeup” look that somehow felt dangerous.
- Death of a Unicorn Press Tour (2025): A deconstructed Prada suit, one sleeve rolled up to reveal a Single White Female-inspired armband tattoo (fake, but the message was real).
- Casual Eats in LA: A Scream-worthy twist—blood-red nails clutching an iced coffee, because even horror queens need caffeine.
The Legacy Builds
With Wednesday Season 2 days away and Single White Female (co-starring Taylor Russell) in production, Ortega’s grip on pop culture is tightening. But ask her about fame, and she’ll grimace: “Former child stars have a jaded way about us.”
So, is Jenna Ortega the new goth icon—or just a 22-year-old who’s really good at saying no? Either way, her fashion (like her career) refuses to be pigeonholed.
That rumored Johnny Depp dating scandal? Debunked. But Ortega’s response—“I don’t know that person”—might just be her best line yet.
Share what you think