Hidden in the Trees: Your Guide to the Dark Forest Aesthetic

Shadowy trees hide the face of the low-hung moon, and mysterious creatures stalk the underbrush. The dark woods beckon travelers to venture into their depths and emerge transformed–or get devoured in the process. 

Mysteries of the woods have haunted the human imagination for centuries, as people told each other stories about what was lurking beneath the forest canopy. The dark forest is a site of horror, magic, and fascination–and a powerfully evocative source of style inspiration.

Let’s explore the dark forest aesthetic and find some creative ways to incorporate it into fashion, home decor, and everyday life. 

What Is the Dark Forest Aesthetic?

Victorian poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson famously wrote that nature is “red in tooth and claw.” Like Tennyson’s dark vision, this aesthetic emphasizes the bloody, untamed side of Mother Nature.

The dark forest aesthetic–also known as dark naturalism–evokes mysterious woods and the cycles of nature. It brings to mind gruesome fairytales and enchanting glades, as well as the endless wheel of birth and death.

The woods are home to witches, spirits, and fearsome beasts, but are also a site of beauty and contemplation.

To celebrate the savage beauty of nature, this aesthetic incorporates visual motifs associated with forests (such as trees, flowers, and animals) and puts a dark, gothic spin on them. It has some overlap with the natural imagery of dark cottagecore, but the natural world in the dark forest aesthetic is wild rather than cozy and domestic. It uses dark colors and nature-inspired patterns to celebrate the darker side of nature. 

Dark Fairytales and Forest Folklore

Dark forest imagery is often inspired by stories such as Grimm’s fairytales like Little Red Riding Hood and Hansel and Gretel. It can also take inspiration from folklore about mysteries and monsters lurking in the woods, such as the Baba Yaga of Slavic tales with her traveling house and the ravenous, cannibalistic Wendigo in Algonquian mythology.

In these stories, heroes and heroines venture into the deep woods, often becoming lost and emerging transformed after encountering the horrors and mystical beings that lurk there. The dark forest is a site of transformation, a place to encounter the unknown. 

Forest Folktales

Forests are associated with the spirit realm in many mythological traditions. The “enchanted forest” is a mystical motif that occurs in dozens of folktales from across the world. In English and Irish stories, falling asleep in the afternoon under certain malevolent trees could transport unwary travellers to the land of the fairies, as could stepping into a ring of mushrooms. 

In Arthurian legend, the unkillable Green Knight emerges from the woods to challenge Sir Gawain to a deadly game. In Shakespeare’s plays, the forest is a place where the everyday social order gets thrown out the window, where women dress as men, fairies interfere in the lives of mortals, and adventure awaits. Drawing on these traditions, J.R.R. Tolkien filled Middle Earth with mystical forests with a mind of their own.

The forest inspires tales of darkness in cultures across the globe. Malevolent ghosts are believed to haunt the Aokigahara forest in Japan, also known as Suicide Forest, distorting time and space and feeding on despair. In Ghana and parts of West Africa, the woods are said to be haunted by the bloodthirsty Aswang with iron feet. Trees are also home to spirits in African traditions, and cutting them down causes unrest in the spirit world. 

For as long as humans have dwelled near the forest, they’ve invented tales about its dangers and mysteries. These lingering stories speak to the elemental fear and fascination associated with the dark woods.

Dark Forest Design Elements

Whether you’re decorating your home or putting a killer outfit together, you can take inspiration from the deep, dark woods that haunt your nightmares. Whether you live in the heart of the city or in nature’s embrace, there are so many ways you can bring the forest to you.

These are some images and materials that evoke the dark forest aesthetic:

• Bare branches

• Pine boughs

• Antlers

• Animal bones and skulls

• Dead leaves

• Ferns

• Spanish moss

• Wolves, deer, bears, etc.

• Spider webs

• Moths

• Ravens, owls, and other birds

• Mushrooms

• Dried flowers

• Deer hide

• Moonlight filtering through branches

• Misty pine-covered mountains

• Ivy and vines

• Campfires 

• Twisted trees

• Mist and fog

Dark Forest Fashion 

To create a dark forest vibe with your outfits, incorporate images, colors, and textures that are reminiscent of the deep, haunting woods. Trees, shadowy glades, forest animals, and whispering streams should be your inspiration.

Textures:

• Velvet

• Chenille and chunky knits (resembling moss and bark)

• Leather

• Open knit or sheer fabrics for a cobweb effect

• Embroidery

• Flowers

• Faux fur

• Feathers

Colors and Patterns:

• Black

• Brown

• Dark green

• Moss green

• Purple

• Burgundy/Crimson

• Ivory, white, and beige

• Dark floral and leaf patterns

• Subtle camouflage

• Mushroom patterns

• Animal print

• Dark plaids

• Paisley

• Flower and leaf embroidery

Imagery:

• Dark leaves and flowers

• Pine trees

• Forest animals

• Deer antlers

• Animal skeletons

• Moths and butterflies

Dark Naturalism Aesthetic Outfits

There are more ways to create a dark naturalism aesthetic than just using colors and patterns, though. The outfits you put together can also evoke dark woods and wild nature. Think about putting together pieces that you could wear deep in the forest–clothes that are comfortable and practical while also having a lot of dark style. 

Here are some combinations that will help your inner dark naturalist shine through:

• A dark forest shirt with a flannel button down

• Patterned tunic or shirt dress with leggings and boots

• A long duster or jacket in a floral or leaf pattern with shorts 

• Dark floral maxi dress with a leather jacket or chunky sweater

• Minidress in a dark forest pattern with thigh high socks and brown boots

• Animal t-shirt tucked into jeans or a dark midi skirt

• Skeleton shirt layered with a dark denim or velvet jacket

Media with a Dark Forest Aesthetic

Need more dark fashion inspiration? Here are some movies and TV shows that incorporate a dark forest aesthetic:

• Annihilation

• Twin Peaks

• The Blair Witch Project

• The Witch

• Ravenous

• Pan’s Labyrinth

• Yellowjackets

• The Forest

• The Ritual

• The Green Knight

• Hannibal (2013)

• Prey

• The Company of Wolves

• The Howling

• Brotherhood of the Wolf

The dark forest aesthetic celebrates nature at its most frightening, majestic, and untamed. Once you step into the shade of its trees, you’ll commune with the unknown.