Cat Deeley delivers two trends in one - her burgundy, lace-trimmed dress is the ultimate do-it-all, autumn design
Drawing inspiration from Practical Magic 2, Cat Deeley's gothic romance dress is dreamy
Cat Deeley's outfits always feel very timely, and her latest look on This Morning appeared to tap into the gothic romance trend, echoing the style of Practical Magic 2, the nostalgic 90s movie, that has recently made a return.
On 14th September, Cat wore the now sold-out Fern satin jacquard midi dress by Rixo, in a rich wine hue with black lace accents, which made for an elegant, gothic romance-inspired, autumnal look. She paired the midi with some black knee-high boots.
While we don’t know whether Cat has watched Practical Magic 2 yet, this outfit is hinting that she is just as excited about the revival as we are; in fact, there are outfits from Practical Magic 1 that we still think about. We knew, right from the first teaser, that its release would be influencing autumn outfit ideas, and, as well as being a core autumn/winter fashion trend for 2026, it seems Cat Deeley is enjoying revisiting this cult classic too.
While Cat's Rixo dress is currently sold out, this midi from the brand is incredibly similar. It's exclusive to Net-A-Porter, and echoes classic Rixo styles. Like Cat's dress, it has a smooth, satin finish and is trimmed with intricate lace for a delicate finishing touch.
Dialling up the autumnal romance, this Rixo midi is made from a sumptuous silk velvet, with lace trim offering textural contrast at the neckline and on the fluttery cap sleeves. Cut to Rixo's signature bias cut, this rich wine hue embodies one of the biggest autumn/winter fashion colour trends for 2026, but it's also available in black.
Sitting on a mid-height block heel and boasting Carvela's All Day Long comfort technology, these knee-high boots will fast become a wardrobe staple. Thanks to their sleek, foot-hugging design, you can rely on them to elevate any outfit this season, from dresses to jeans.
Just as deep, rich and elegant as burgundy, chocolate brown is a great choice for autumn. The lace trim emulates Cat's Rixo piece, all while staying under a £100 price tag. Another trending colourway, this piece will work well with other neutral shades such as black, navy, tan or cream.
With cap sleeves, an empire waist and lace trims, this Nobody's Child dress is a great alternative to Cat's look. Its burgundy hue is rich, while the relaxed skirt allows you to dress this style down as well as up for versatile wear. The block colouring makes it easy to pair with a secondary hue of your choice.
A chunky, mid heel offers these faux-leather boots elevation while still ensuring stability and comfort for day-to-day wear, making them a great choice of shoe if you prefer a lower heel or want a pair of boots you can wear for nearly any occasion.
The gothic romance look is perfect for autumn, with its moody hues of rich black and dark jewel tones like burgundy, oxblood, wine and plum reflecting the darker days of the season. To offset these deep colours, luxe textures like the silk of Cat’s dress can add a subtle vibrancy and elegance to bring a feminine flair to the palette – and lace accents are always a welcome addition to bring in some tactile contrast.
By styling her dress with a pair of leather boots, which are an absolute staple in capsule wardrobes over autumn, Cat brought a more wearable spin to its dressed-up style and showed that, despite the occasion-ready design of some midi dresses, they can be adapted to work for more dress codes than you might first think.
Her boots grounded the dress for a more daytime-appropriate look, while their black leather added a vampy touch, and we can easily see this look working for date night outfits as well as party attire this season. Play around with your own footwear, swapping out Cat’s boots for court pumps, ballet flats or trendy kitten heels to bring a new feel to statement dresses this season.
