Femme Fatale

A Femme Fatale is a mysterious, intelligent, beautiful, and seductive woman whose charms ensnare anyone who meets her, often leading them into deadly traps and webs of crime. People who adhere to the Femme Fatale aesthetic try their best to embody the traits of the classic femme fatale archetype, which leads to a lot of crossover with the Baddie aesthetic; with one of the key differences between the two is the Femme Fatale has an air of mystery and elegance to her, whereas the Baddie follows a more "what you see is what you get" philosophy. Femme Fatale also influences Dark Coquette, with the latter having more of a youthful Nymphet vibe to it.

History[]

The Femme Fatale (also referred to as a Vamp,^[1] Maneater, among several other titles) is a stock character that came into prominence with the film noir movie genre and dime novels of the 20th century. The most prominent codifier is Brigid O'Shaughnessy in the most famous film noir, The Maltese Falcon (1941), in which she uses her beauty as a distraction and murders the protagonist's partner.^[2] Femme Fatale means Fatal Woman in French, referencing the actions of this character trope. These days, there are also most male characters in media that break the gender stereotypes and embody the "Femme Fatale" trope too, starting from the late 10s/early 20s with which they can be referred to as the "Homme Fatales".

Personality[]

A Femme Fatale embodies the seductive and mysterious traits of a woman, normally avoiding giving information about themselves. Femme Fatales are typically not the emotional type and tend to keep their emotions outwardly neutral and ambigious. They normally don't have long relationships but if they do their significant other is either her partner in crime or her submissive(or both). Their main goal is to entice and use. Femme Fatales have to be smart, quick witted, and independant. If a Femme Fatale seduces and then kills several men, she becomes a Black Widow.

Visuals[]

The colour red (e.g. blood, lipstick/make-up, etc.)
Black and white (referncing/due to the film noir era when the character archetype gained distinction)
Dark color schemes
Ambiguity/mystery (e.g. not showing the characters face, fake names, etc.)
Easily concealed weapons (e.g. knives, small handguns, spy-like firearms, etc.)
Wealthy backgrounds and possessions
Alcohol and cigarettes (which were typically shown as alluring/desirable in the 1940s-1950s)

Fashion[]

Outfits[]

A femme fatale will be known to wear dark, sexy, well-cut and form-fitting clothes. Black, dark reds, dark emerald, and dark blue are commonly seen colors in the femme fatale wardrobe, outfits being largely monochromatic, patternless, and smooth.

Bold coloured silk cocktail dresses/ballgowns
Fitted blouses
Leather pants
The Little Black Dress
Fur coats
Women's suits, possibly without a shirt layered beneath
Very expensive clothes (couture)

Accesories[]

A powerful sense of self and a sharp mind are just as important accessories as any dress. Pair your look with high heels, walk in like you're the hottest person in every room, and you're well on your way to embodying the spirit of the femme fatale.

Bold red lipstick
Heavy gold jewellery
Concealed thigh holsters (often holding a gun or a knife)
Tacticlip
Musky signature scent
Pocket mirror

Stores[]

Media[]

Music[]

Music for this aesthetic is based on the personality traits of the femme fatale. Genres for this aesthetic are diverse and can be from the perspective of the femme fatale or someone who encountered a femme fatale.