Jenna Ortega’s Moody and Rebellious Astrid Deetz and her Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Outfits
It has taken almost four decades but this September (2024) the wait is finally over…
At last, with the Day-o, Day-o’s ringing out loud and clear, it is time to return to the quaint and charming town of Winter River, and its portal to the afterlife, in Tim Burton’s soon-to-be cult classic Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Yet even with Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara and Michael Keaton returning in their original 1988 roles, this time around there is a new leading lady in town. And Jenna Ortega has made sure that Astrid Deetz and her Beetlejuice Beetlejuice outfits are the star of this fantasy comedy horror.
Like Mother, Like Daughter
However that doesn’t mean that Astrid Deetz didn’t have big, and pretty chunky boots, to fill. Especially if you remember back to the original Beetlejuice and our introduction to tortured and lonely teenager Lydia Deetz. Who it surprises nobody has become a legend in Winter River. The original Goth Girl played by a fifteen year old Winona Ryder, is still a firm favorite for cosplayers, so much so we even wrote you a guide to stealing her style (find it here).
Yet with a difficult mother and daughter relationship, full of ghosts, death and one or two killer Beetlejuice Beetlejuice outfits, when it comes to the Deetz ladies, it turns out that they really are more similar than Astrid might be willing to admit…
Astrid Deetz’s School Blazer and Plaid Skirt Throwback in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Moody and rebellious teenager Astrid Deetz, portrayed by the up-and-coming Queen of horror herself Jenna Ortega, doesn’t have a good relationship with her mother. And certainly doesn’t believe in ghosts.
So “Ghost House with Lydia Deetz” is just more fuel for the environmentally savvy teens school bullies. Yet this time around it might not be at Miss Shannon’s School for Girls, but we still get our first perfect throwback Beetlejuice fashion nod. With Lydia’s original dark blazer and plaid school skirt, given a modern twist with Astrids softer slate gray and burgundy matching formal look.
The New Goth Girl: Astrid’s Own Goth Girl Moment
Maybe it is just the morbid occasion, or the overwhelming grief of losing your father and grandpa, but Astrids Beetlejuice Beetlejuice outfits have their very own unmistakable Goth Girl moment at Charles’ funeral.
Almost overshadowing both her step-grandmother Delia and mother Lydia, the melancholy teenager goes dramatic in a full-length single breasted wool overcoat. Opting for a statement making deep, dark burgundy red, the perfect contrast to all the stark black around her. Finishing the look as only the daughter of the original Goth Girl could with a pair of equally bold chunky lace-up boots.
Jenna Ortega’s Marc Jacobs Heaven Modular Distressed Stripe Dress
Yet it isn’t just while attending the funerals of her dearly departed family members while back in a town obsessed with her ghost speaking mother, that Astrid has a melancholy air to her outfits.
Even her simple Heaven by Marc Jacobs striped dress with its mix of moody blues and browns and slightly more acidic reds and pinks has the grubby and disheveled feel of someone who just doesn’t care. The perfect ripped and distressed knitted mini-dress look of a teenager who might just exclaim that “sometimes I think life is harder” in response to her mothers sorrow at the death of her grandpa.
Astrid’s Oversized Denim Worker Jacket and Floral Midi-Dress in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Listed as a fantasy comedy horror, long-time Tim Burton collaborator Colleen Atwood knew exactly what she needed to do when it came to Astrid Deetz’s Beetlejuice Beetlejuice outfits.
Like Astrid’s vintage style oversized denim jacket, that she pairs with a subtle sunflower floral midi-dress that has more than a suggestion of Barbara Maitland about it. And if you don’t know who that is, maybe you better take a look at our guide to stealing Barbara’s style to get caught-up (find it here).
But true to Astrid’s character the floral print is dark, moody and melancholy, even before adding the washed out blue of her denim work jacket with its large pockets and contrast collar.
A Trip to the Afterlife and a Demure Silver Dress for Astrid Deetz
From an original movie full of everything from plaid school uniforms to black and white striped suits, there was one look that was a standout: teenage Lydia’s red Victorian inspired wedding dress. But not to be outshone by her mother, who revisits the statement look this time around, Astrid has her own flawless dress moment.
Simple, delicate and feminine, Astrid’s Marie Curie silver Halloween costume with its floaty a-line skirt, long sleeves and ruffle front bodice dress is in perfect contrast to the teenager’s shock and awe outfits. Yet no matter how demure the look, with its high neckline and flimsy fabric, Astrid is ready for the fight of her life, just like her female inspiration.
It is always risky to return and make a sequel to a cult classic, let alone nearly forty years after the original was released. But if there is one thing that Tim Burton, and in this case Colleen Atwood, thrive on it is the pressure to succeed. And with a cast including a returning Winona Ryder and Jenna Ortega, the young woman who is carving out a career as the queen of horror, it is a shock that the Beetlejuice Beetlejuice outfits manage to make quite such an impression.
However don’t just take our word for it, go for your own little trip down memory lane in Winter River. But whatever you do, don’t say his name three times…
