Wednesday Addams

Originally, the Addams Family was a group of nameless figures in Charles Addams's one-panel New Yorker cartoons. Morticia, Pugsley, Gomez and Wednesday Addams were only named when Addams created the 1960s sitcom. The character Wednesday was named after the nursery rhyme "Wednesday's Child," which states that children born on Wednesday are "full of woe" and have "far to go." Her middle name is Friday, I'm not sure why.

In the sitcom, Wednesday was six years old, and though she had certain macabre habits (like having pet spiders, for example) she was by no means homicidal or even deadpan, just...a little strange. She also seemed to possess superstrength, although she did not use it to hurt anyone save her father.

In a 1977 TV movie, Lisa Loring played an adult Wednesday Addams, who entertains party guests on her flute, and can "hear and understand coded help messages by bound-up members of the family, and dispatch help to free them." If the movie's twice as good as it sounds, it's one more film I won't be seeing.

Christina Ricci played Wednesday in The Addams Family and Addams Family Values, when she was eleven and thirteen years old, respectively. Ricci's deadpan delivery, doll-like features, and extremely pale skin made her perfect for the role. It was Ricci, more than any other actress, who popularized Wednesday Addams and inhabited the character.

In Addams Family Values, Wednesday goes to a camp for "privileged young adults." In one scene, she wears a black one-piece swimsuit, with white horizontal stripes. This contrasts well with the Jennifers, Michelles and Melissas at camp, who all wear orange bathing suits, while the boys all wear identical blue swim trunks. Her swimsuit is very 1910s or 1920s: a short-sleeved dress over a pair of shorts,

During this movie, Wednesday cracks a rare smile. It's actually more disturbing than it sounds. No, really, look:

You have taken the land which is rightfully ours. Years from now my people will be forced to live in mobile homes on reservations. Your people will wear cardigans, and drink highballs. We will sell our bracelets by the road sides, you will play golf, and enjoy hot hors d'oeuvres. My people will have pain and degradation. Your people will have stick shifts. The gods of my tribe have spoken. They have said, "Do not trust the Pilgrims, especially Sarah Miller.

Getting the Look

Do not smile unless you have a good reason, like a death or a natural disaster.
––From Wikihow's article, How to Cosplay as Wednesday Addams

Unlike her mother, Wednesday's style is very easy to copy or play off of, although you do need the right attitude. It's one of the most low-maintenance goth looks I know of. Of course, you have to have long hair, or at least a convincing wig.

You will need an old-fashioned, long-sleeved dress, preferably with a high neckline and a dark print. If this dress is vintage, consider having it tailored to better fit your body.

If it doesn't have a pointed white collar and cuffs, add them (or have them added when you get it tailored).

Wear black tights and black boots or shoes.

Wear makeup that makes your skin look pale. Subtle orange or coral lipstick optional.

That's it! You're done! Now stop smiling, unless you want to look like this:

Related Reading:

Morticia Addams

The Gothic and Lolita Bible

Goth Culture Misconceptions

Goth Hairstyles

Lydia Lunch's Autobiography

Black Lipstick

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