Calling all the Eccentric, Bohemian, Dark Academia types!

[LadyHenryofRawlinsonEnd]

Or 'Mad Art Teacher in Space', as a poster described herself in an archived MN style thread of old. I think it was about quirkiness, but many years ago now - thinking we need a new one?

Anyone wish to share pics, links, ideas, thoughts?

I love styles of the past, particularly the 20's mixed with a slight bit of soft, floaty 90's indie. I still wear long strappy indie dresses with my docs and a crochet cardi or scarf .
I don't do anything particularly wild to be honest, a fairly pared down version of bohemian with a passion for natural fabrics and floaty Japanese style dressing gowns in silk or embroidered cotton..

I'm 47, a painter (so wfh) and like to hover about in nature collecting twigs and weird stones. I should like to channel Gormenghast's Lady Fuschia (my more rustic side) or perhaps the fictional character Lolly Willows by Sylvia Townshend Warner (my 20's hermit bohemian side)...

I am currently urban based but dream of plans to escape to a small cottage surrounded by dusty books and too many plants like a character from an Iris Murdoch novel.
I'm not a hippy, exactly, but do prefer a bit more texture and creativity style wise. I also love people watching, but there seem to be less and less sub cultures or independent styles about these days.

I had a phase in my late 30's where I urged myself to conform to a very conventional, prescription-type wardrobe, (Breton tees, trench coat, 'current' jeans and expensive accessories like a cumbersome Mulberry bag - all shatteringly expensive) but quickly outgrew that

I can't locate much that I like in typical stores now, but do occasionally enjoy Toast or Plumo. I certainly don't stand out, but do prefer searching ebay, etc for unique, well made stuff, clothes that are very 'me' rather than dictated by passing trends. It is still quite difficult to source some items though, so would love to hear where others shop!

I also loved the Monty Don thread a while ago!

Anyone care to join me?

oops lolly willowes

It’s not really my style but I do love it on others and I’m going to hover around to see what links/pics come up!

Ooh watching , also a docs and long camisole dresses lover . I like big collars recently and dungarees my style leans to more casual sporty some days but love this look .

You sound amazing!
I love good fabrics, mixing style up - clumpy boots with feminine dresses, t shirts with silk dresses. I love Japanese style as well - simple shifts that are worn off the body.
I love cos, toast and a NZ designer called Kowtow

zuilly.uk

Glad it's not just me!

I can do prints if they are subtle, I also like tea dress and cami dresses with big boots peeping out underneath. On the slimmer side though so have to be careful I don't swamp myself, so many of the things I loe have a lot of volume.
Someone on S&B once mentioned 'Mori' style, so I googled and found some lovely, simple linen floaty things but with perhaps a little too much frou frou..

Which brings me to Lagenlook: what do you all make of that? It seems to garner insults on here but it looks fabulous when done well. I think many people are offended by clothes that hide the body, but I like both!
There's room for everything surely.
I could probably never manage Lagenlook myself though, maybe just a nod to it? I am amazed when someone can layer so cleverly because I always get the lengths wrong.

I've also seen threads where people call it 'old' or 'middle aged' as if anything was wrong with that
Nothing has an age unless it's terribly specific (hotpants), it all depends how it's done.

Google Lagenlook and hit images, there may be some inspiration for you.

oops, so sorry, cross posted, ignore me!

I'm currently taking fashion inspiration from corvids and starlings, so plain wool or linen dresses in black, grey, green and blue (and sometimes dark red) with scarves, shawls, jackets, cardigans etc in jewel tones or black/brown/grey/cream speckles and tweed, and lots if interesting textures.

Ooh following as l like the sound of your style, hoping for some inspiration!

I love the bohemian/dark academia look! I also like Lagenlook. I have to be careful, because I’m quite short (5’ 2”) and some things can swamp me, but I’m 50 years old and in the throes of the menopause. If I’m in the middle of a hot flush I can’t stand anything restrictive. I’ve been known to waft around Tesco in just a sun dress and cardigan in the middle of February! I love Toast, but my budget means I have to wait for the sales. Here’s a few of my suggestions of places I like that are a bit cheaper:

little-lies.com/collections/dresses

onehundredstars.co.uk/

www.laundryb.com/dresses/

www.portobelloroadprincess.com/

@DaisyWaldron

I'm currently taking fashion inspiration from corvids and starlings, so plain wool or linen dresses in black, grey, green and blue (and sometimes dark red) with scarves, shawls, jackets, cardigans etc in jewel tones or black/brown/grey/cream speckles and tweed, and lots if interesting textures.

My goodness I love the sound of this!

[quote Coniferhedge]I love the bohemian/dark academia look! I also like Lagenlook. I have to be careful, because I’m quite short (5’ 2”) and some things can swamp me, but I’m 50 years old and in the throes of the menopause. If I’m in the middle of a hot flush I can’t stand anything restrictive. I’ve been known to waft around Tesco in just a sun dress and cardigan in the middle of February! I love Toast, but my budget means I have to wait for the sales. Here’s a few of my suggestions of places I like that are a bit cheaper:

little-lies.com/collections/dresses

onehundredstars.co.uk/

www.laundryb.com/dresses/

www.portobelloroadprincess.com/[/quote]
Thanks for the links, will check them out.

This model is 5'2, so it is definitely do-able. Just posting an example to show loose fit garments on a petite frame - you don't have to like the clothes! I think it depends upon the lines and lengths but not remotely only for the tall!

I like this style and have always come back to it since the 90’s. I love floaty skirts, tea dresses, old cardigans, corduroy jackets, embroidered things, and big clomping boots. I also love a crochet scarf!
It’s getting harder to find these in shops so I’m hanging around for inspiration!

I may be well off the mark but what about Gudren Sjoden?

I think I might fancy you OP
Lagenlook looks amazing on some people but I always fear I'd look like I'd been on Albert Square market.
My boss who is 66 rocks long droopy layers magnificently. I just feel I'd look like a bag lady. She assures me it would suit as I'm tall and a 12. I'm going to look at all these lovely links now.

My fabulous boss is tiny! But she can do it.

I am tall so this look is perfect for me - I even have the Pre-Raphaelite hair to match. But I'm a bit more grungy.
So I wear either long floaty dresses or short dresses and skirts with thick black tights. I have collection of interesting boots including some lovely DMs. I wear a lot of cardigans and have rather a large collection of 80s clothes that get mixed in.

I'm currently taking fashion inspiration from corvids and starlings, so plain wool or linen dresses in black, grey, green and blue (and sometimes dark red) with scarves, shawls, jackets, cardigans etc in jewel tones or black/brown/grey/cream speckles and tweed, and lots if interesting textures.

This sounds lovely! I love wool and linen and splashes of colours.

I find it quite hard to find clothes I like on the high street. Anthropologie do some lovely pieces but expensive for what they are really.

Mostly, I scour eBay, Etsy and charity shops for things which fit my style.

I love this thread. Has anyone bought from www.soolinen.com - they are a strange mix of urban goth/modern art gallery curator and wafty hippy lady, but I really like some of the things. Haven't bought anything yet, though.

@GrannyBloomers

I am tall so this look is perfect for me - I even have the Pre-Raphaelite hair to match. But I'm a bit more grungy. So I wear either long floaty dresses or short dresses and skirts with thick black tights. I have collection of interesting boots including some lovely DMs. I wear a lot of cardigans and have rather a large collection of 80s clothes that get mixed in.

This is my wardrobe - with black trousers as well. Except I'm only middling height and definitely not pre-Raphaelite in the hair department!

Oh, I adored the Monty Don thread! It may have prompted one or two of my username variations.

I’m probably closest to LunaTheCat’s style (we may have discussed Kowtow on another thread?), but essentially I like things crunchy and inconvenient. There’s generally a collective MN 🤮 face when I mention tweed, velvet, Shetland wool as opposed to cashmere …

My two current favourite skirts (specialist subject) are a knubbly black and white tweed - composed of wool, cotton, mohair, polyester, viscose and acrylic by Margiela, and a silvery pleated polyester from Zara. They attract an equal amount of admiration. But the best ever was a red linen Dries van Noten maxi with a bustle at the back. 😍

I used to be swathed in layers of grey - but it doesn’t seem to suit my now officially ancient face. So I’ve recently been engaged in a love affair with La Fetiche’s colourful jumpers. (It’s fine, they’re so chunky I can use one as a roof when I finally bankrupt myself.)

I’m not generally keen on Summer dressing, but The Row is providing me with hope for next Autumn. In the meantime I’m adoring lots of the Zara styling (striped blouse) but generally want better quality in actual products. Definitely have a high / low process.

Look at Meadows and Olive clothing. Some great stuff on there.

Edmontine I am similar, love natural fibres, wool, linen, creating combinations of varied textures in different shades. I do suit taupe, beige, sage green though, which many people scowl at, but it suits my colouring. I'm drawn to fabrics that make me want to touch them

For anyone interested in sourcing, I have found ebay to be the best recently, I've grown a fledgeling talent for being able to spot the right fabric via photo's, and of course it is vital to do fabric-specific searches.
I used to buy most things new or at a fairly hefty price, but careful searching enabled me to locate really lovely, lightly used items.

I have a long, green-brown tweed coat which was £450 new, barely used and scored for £80 on ebay. It reminds me of the old days at Toast, when their stuff was less gimmicky/stylised and more earthy.
I have also found quite a few linen pieces this way, immaculate and lovely!

I can barely stand the high street now, the more recent dress styles depress me, and prior to that we were stuck with skinny jeans and bodycon for about 15 years. Now, dresses and skirts have made a come back, but they're mostly polyester and a very trend-led style (prairie or fashion blogger) that doesn't do anything for me.

Good knits are very difficult to source, unless you are prepared to pay out at Brora, etc.

I do like museum collection stuff, although they don't stock very much. I'm a sucker for a William Morris pattern, and their clothing satisfies that character in a bohemian novel itch so well

museum collection link
www.museumselection.co.uk/clothing-accessories/