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?

@newlabelwriter

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

Hadn't heard of Meadows, thank you, it is now in my shops folder!

Hi @LadyHenryofRawlinsonEnd I think I want to marry you! I mean, I’m already married....and straight....but I’m sure we could work it out. And Lolly Willows, too. 🥰

My style tends to go along themes: there’s what I like to think of as my ‘1930s toddler’ look - sensible shoes, pinafore dresses and gingham, my witchy/southern gothic look - raggedy jeans, velvet and embroidery, and my vintage-y 1970s thing with wide lapels and bell bottom jeans. Guess I never grew out of playing in the dressing up box!

Oh yes, I love Olive clothing too. Unfortunately some of their styles only go up to about a size 10, so can be frustrating (I’m a 12).

@Craftycorvid

Hi *@LadyHenryofRawlinsonEnd* I think I want to marry you! I mean, I’m already married....and straight....but I’m sure we could work it out. And Lolly Willows, too. 🥰

My style tends to go along themes: there’s what I like to think of as my ‘1930s toddler’ look - sensible shoes, pinafore dresses and gingham, my witchy/southern gothic look - raggedy jeans, velvet and embroidery, and my vintage-y 1970s thing with wide lapels and bell bottom jeans. Guess I never grew out of playing in the dressing up box!

I've had two proposals now, mustn't let it go to my head

I have a thing about Edwardian children's clothes and maid's outfits, too. If I had been a clothing designer or seamstress, I might have attempted to make it a thing. Witchy southern gothic sounds just excellent, what I think we all need to do is hire an old country pile and have a get together in our various, fabulous attire! (or dream attire, we need to collect it all first)..

I did used to have a Lolly Willowes-esque black kitten, he was with me for 18 years

Thanks for introducing me to dark academia, I'd never heard of this before and it had lead me to discovering light academia and, my personal favourite, vibrant academia!

Oh my! Is this the right place to drop this? A scholarly exploration of the work of Angela Holmes …

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0014ysq

I haven’t heard it yet - was browsing Sounds - but I recall finding a tiny community of fellow Droopy & Browns aficionados on the Monty Don thread, so some of them might be here.

@Joolsin

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.

Hi @Joolsin I was looking at Soolinen just the other day because they have exactly the kind of wafty deconstructed styles I like.

I would urge you to read the reviews here though
uk.trustpilot.com/review/soolinen.com

The handful of positive reviews were all posted a few days ago. Sadly the negative reviews have put me off

I've recently discovered Thought and People Tree. They can be a bit pricey but the sales are very reasonable. It's all sustainably made clothing too.
Also Rapanui for casual basics.
Seasalt gets a lot of flack here as being "frumpy" but if you choose carefully they have some lovely stuff. I love their bold floral dresses and pair them with trainers or chunky boots.
French Connection is another favourite, I love their chunky jumpers.
Also, Vinted and charity shops.

I skirt around the edge of this look occasionally and like many of you, struggle to find much in mainstream shops that makes my heart sing. Have any of you ordered anything from Memery shoes? I'm extremely taken with the Edwardian boots and....oh, OK, I could buy 80% of the shop if I'm honest!

Oooh Memery shoes, thank you for that, I love the Edwardian boots!

I don't much mind Seasalt myself, but their shapes and colours tend not to suit me. My sister is a fan and via her I can vouch for the excellent quality. I would be more interested if their dresses just.....swished a bit more, they seem to hang in sold stiff rectangles to just below the knee, generally. Haven't looked in a while though. My sis has a lovely flowy tunic, I admit.

@LadyHenryofRawlinsonEnd I bought a "swishy" dress from there a while ago but I know what you mean about some of them being "stiff". It's all about how you style them too, the right accessories etc.

This one is swishy, quite pretty too, LutxClutz -

@LadyHenryofRawlinsonEnd if you like Memery you might like some Art boots, Spanish lux brand, I got some really great Steampunkesque / weird boots from them before via Amazon.

Also S'nob clothing, Danish brand, think they are out of stock now but I'm KICKING MYSELF at some of the fab pieces I gave away about 15 years ago, thinking I'd never wear them again. Sometimes pieces come up on eBay etc. Arrrgggh!

Malvern is where you want to be. It's where the academics grow old do a bit of hill walking and then sit in coffee shops with a lurcher/terrier of some sort.

I really like the sound of your style! I wear quite a lot of lagenlook myself and love quirky accessories. Will be following this discussion for ideas :-)

Thank you! We need more photo's and links methinks

The Malverns ....yes!

Ooh, I have loads of clothes in the 'dark academia' style but I hadn't realised there was a name for it.

Thank you for giving me a new eBay search term.

I have an apartment full of dusty books and too many plants.

Pulling up a pew..

I have the pictured Seasalt dress but with a darker background colour. I can vouch for the swishiness. Also agree that you need to pick carefully but they are excellent quality.

One of my very favourite dresses is this one fromSeasalt. They are one if the fee places that makes dresses to fit my narrow shoulders.

And how I wish there was an edit button for my posting in bed in the early morning typos.

I love thr layering and shape in that row pic @Edmontine. Someone said Gudrun Sjodren- they layer beautifully in the catalogues, but the colour palette is often quite bright! Also, for me they are often just slightly too loose and oversized, which is a shame as the fabrics are lovely and good quality.

Meant to add, se.noanoa.com/ often has nice 30s style knitwear.

Also, for me they are often just slightly too loose and oversized, which is a shame as the fabrics are lovely and good quality.

Same here - I’ve got a couple of their standard fit items in the past which were more flattering on me. They don’t seem to have too many of those. I have to be quite picky in terms of the style at Gudrun.

@Tanaqui

I love thr layering and shape in that row pic *@Edmontine*. Someone said Gudrun Sjodren- they layer beautifully in the catalogues, but the colour palette is often quite bright! Also, for me they are often just slightly too loose and oversized, which is a shame as the fabrics are lovely and good quality.

I feel similarly towards GS, it is true that the images are beautiful, but absolutely none of the colours would suit me. I'm quite blonde and don't have a lot of contrast about me (in colour season terms I might be labelled a soft or cool summer, but curiously I suit both gold and silver jewellery). I do eye the accessories on occasion though.

That said, whilst I don't really dress in the Lagenlook style, I do take a lot from it and have a sort of ongoing crush on it.

Having said that and just had a look, I really don't like the large dee-lite-patterned dresses on the front page atm!