Dark Academia - anyone who loves this style?

[highlandcoo]

And where to find it?

This is how I want to dress this winter. More skirts and dresses rather than trousers as my waist is not the best and the trousers can look bulky unless you have a good waistline I think.

I love tweed and wool and flannel and autumn colours. Not black! Although brown is sometimes hard to find. Love brown leather for boots and bags. I really want to get away from jeans and chunky boots for a change.

I think I can knit some jumpers and cardigans. But I would love a big tweedy coat. I have a couple of really nice brown tweed hats from a shop in Edinburgh who made the hats for Peaky Blinders. But I need the right sort of coat to go with them. My long cosy puffy coat is cosy but totally wrong.

Any aficionados out there?

Is this dark green Needlecord dress Dark Accademia?

And how would you style it?

The fabric, colour and length is definitely...

I'd do:
• A couple of long chains with pendants
• lace up leather flat/low-heel boots with pointed toe
• a brown masculine overcoat in same length, open and swooshy

Could try one of those slip in collars you can buy, something elaborate in white, but with the deep V I don't know if they fit it.

@evtheria thank you 😊

Has anyone encountered the seamstress of Bloomsbury? Even the name is perfect DA. The shirts are everything I have been wanting! (Not in hot pink, obviously)

https://theseamstressofbloomsbury.co.uk/products/poppy-blouse

Yes! My daughter has several of their pieces for when she is singing wartime concerts etc. They are great quality and fit and use period appropriate fabrics, rayon etc

Wow, so many beautiful things on that website!

Love. Thanks for this link.

I’ve been wearing 40s style dresses for the last 25 years. They were quite hard to find sometimes.

Now the they’re having a moment - I’m sort of glad fashion gets why they’re great, and sort of annoyed as they’re currently very now and then they’ll be very then. And people will just think I copied the trend. Whereas I’ve lived it!

I've been following this thread with interest as this is right up my street! I think I fall on the more casual side of the DA trend but have been enjoying building my wardrobe for autumn. I love the wide legged trousers I'm seeing everywhere (M&S and White Stuff have some great wide-leg cords in proper DA colours) so I've invested in a few pairs of those to be worn with chocolate brown polo necks.

Any tips on keeping warm? I tend to tuck tops in so haven't really gone for anything bulky but could do with some gorgeous cardigans if anyone has seen nice ones about! I'm also a big scarf fan but not quite sure how that fits into the overall look...

Hello I’ve been following this thread with interest over the last couple of days. I have a Pinterest board of Librarian chic which has an overlap with DA although I’d question what my contribution to the Dark element of the aesthetic would be. I’m really into a 1930’s / 40’s androgynous look and tend to gravitate to wide legged preferably pleated trousers, men’s button down shirts and blazers.I’ve just bought a men’s tweed jacket in a charity shop. I’ve also had success finding good knitwear in the men’s sections of charity shops. My random observations are as follows

Brown. Brown isn’t compulsory but it’s quite a key colour in the palette. Not all brown shades are warm… there are chocolate browns with grey undertones that suit cool skintones like mine. Warm browns I keep away from my face on my bottom half only but you could add brown elements in the accessories, Eg belts bags shoes

Accessories. I think accessories can really elevate a simple look. Today I dug out a brown leather backpack and a brown Italian crossbody bag and either would have worked. I have a brown leather belt and have 2 watches ( brown strap / black strap) one a vintage 1940’s watch. Finally my specs have a vintage look ( tortoise shell) although I do have big clear glass ones. I also have bookshop totes that I would add for informal looks.

Scarves I think they’re a pretty key elements @0wlnoises - knitted scarves wrapped multiple times or just slung over once especially if it’s a striped university scarf. It could also be a square silk scarf or small kerchief. Although to be fair no one owns the look so it’s not as if you can be wrong.

My main issue is shoes… I have black lace up shoes and lace up ankle boots which are not suitable at the moment. I’d like some brown brogues and loafers to be worn with grey or argyle socks. Today I wore some Japanese made plimsolls in navy which were kind of preppy but not dark if you know what I mean. Summer is not easy for dark.

I don't know if anyone has mentioned that Ines De La Fressange has a collection coming out with uniqlo this week which fits the bill.

I love her tweed jackets for Uniqlo I’ve got 2!

Great post @Divebar2021

I find summer shoes, especially casual ones, the trickiest part of the overall look. I tend to go plimsolls for casual but I’m still on the look out for the perfect shoe to match with cigarette/cropped trousers. I can’t quite pull off brogues or oxfords somehow. I wonder about something like this?
https://www.etsy.com/ie/listing/1318525400/mary-jane-cognac-brown-genuine-leather?click_key=e000333bed806299380e6a844b1be7d17a77f28f%3A1318525400&click_sum=0615621d&ref=shop_home_recs_1&frs=1

I agree with Mary Janes, though I know some suffer from foot pain in them.
Seen some great ones at M&S, H&M (including some heeled ones, very glam librarian) and places like & Other Stories.

Ultimately we’re not trying to recreate a costume…. Or at least not a historically accurate one. It’s a feel. I think if you’re wearing separates and you have a number of accessories then you can help with the DA feel even if it’s a plain shirt and skirt / trousers. The shoes become less essential to the look. If it’s a dress then I feel it’s a bit trickier. But there’s nothing wrong with your summer looks being just “bookish” or “vintage” or “you”. People who see you over a period of time will get a sense of accumulative style.

I saw this bag advertised and wasn’t sure if it was the one posted earlier. It’s Fat face and £95. I think that’s pretty good value if it’s a nice leather.

@RedLem0nade someone upthread posted a gorgeous pair of Mary Janes with a small tbar from an Etsy seller. I don’t wear heels but they almost converted me and they may have them in flats?

D’oh… it was you @RedLem0nade 🤦‍♀️ I keep coveting them though! Did they work out in practice?

I finally found my 100% neutrally/beige/ fawn cotton jumper in the right size 🥳 Onwards with the search for the all natural cable v neck beige tank top. I think I will need to wait till the autumn collections come in. Every time I see one I discover that it is largely acrylic or polyester and my skin starts to itch in anticipation.

😂 Good shout though @Darkacademic. The heeled version are fabulous! There’s a padded insole so v comfy for the height of them and they are really well made.

Anyone else deeply irritated by the heatwave stopping us all flaunting our dark academic autumn purchases? I have bought a beautiful trench coat - I have decided after watching it that Miss Willoughby is my wannabe style (and frankly, wannabe life) but I’m not getting to wear it. 😡

Yes seriously @Darkacademic - I’ve had a couple of wins in charity shops recently. A man’s forest green velvet blazer which is very sharply tailored on me and a new Zara coat in a dark green grey which was only £5.99. I can’t work out why it was so cheap.

Yes!

I tried to wear some.dark green cords with a lightweight blouse last week thinking I could "summerify" them. It did not go well. I ended up getting changed the first chance I got.

You really would have been @MoltenLasagne !

I've not understood Kirby's behaviour since she threw her toys out of the pram regarding Theo's support for Andrew. She was lovely with Marilyn and the Stunning Organics Palava but she's something else......

Oops wrong thread!