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?

I think today’s outfit fits the look. I am wearing a black pleather pencil skirt, a long sleeve roll neck top and black mart Jane ballet flats ( all new (two with tags) that I bought from charity shops.

@Bookist it was just when you said you loved your jeans, but not jeans and nice top... so I was just nosing as to what you wear with them!

I think I lean more on the grungy student side more than anything tbh. no matter what I do!

Oh sorry, I see what you mean. If I'm wearing blue jeans I tend to go a bit old school tomboy. So Gazelle trainers or Stan Smith's and boxy, v neck GAP sweaters. Love me a cricket jumper too.

I’ve just been to the dentist and I was thinking about this thread while the drill was on. I’ve been thinking a lot about my personal style and whether I can participate in DA… whether it’s properly “me” or whether it would feel a bit costume-y for me. I think I need to be at the urban edge actually - so whether anyone else would agree it was DA I don’t know. Anyway I saw this image and realised I would wear all those pieces and could probably ramp up the academia side with accessories. It also showed me that I could wear little sharp jackets in a modern way… I had been contemplating getting rid ( Im loving her smoky eye too).

So, I’ve created a couple of looks with pleated skirts and dresses which I feel very Margaret Howell about and I’ve ordered some ruinously expensive boots from Toast which I will show if I keep them. My husband has also gifted me a long navy double breasted wool coat by Daks which is just oversized enough for me to feel good in.
I’m going to keep shopping my wardrobe. I too have a “ faux leather” pencil skirt ….. let’s call it vegan leather shall we 😏which I intend to wear and a Jean Muir pencil skirt in a dark purple. I haven’t worn pencil skirts for a long time. Let’s see what else I can come up with.

Yes, it was short and like a felted wool. I can't for the life of me remember the make but it was high street.

Now a cricket jumper is very interesting. It's defo got an academic (university campus) feel.

Evening fellow Questers! I had hoped to do a few more outfit photos today but work has been busy and I'm fighting off a nasty cold. The one downside of Autumn is all the bugs going around!
I'm very inspired by the posts today and @Divebar2021 that photo is exactly the kind of look I would love to achieve. But I think my instinctive preppy slant prevents me from really basking in the dark side of the Academic look. Her dark eye makeup is gorgeous - as is her hair!
I'm going to give peg leg/pleat front trousers another go. Check or even a dark tartan. I have been thinking that they are more in keeping with the vibe than my wide leg trousers previously posted.

Anyone feel like posting any photos for us all to ponder?

Ok finally got a few minutes to pull some looks together. Brown and cream are my wardrobe staples.

I’m not sure about some of the thinner heels but the colours look good I think. I love having a cohesive theme to work with. It makes picking things out a lot easier in the morning.

The majority of these are workwear. Still mastering the casual look.

That looks great @RedLem0nade - especially love the second one with the texture of the grey waistcoat and silky shirt.

I think those are brilliant @RedLem0nade ! You've nailed the layering of different textures and the autumnal tones perfectly. Satin, silk, tweed, soft wool, leather. Rust, orange, dark green, deep red, all the browns... I love the waistcoat looks, and that patterned skirt is a thing of beauty.
I get what you're saying about not being "casual" but I think the DA look will always have something elegant and classy about it. That's what makes it very satisfying - you feel like you've properly put a look together rather than throwing on the usual jeans and trainers!
I agree that more chunky shoes would take it back a bit from "dressy" but the shoes you've shown are gorgeous so would be perfect for a night out.

Where are the brown trousers from? I bought some from eBay but they’re a little tight on the derrière….. they’re giving Burt Reynolds retired rodeo rider vibes 😂. Not quite the look I was after

My main dilemma is that I want some narrow wool/tweed trousers either in a dark tartan or dark brown mix or herringbone. BUT whenever I see lovely trousers in that sort of material they always have a kind of built in crease down the front which seems to take them from DA into my granny territory. Or at least very dapper next door neighbour who does excellent DA but is turning 80 this year. Any thoughts? Does anyone else have this problem with the front crease?

@Darkacademic I've had a look on H&M (always good for a starting off point in my view as affordable if it does turn out to be a mistake!) and have seen these. Ignore the styling, but the colour and cut seem suitable? There's a store near me so I may pop in soon and have a little try-on.

Sorry - they're not wool or tweed but I think you'd probably have to go expensive for those, in which case the tailoring might be better?

@helenahandcart78 Good point- I hadn’t considered that DA “off duty” outfits are an “elevated” casual look. I suppose as long as I can walk a dog, throw on an wash and do a school run in it it will work!

Well I'm preaching to you, yet I still threw on my skinnies and Barbour to walk the dog this morning. It was raining, in my defence!

Yes, this is what I mean by the front crease! These days I can’t bear the feel of anything with polyester or nylon and I instantly become a sweaty mess (hello menopause) so if I ever find some wool/tweed ones without creases I will be on them like a knife.

@RedLem0nade Those outfits are amazing! I’m realising I am definitely a trousers person because practicality but I would love to wear nice skirts once in a while.

I really want to try some wide leg cords but have no idea what style shoes or boots to wear with them. I'm vaguely thinking some Oxford brogues?

@Darkacademic I shall keep you in my thoughts the next time I am browsing and you will be the first to know of any creaseless tapered tweed trousers I see! 🤗

@helenahandcart78 you are too kind!!!!

Hmmmm wide leg cords are tricky. Brogues would definitely work. What would others think to chunky Mary Janes with heels?

Definitely brogues (I have an urge to say two-tone but possibly too Bugsy Malone 😁), Docs or even Victoriana lace up boots with a wine glass heel?

You'll probably find some from House of Bruar. I just got their A/W catalogue and want to wear everything

Ooh, awaiting your ideas with interest - I personally don't go 'full academic' in my DA tastes - it's more slouchy and monochromatic so a moody Margaret Howell would be right up my street.

Things for inspiration lately:
1: Zara dress currently in store
2,3: Pinterest images

@evtheria love your picks. Moody and full of attitude! I really want that dark blue skirt...

@mightymalties noooo! I'm on the website now and I need it ALL 😭🤣