Dark Academia 2 - the conversation continues..

[highlandcoo]

Hello again to everyone from the last thread and welcome to anyone who enjoys talking about this aesthetic .. and if you have photos to share even better!

We've been discussing woollen jumpers, tweed skirts and jackets (with and without elbow patches), flannel trousers, fair isle tank tops, leather boots, culottes, berets and many other appealing garments, and more recently novels, poetry, libraries in general and even home decor with a DA vibe. Plus tortoiseshell spectacles and lorgnettes. I don't think we've touched on DA hairstyles yet although I've been giving that some thought ..

A DA quote I came across the other day: "I declare after all, there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book! When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library." (P&P of course)

If curling up in a wing-backed armchair in front of a log fire, with candles flickering, sipping tea from a china mug while reading your Jane Austen or Bronte novel sounds appealing, this thread might be for you. Or if you just like the clothes - that works too.

Our first thread below:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/style_and_beauty/4861009-dark-academia-anyone-who-loves-this-style?page=39&reply=129785046

Oh I am pleased to see this continued. I am enjoying reading this thread and seeing what everyone is buying. I've bought a Seasalt linen pinafore (which I owned several years ago and sold -why????) a lovely brown wool cardigan, a pair of ankle boots, a chocolate brown merino rib top, and a White Stuff grey skirt since I started reading this thread. How lovely I hear you say? Well yes - but it's spring and the weather is already mostly too warm to be wearing any of them!

Hair! My hair was blonde as a child. Got darker as I got older. Spent a good decade getting highlights and then during covid when I had a baby and a toddler I thought enough. So my hair is now a light brown with quite a few grey hairs. My sister describes it as mousy and as a much younger trendy person thinks I am silly for not getting coloured still. The thing is I am just shy of 40, I work, have kids and its a juggle. I love books, try to sew, quite happily spend time doing jigsaws and I have no qualms with any of that. Would far rather embrace my dorky, non trendy but content life.

I keep my hair around chin length. It is fine and tends to get in my face so I use a clip to keep it out my eyes. I really don't suit beret but do love a knitted bobble hat in winter.

DA hair - I was thinking about this the other day! I am very dark brown with grey/white stripes around my forehead and temples. I'd like to think it's striking but a small part of me thinks "badger" every time I look in the mirror.

It is shoulder length with some layers at the bottom. If I don't blow dry it, it is wavy, so some days I just go with that. I have grown out my blunt fringe and now have a longer side fringe that I can wear to the side or clip back.

DA-wise, I don't think there are any restrictions. Short and androgynous or long and pinned up Edwardian style all work. And messy, thrown back in a bun hair says "I'm too busy reading Margaret Atwood to think about it" 😂

They sound amazing! Isn't it so frustrating when the weather refuses to cooperate though?! Mild and damp here today. Humph 😠

@highlandcoo

You might want to edit in another quote, that one was spoken by the deceitful and vapid Caroline Bingley, who has no interest in books at all - she just thinks pretending to is a good way to get into Mr Darcy’s pants.

Helloooo, nice to see you on a shiny new thread! I made a pinafore dress from dark red cord last year but was never brave enough to add the poppers and I've been inspired finish it now. It definitely meets the DA brief!

I’d pretend to be a reader too to get into Mr Darcey’s pants too Although I am a reader so that’s fine. ( struggling with my current book though )

Too bloody warm here again so I’m not DA - ing really. My hair is “ short short” and blonde after years of bobs / shoulder length. It costs me a lot but is easy on the daily faff. Also explains why I lean into masculine styles. Although I did find a gorgeous vintage photo of a short haired woman from the 20’s or 30’s… I’ll try and find it. I think any length goes hair wise but not too “done” to my mind.

I’ve got two social events this week and I’m still working out what to wear… tomorrow London drinks and Thursday I’m off to see Hamnett at the theatre ( tissues at the ready). What would you wear for those ?

Dark red pinafore sounds good @Iamanunsafebuilding - does it need a beret?

Short haired baddies from the 30’s.

The photographer of these images was a young woman called Marianne Breslauer from Berlin. She studied with Man Ray for a time but got caught up with events in Europe during the war ( she was gay and bohemian but her family were sympathetic to the Nazis). She died tragically young at 34 and her mother destroyed lots of her work and only a few images survive.

Now I’d that isn’t the most DA thing you read today I don’t know what is.

Wow those photos - especially the middle one on the second row, it looks so modern. It reminds me of one of my favourite Katharine Hepburn pics.

Happy Monday! I'm not really DAing today because it's too warm - slung on a long black jersey dress (Cos, £3 chazza bargain). It's very simple and unfussy so still in keeping I think.

And I tried making a pair of culottes yday, in a brown/copper faux silk remnant I'd been vaguely contemplating as a dress. Quite like them, but a bit too voluminous even for culottes. Proof of concept established though.

@Divebar2021 amazing photos. Yes, the middle one is very KH I agree.
Re the last photo, is that what they used to call shingled hair?
So you would have long hair hanging loose as a little girl and “putting your hair up” was significant as it meant you’d left childhood behind.
i remember reading a book as a child where one of the characters ( actually from memory a little girl bear, maybe called Martha) got her hair shingled and it was an incredibly daring thing to do

@teawamutu I’m seriously impressed that you can make a pair of culottes in one day!

Super simple pattern - no zips or anything, just elastic.

@helenahandcart78 my dress is a recent E5P bargain. There may be some left if you want one. They had black and red too.

Hello, it's me... 🤓
Got my new beret on today, felt really out of place on the school run, but I shall persevere.

I have a super short, textured pixie crop in a silvery blonde. I love it because it's zero maintenance (apart from very regular root touch-ups) and stops me being invisible, which seems to happens to most women over 50. It's quite a statement cut so people tend to assume I'm far more bold and fashion forward than I actually am. And, that my DA outfits are a confidently funky choice, and not remotely frumpy.

I’ve always loved Katherine Hepburn’s style and Diane Keaton’s too - if I were very tall I would love to wear tweed wide leg trousers, a white shirt and brogues. It’s not a look that works if you’re 5’4 and booby.

I'm with you in spirit 😉

@evtheria beret-wearers, assemble!

@Bookist I actually had a lecture with Duffy (long ago), where she spoke about her poetry, and I loved it - gave me a new insight into her work.

@helenahandcart78 Brian Bilston has got some tour dates on the go. One very near me, I'm tempted.

I feel your pain. I'm decidedly booby with narrow shoulders so any kind of shirt makes me look matronly.

Absolutely love these! I have had very short hair for the past few years and would never go back to long.

Checking in for DAppreciation😁

Will catch up later!

Checking in for the new thread 🧵

I didn't contribute much to the other thread but I've loved reading other people's suggestions so I'm delighted to follow you all here!