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

Elizabeth from the Thursday Murder Club is totally DA style icon IMO.

Ooh yes @teawamutu - and cushions. And throws. And candles. And jigsaws. And more books.

God I love the Thursday Murder Club books. I read them on holiday this year and found them so entertaining!

I’m getting into Agatha Christie these days having never read her before.

Someone recommended it to me as “cosy murder mystery” which sums it up perfectly!

Is Thursday Murder Club along the cosy murder lines?!

@teawamutu Oh yes, she would be! I await the movie/tv adaption to examine her outfits...

@helenahandcart78 HBC can give a Q&A via zoom. We appreciate the old times but we aren't complete Luddites. And the drinks would be safe.

A THOUSAND TIMES YES. To the point that some people [dark looks shot in general direction of the world) would call it 'too neat' or twee. They are beyond our help.

Very much so. Plush retirement village where bored, clever old people solve crimes and run rings round the youngsters. I love em.

@Bookist I am totally there for the AGM!

I went into the office today and wore a dark red knee-length dress with black tights and my new chonky boots. I love them and think I'll wear them with everything for now! Couldn't take a photo as my DD has the only full length mirror and she's flying lates this week so was still in bed when I left for work!

@RedLem0nade the plots are very twisty and entertaining, but it was the writing that really hooked me. Really wry humour and such well-observed characters with wonderful dialogue.

@evtheria - good call on having HBC join remotely. I love her, but if she tried to steal the drinks and snacks, I would not hesitate to take her down. Although I reckon she'd fight dirty 😂

@Iamanunsafebuilding, the dress sounds fab! What sort of neckline and fit? I have a grey knitted cowl neck knee length dress and in theory it should look great but I never feel I carry it off well.

I also failed to get pics today, but my very VERY wide brown culottes (definitely should have narrowed the legs quite a bit), cream jersey blouse with tie neck, brogues and stripy socks got several compliments.

Worn with a not-completely-intentionally messy bun and an air of considerable weariness.

@Darklane one of my favourite books is Far From The Madding Crowd. I also love Room with a View. Must get them both out for a re-read. Although I've now bought 5 books off the back of this thread so not sure when I'll get round to them 😂

The Secret History is fabulous by the way. I keep staying up too late because I can't put it down. I'm dying to know what the whole mystery is!

That cream blouse with the tie neck sounds superb - especially with brown culottes. The trousers I've left in for alteration are also very very wide but I'm hoping with them shortened there will be less risk of me taking off on a windy day!

Well that’s Thursday Murder Club added to my reading list.

I’m with you @evtheria. Too neat? Too twee, they say?! There is no such thing!
You can’t spell tweed without twee. And I think we can all agree that tweed immeasurably enriches all our lives and wardrobes <nods sagely>
Ergo… I’m buying more books.

Latin mic drop.

I've just taken myself off to bed with the first Thursday Murder Club because I'm knackered and can't deal with a new plot.

9% in and Elizabeth is described as wearing a tweed jacket. I call that conclusive.

A thread that is my spiritual home...

But in Style and Beauty.

Never ever did I think such a thing would happen.

@RedLem0nade Thank you for completing the undergarment check!
I doff my beret to you in appreciation. 😂

Strongly agree that thick tights make it all acceptable.

You are most welcome @Notsosecrethistory !

And that is indeed conclusive @teawamutu. As if any further encouragement was needed😁

After much cogitation, I plumped for an Ikea chair rather than a wing-back when setting up my current library, which unlike my previous one does not have a log fire. So have gone a bit modern and practical.

But I do have a fine stock of berets, waistcoats and a cape. Oh, and a rather decent trilby. I feel these will fit in nicely...

It applies to anything and everything, that's the beauty of it x

Oh trilbies trilbys trilby hats (HA!) sound very in-keeping.

I have a slightly battered rocking chair in my library but it is draped in a most fetching and cosy throw which is cable knit on one side and faux fur on the other and therefore makes everything better.

@helenahandcart78 this one! I got in the Fat Face outlet a few weeks ago. I love a knitted dress but I'm always so flipping hot!

Oh yes, absolutely. This might be a bit left field but I'm thinking the Dark Academics need some sort of heraldic crest, yes? Maybe a bespectacled griffin, dormant, clutching an open book? In sable, purpure and gules (yes, I do know heraldic terminology, I am that geeky).

I finished the latest Thursday Murder Club today on audiobook. Very entertaining, but I do miss Lesley Manville's narration. Fiona Shaw is fine but a bit dodgy on the accents.
What do you think of these boots? I think the look nice and neat, but I do get sore feet and I'm not sure how supportive they are.

Oh that dress is Heaven. I have the almost identical one but in plain navy. Which DD borrowed and then casually informed me is now 'somewhere in her car' which doesn't fill me with much hope for getting it back in pristine condition.