Dark Academia 3 - de vestibus agamus - 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!

Now that the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness is upon us, it might be time to start considering our autumn and winter wardrobes.

Last year as well as discussing leather lace-up boots, vintage handbags, antique brooches and many other desirable items, we pondered how to successfully pursue a DA aesthetic at work, at the theatre and generally out and about (without straying into Carry On Librarian territory, as one PP memorably commented)
I learned about the Wrong Shoe Concept, and the Third Thing Rule .. every day is a school day!

However DA is much more than clothes, and we also shared our favourite childhood books .. memories of robins leading us through gates into secret gardens, the fiery red-haired independence of Anne of Green Gables, and our longing to go to boarding school, get into scrapes and partake in midnight feasts.

Thanks to our erudite posters, we learned about romantic Scottish history exploits recorded in 18th century documents, and considered the injustice of male family members being able to lock up women whose emotions became inconvenient, as well as discussing many inspiring women both in RL and in film.

And we debated the most DA place we've ever visited .. Oxford and Edinburgh featured strongly; in fact there was a suggestion that a perfect place for our DA AGM would be The Witchery in Edinburgh ..

If curling up in a wing-backed chair in front of a log fire, with candles flickering, sipping tea from a china mug while reading Pride and Prejudice or A Room of One's Own sounds appealing, this thread might be for you. Or if you just like the clothes, that works too.

Can we talk about boots? I really want some brown/copper/cherry red, ankle/calf length lace ups. Not too much of a heel. Brogue pattern ideally. And I have quite wide feet

Cannot find exactly the right pair anywhere.

Has anyone seen any gems around?

That spec sounds rather like Docs. I was eyeing a lovely cherry red pair on eBay last year, but fortunately for my purse was outbid or something.

I'm afraid I daren't look again!

Oh I have something to share from the archives – anxious parents of freshers might like to look away now!

I've been consulting St Andrews University's marvellous Biographical Register 1579 to 1897 < https://arts.st-andrews.ac.uk/biographical-register/about-the-project/ >, which includes what their graduates went on to.

Occupation/Career
We have added standardised tags for the following occupations:

Accountant, apparitor, artisan, artist, athlete, author, aviator, body snatcher, civil servant, composer, divinity student, doctor, editor, engineer, farmer, footballer, free mason, gardener, hotel proprietor, industrialist, inventor, Jesuit, journalist, lawyer, medical student, miner, missionary, minister, M.P., naval officer, nurse, novelist, opifex, playwright, poet, policeman, politician, preacher, rabbi, rugby player, soldier, stockbroker, teacher, theology student, thief, typefounder, university lecturer, university professor, vet, veterinarian.

Are Lanx shoes of any interest to you @AndSoFinally ? They’ve got a sale on at the mo too

https://lanxshoes.com/collections/womens-outlet?filter.v.availability=1

@TressiliansStone ’…body snatcher….theology student, thief, typefounder… St Andrew’s had ALL the opportunities! I suppose ‘monarch’ has quite a low success rate and won’t be worth making a tag on more recent records.

It really did! Imagine the Careers Service talk!

Good question re monarchs. Will Will be worth a tag?

"Spy" also missing: clearly weaker in several areas where other unis excel...

I had to look up what an ‘opifex’ is/does. My partner and I are makers of things and the word ‘artisan’ has been debased with lies and wankerishness so we don’t use it. I will present opifex to him later and see how it lands.

Please report back!

@MurdoMunro thank you, some of these are lovely

I did think about another pair of Docs but they are absolute murder to break in!

@AndSoFinally how about these in the Zinfandel
?
https://www.moshulu.co.uk/lace-up-leather-brogue-boots-p3315/s46707?cid=GBP&glCurrency=GBP&glCountry=GB&mtm_campaign=P.Max_Boots&mtm_source=google&mtm_medium=cpc&mtm_kwd=&mtm_group=&mtm_campaign=20441530751&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD2VlaZaAm3tgAqyiGQ8NJ9OsHlH8&gclid=Cj0KCQiAuou6BhDhARIsAIfgrn6Oy9nien7MYoNxHyRsjaEvHd9_euJqObTbcJPuhFfmdVc0hC6DVecaAnyFEALw_wcB

Unfortunately it’s a ‘no’. He says it sounds like something you would soak your contact lenses in. Tried to get a second opinion and asked a more cultured friend, she said ‘is it a Vatican thing?’ I may sod the both of them and use it anyway.

Wearing my Joanie Dandelion dress today @henlake7 - I love it, but not at my best in black, so I have put an olive green cardi over the top!

@weareallcats I cant wait for mine to get here. I bet you look amazing in it!😉
Im not great with plain black next to my face but Im ok with anything patterned so hoping the dress should be fine.
The dark magic blouse is also black based but the print is quite colourful (plus I have the same one in a fern print on a black base and I wear it all the time).

She says whilst wearing black leggings, black socks and black biker hoodie!LOL😂(Im at home, vegging out).

After stabbing myself for the umpteenth time trying to sew a simple fix on one of my eBay finds, I'm wondering whether anyone has ever tested samplers for DNA?

Even without bloodstains, they're such personal items and must have been closely handled for weeks(?) in the making – and probably not washed afterwards.

well, I have a friend who makes samplers and I dont think she ever stabs herself! Also they go through the wash before they are framed so no DNA to find I imagine!

My Joanie dandelion dress arrived and it is gorgeous! Very happy with my purchase.
Today though Im wearing a lovely green Disturbia shirt dress with a pattern of flowers, snakes and insects. Its quite thin but I tend to layer alot in the winter so can still wear alot of my summer dresses. oh, and of course the obligatory cosy cardie and chunky boots!
DA vibes probably ruined by the biker jacket but I can never pull off the whole look, I usually deviate somewhere.

SO COLD today. I can't get warm, so I am wearing (in no particular order)
Burgundy cords, rolled up with a saucy glimpse of sock to bridge the gap between those and my docs. Long sleeved shirt with vest under and a waistcoat. Long scarf, feeling very Annie Hall.

Sounds amazing @Notsosecrethistory do love a rolled up cord.

I’m in a navy and burgundy checked Toast dress - oversized, but belted - tights and chunky, knee high lace up boots. I’ve got 2 of these Toast dresses and they are so comfy and effortlessly cool - love them! When I went out I wore my Rainsisters fit and flare coat and Cabbages and Roses fairisle beret.

What do you guys where in warm weather?? Much trickier. I’m going on a warmish holiday (somewhere that is probably the antithesis of DA) and sad about giving up my tights and boots for a fortnight (diamond shoes too tight, etc, etc).

In warmer weather I go floaty shapes with ruffles and floral prints. I spent last summer in long white floaty dresses and short dark florals. Shoes where either gazelles or sandals

@weareallcats
That sounds like the perfect outfit! I do love Toast checked dresses, I have three and I love them for autumn and winter.

I'm not totally classic DA; more slight shades of witch/goth, but in summer I live in linen pinafore dresses. Fat Face/Seasalt/Toast all do nice ones that you might be able to find on Ebay or Vinted. It really depends how warm it is where you're heading, but I'd recommend sleeveless linen dresses anyway, because they can be worn all year, depending how you layer them. In summer I wear over a light stripey t shirt, in winter I layer them over long sleeved top, tights, leggings, boots and add a cardi or long shirt.
In warm weather I don't wear tights, but do still tend to wear lace-up boots. I live in the north and don't go anywhere really hot though.

Have a lovely holiday 😃

Does a chocolate brown traditional duffle coat keep me in the club? I feel like it does, leaning towards the academic side of our room more that the put-together gothic. Worn with my culottes, cable knit tights and solovairs it all contributed to my ‘ready to kick ass’ mood when I stomped to work yesterday

That sounds fabulous!

I’ve just ordered a rather florid duffle from Cabbages and Roses - fully expect to be in the club whilst wearing it! Chocolate brown though - do you have a link??

Thank you for suggestions re warm weather! I have some floaty/floral stuff - I’m also hoping I’ll be ok in cotton dungarees. Will def have a look for linen pinafores - that sounds perfect. I don’t particularly enjoy hot weather and like to be covered up really, as am very fair skinned.

Weather is variable - some days 20 odd, others in the teens. We’re going to Disneyworld…no judgement 😂.

I'd go with stripey t-shirt, dungarees and ankle boots for that @weareallcats but I'm sure you'll find what's right for you.

The coat is 20 years old! I will have a look later and see if it’s still made. BRB