Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Dark Academia 3 - de vestibus agamus - the conversation continues

840 replies

highlandcoo · 02/10/2024 22:17

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) Grin
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.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
71
weareallcats · 16/12/2024 17:40

(same can’t be said for the velvet dress - THREE choices of red, a brown and a green…)

Arraminta · 16/12/2024 17:44

FeralNun · 10/12/2024 12:36

I must say I’d love a duffle coat. But fear it would make me look like Paddington (fat).

I am wearing a teal thermal layer, barrel leg jeans, and a fairisle cardigan from Harleys. Cosy as!

Almost snap! I'm wearing a grey cropped cashmere cardigan with black barrel leg jeans, grey/silver Argyle socks and chunky black loafers. Feeling super cosy as my socks are knee length.

Forget to add am wearing my Great Grandma's marcasite greyhound brooch on cardigan.

MurdoMunro · 16/12/2024 18:43

I think I’m going to up my bloody game for a start!! TBH I’ve not given it any thought but promise to work on it. I’m still hankering after the Walker Slater Deborah skirt this thread of temptresses put me onto a month or two ago. I’m hoping they do a blasting sale so might sit on my hands and hope for that

edit - that was meant to be a reply to @FeralNun

SqueakyDinosaur · 19/12/2024 21:30

I was (am) pleased with my clothes today, which a colleague described as "Goth Land Girl" - very wide legged, very high-waisted black trousers (Jaeger Laboratory range about 10 years ago) with a big silver buckle at the front: short-sleeved black merino jumper, fairly fitted and tucked into the trousers, but with a cream semi-Peter Pan collar (more pointy than PP). Silver trainers (all I can wear, sadly - in an ideal world I'd have the black lace up Victorian style boots that are languishing in my wardrobe on). I've lost some weight recently and it's so nice to be able to fit back into some things I haven't worn for ages.

TressiliansStone · 19/12/2024 23:18

That sounds wonderful, @SqueakyDinosaur . So many nice outfits!

I'm having a ponder for Christmas Day. Unless some neighbour drops by it will, as usual, be a day no other person sees me – so my finery will be for me alone!

weareallcats · 19/12/2024 23:37

TressiliansStone · 19/12/2024 23:18

That sounds wonderful, @SqueakyDinosaur . So many nice outfits!

I'm having a ponder for Christmas Day. Unless some neighbour drops by it will, as usual, be a day no other person sees me – so my finery will be for me alone!

Dressing for yourself is the best kind of dressing though! Froothing about in froothy, florid clothes is such a joy - everyone should do it more (froothing/froothy entirely made up word/s, but I think quite evocative!).

TressiliansStone · 20/12/2024 00:20

It is indeed. Xmas Grin

In reply to all points in your post.Wine

SqueakyDinosaur · 20/12/2024 10:15

I have a dark green dress from One Hundred Stars, printed with storks in flight. I'll probably wear that.

Arraminta · 20/12/2024 11:17

We're out for Christmas lunch at a beautiful gastro pub, so want to dress up but not overly glamorous.

I've recently lost 2 stone on Mounjaro and back to being a size 10 so I have my entire wardrobes (I have 4) to delve and play in once again!

Think I'm going to wear a grey, short sleeved, cashmere sweater + black, matte sequin mini skirt + black opaque tights + mid calf black biker boots with silver buckles.

So kinda vaguely Rock Librarian, maybe?

applecatchers36 · 20/12/2024 19:02

Dark Academia day of dressing, russet cord trousers and fair isle sweater with brown heeled boots, olive green coat.

Last day at work hurrah and now for Christmas break 🎄

SqueakyDinosaur · 20/12/2024 19:19

weareallcats · 19/12/2024 23:37

Dressing for yourself is the best kind of dressing though! Froothing about in froothy, florid clothes is such a joy - everyone should do it more (froothing/froothy entirely made up word/s, but I think quite evocative!).

When I was at college, one of my friends used to put on her ball gown (it was the 80s, it was Cambridge, ball gowns were A Thing) whenever she felt a bit low. So you'd go round to their squalid student house to find her weeping into the washing up, dressed in purple taffeta....

TressiliansStone · 20/12/2024 20:14

I am trembling at the thought of greasy splashes on taffeta! Xmas Shock

More lovely outfits. Thank you everyone for sharing.

I am certainly dark today, but alas in a very practical aging slate-grey cotton gansey and "mildly peeved" blue jeans (as an MNer so aptly described M&S distressed jeans). 'Tis wear for after-the-builder-but-before-the-clear-up...

FeralNun · 25/12/2024 14:00

Merry Christmas everyone!

Hope you are all having a lovely day, in fabulous outfits!

As requested, here is a pic of the skirt (which was universally complimented at lunchtime drinks!). I also have matching tights on, for full on bonkersness.

🎄🥂

Dark Academia 3 - de vestibus agamus - the conversation continues
TressiliansStone · 25/12/2024 14:38

Merry Christmas one and all!Wine

Wow! That looks amazing!

Love the cushion too. I've just missed out on a waistcoat in a similar fabric: eBay saving me from myself again.

My Xmas costume was decided for me by Santa, who brought me a lovely soft grey jumper. So I ditched my planned reprise of my Yule log impersonation and am wearing the pale grey jumper under a mauve, unstructured, slightly military-style jacket with broderie anglais trim, and dark grey cords.

And fluffy slippers.Xmas Grin

FeralNun · 25/12/2024 15:14

TressiliansStone · 25/12/2024 14:38

Merry Christmas one and all!Wine

Wow! That looks amazing!

Love the cushion too. I've just missed out on a waistcoat in a similar fabric: eBay saving me from myself again.

My Xmas costume was decided for me by Santa, who brought me a lovely soft grey jumper. So I ditched my planned reprise of my Yule log impersonation and am wearing the pale grey jumper under a mauve, unstructured, slightly military-style jacket with broderie anglais trim, and dark grey cords.

And fluffy slippers.Xmas Grin

Cushion is IKEA!

That sounds lovely - I like the idea of military style, but with broderie.

weareallcats · 25/12/2024 15:59

FeralNun · 25/12/2024 14:00

Merry Christmas everyone!

Hope you are all having a lovely day, in fabulous outfits!

As requested, here is a pic of the skirt (which was universally complimented at lunchtime drinks!). I also have matching tights on, for full on bonkersness.

🎄🥂

Gorgeous skirt - love it!

weareallcats · 25/12/2024 16:02

I’m wearing my tartan dress, as planned, and having a very low pressure Christmas with just dh and dc (first one in years). I was knitting earlier and dh was going a jigsaw and dd played Christmas carols on the piano - so very old fashioned. Drinking champagne though, which doesn’t feel like a DA drink choice! What is, do we think? Whiskey? Red wine?

weareallcats · 25/12/2024 16:07

And Merry Christmas everyone, of course. Probably should have said that first!

weareallcats · 25/12/2024 16:08

TressiliansStone · 25/12/2024 14:38

Merry Christmas one and all!Wine

Wow! That looks amazing!

Love the cushion too. I've just missed out on a waistcoat in a similar fabric: eBay saving me from myself again.

My Xmas costume was decided for me by Santa, who brought me a lovely soft grey jumper. So I ditched my planned reprise of my Yule log impersonation and am wearing the pale grey jumper under a mauve, unstructured, slightly military-style jacket with broderie anglais trim, and dark grey cords.

And fluffy slippers.Xmas Grin

Sound fabulous and very comfy!

TressiliansStone · 25/12/2024 16:36

FeralNun · 25/12/2024 15:14

Cushion is IKEA!

That sounds lovely - I like the idea of military style, but with broderie.

IKEA for the win!

TressiliansStone · 25/12/2024 16:39

You're the only ones who know!

It's lovely that you're all here for me to share it with. <happy> Wine

TressiliansStone · 25/12/2024 17:25

weareallcats · 25/12/2024 16:02

I’m wearing my tartan dress, as planned, and having a very low pressure Christmas with just dh and dc (first one in years). I was knitting earlier and dh was going a jigsaw and dd played Christmas carols on the piano - so very old fashioned. Drinking champagne though, which doesn’t feel like a DA drink choice! What is, do we think? Whiskey? Red wine?

Edited

Ahh, sounds lovely.

DA drink choices... hmm, I can't riddle that one.

Maybe it depends whether you're a poor Dark Acadamic (plonk, absinthe, Edwardian cocktails...?) or at Oxbridge.

If it's Oxbridge, then decent wine, port (travelling to the left) and the Master's whisky when he invites you into the Lodge for something after a College Feast.

Notsosecrethistory · 25/12/2024 20:07

Happy Christmas!
@TressiliansStone your outfit sounds lovely, and I'm happy Santa brought you such a soft and thoughtful gift!

@FeralNun I LOVE it!
@weareallcats glad the tartan dress got its desired airing. I think your Christmas sounds lovely...
Today was v low key for me today, so I didn't bother putting anything nice on, am going to dress up a bit tomorrow though.

TressiliansStone · 25/12/2024 20:19

Hope you're having a relaxing evening, @Notsosecrethistory , and that tomorrow is lovely.

I'm sitting here in candlelight enjoying the Carols From Kings I recorded yesterday. It's so lush visually as well as musically.

Wassat · 26/12/2024 09:40

I love dark academia, but I'm 41, 12/14 and very top heavy. Everything I try on looks wrong/ frumpy/unflattering. I ve got some Christmas money- please could anyone point me in the direction of some starter pieces or some retailers to look at?