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.

It really was an excellent idea to make it a Bank Holiday. It gives you something to look forward to in the dark days of January.
I like the Celtic holidays. When my kids were small I used to play the old fashioned games like ducking for apples at Halloween and remind them that it was Samhain, which has nothing to do with plastic pumpkins and synthetic costumes.
I like the ethos of dark academia, which seems to be the exact opposite of fast fashion. I think St. Brigid would approve.

This is Britten's New Year Carol - it has lines about "Open up the door and let the old year go" and "Open up the West door and turn the old year go" and "Open up the East door and let the new year in", which must presumably be related.

I follow the Celtic holidays too, and also bore people about Samhain and get on my high horse when English people get grumpy about Halloween being an American import and not ‘British’. That really gets my goat.

Anyway. Am in danger of diverting the thread too far into the esoteric. Back in the office on Monday so time to put a bit of effort in. I’m thinking my charcoal cord dress, dark green DMs, grey beret and teal knitted kerchief scarf. With my chocolate brown wool dress coat and the crow brooch.

That carol @SqueakyDinosaur - I reckon you are absolutely right there! Hadn’t heard that before, thank you.

Surely if there's anywhere you can be esoteric on MN, it's on these threads?

I went to a Waldorf School so we always celebrated Beltane on May Day (with bonfires and Maypole dancing. Also Michaelmas followed by the Advent cycle etc. I have very fond memories of school, a lot of it was bonkers but most of it was magical.

@MurdoMunro totally agree re Brigid.

Apparently when Christianity first took hold they wanted Mary to replace all of the goddesses but the loyalty to Brigid was too strong among the native population (especially among women as she was such an empowering force of the sacred feminine) so they had to cave and make her “St Brigid” the kindly and devoted abbess.

My background is a strange mix of the old ways and a strong thread of authoritarian Christianity and I am very aware that talking about the saints, the holi-days, practise etc can lead to people being, feeling or choosing to be excluded. I have plenty of experience of people turning every sodding subject back to a conversation about theology (doctrine) and I cannot be doing with it.

But if I’m permitted to take the best bits of what Christmas and Easter are now to enjoy then I don’t see why people can’t have a bit of imblolc, Beltane or Samhain to brighten a season in their own way as well.

I don’t have a brooch for Brigid, I think this may be a new quest!

Well I kept my word, made a big effort to put together a great outfit, dark and leaning firmly towards the academic. But it looks like the weather is going to send me back to WFH. Dammit. I hope the dog admires the look and appreciates the effort.

I'm very sold on this idea of being fine for ourselves alone. And the dog.

Surely if there's anywhere you can be esoteric on MN, it's on these threads?

You speak the truth, @Arraminta .

Oh jeepers yes @TressiliansStone external validation not required. It’s just that I don’t get to see my colleagues from the neck down every day and I have two that also enjoy outfits. Amrit is the Chairwoman of Knitwear, technical specialities being appreciation and sourcing, and Jules has appointed herself Apprentice of Dark Academia. We have fun with it.

I did make it in BTW, but only one other did (and although a lovely chap he’s rubbish with this sort of thing) everyone else was snowbound on the other side of the moors.

That is one of the annoying things about winter....at a certain temperature everybody turns into a giant puffer coat!
The only 'people' who will be appreciating my lovely plaid Joanie shirt dress today are the dogs!😄

I'm another, sitting here in my Toast checked dress, being appreciated by the dog. If we do venture out later it'll be long Seasalt waterproof and wellies so the dress won't be visible.

I have a book recommendation for my lovely Dark Academic sisters. I've just finished The Betrayls by Bridget Collins - it was so, so good, and as darkly academic as it gets. It was even better than her first novel The Binding which I thought was brilliant. Honestly, her prose reads more like poetry.

I'm very tempted by Joanie clothes but what is the sizing like? I've recently lost over 2 stones and am a M&S size 10, so what size should I go for at Joanie?

@Arraminta If you liked Bridget Collins try Stacy Halls, The Familiars (Pendle Witch hunt) and The Foundling are great.

And if you like those then Tracy Borman The Kings Witch series. She is a proper historian and it's set at the end of Elizabeth / James reign and the witch hunts then they are fantastically written and whilst fictional have solid foundations in history.

I find Joanie quite true to size. Im a size 10 (with a middle aged waistline!), also in M&S and most high st brands so I find the 10s fit me fine.

(loving all the book recommendations!). 😃

Thank you, thank you! They sound perfect!

That's great, thank you x

I’ve written all those book details down to do a library catalogue search later. Ta.

Yes, I would agree it’s mostly true to size - I am pear shaped and a couple of things in my usual size have been slightly too tight on the hips, but depends on the cut.

I’m currently DAing it around Disneyworld!

It’s quite chilly at times - I’m in tights, boots and a jumper today 😂.

Dd looks like Wednesday Addams does Disney!

Would love to see it! Nice one @TressiliansStone and Wednesday 😆

I shall bask in my stolen glory for a moment, but it clearly belongs to @weareallcats