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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:
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MurdoMunro · 28/01/2025 22:14

I‘m going to have to get it aren’t I? Will probably scare myself silly. I’m much more of a Victorian gothic ghost story sort of person.

Notsosecrethistory · 31/01/2025 09:48

MurdoMunro · 28/01/2025 17:40

Stop it. I did not need to know that. I have slapped my hands over my eyes and am typing with my nose.

My neighbour is badgering me to read this, probs not in the niche you’re after @weareallcats, to quote his review he said, ‘you should read it, you will think “fuck me, that’s well weird”.

The Lady in the Bay Window, A True Story of a Haunted Sheffield Home, William C Grave (appropriate name).

That's the kind of review I can get behind. I'm having a look...

evtheria · 31/01/2025 12:02

Dusting myself off and emerging from behind a cabinet: Hello again to all!!

Today I am comfortable and presentable (!) which is made easier because it is not raining or icy. There have been several days where I accepted defeat and dressed as if I were about to attempt the via alpina (or just East London): goretex, polar fleece, ice spikes added onto trainers, hateful beanie hat (reflective egg cosy). Nonetheless we persevere! So:
• Navy overcoat by Tesco. It's on sale and 42% wool, comparable to most of the similar ones I was looking at on the high street.
• Navy wool jumper, old Jaeger
• Grey knit trousers, old M&S
• loafers, TKMaxx
• beret, for purposes of re-admission to this thread
Reading: 'To Cook a Bear', plus the Wyrd Museum series with my son

Now going to look back and resist buying nice things people have worn/found...

Dark Academia 3 - de vestibus agamus - the conversation continues
evtheria · 31/01/2025 12:12

weareallcats · 27/01/2025 10:44

Hello all!

Can anyone recommend me an excellent book of short stories - ideally ghost stories, but am open to anything dark leaning. Currently reading Shirley Jackson’s Dark Tales and finding them ok, but every single one has an ambiguous end, which I’m starting to find irritating! I’d like a satisfying conclusion at least some of the time 😂.

What are we wearing today?

I’ve started using Whering, which is good fun!

I recently enjoyed 'Barrowbeck', which is kind of a collection of short stories, but all about the same place, and suitably atmospheric. Also 'Nocturnes'!

TressiliansStone · 31/01/2025 20:18

<brushes @evtheria briskly down with clothes brush>

Lovely to see you again – indeed to actually see you in your finery! Ver' nice!

weareallcats · 31/01/2025 21:07

evtheria · 31/01/2025 12:12

I recently enjoyed 'Barrowbeck', which is kind of a collection of short stories, but all about the same place, and suitably atmospheric. Also 'Nocturnes'!

Thank you! I have ordered Barrowbeck - sounds perfect. I think I have a copy of Nocturnes somewhere - think dh read them but I haven’t yet!

TressiliansStone · 25/02/2025 19:43

<rushes in and sits down>

I just have to share my joy in finding someone who knows how to write an absolutely PERFECT will.

Well, perfect from my point of view. None of this seising and infefting of their heirs executors and assigns over and over for 30 pages, but exactly the right sort of overkill:

I believe that by the fact of my marriage [...] all former wills made by me are void yet for greater certainty I do hereby revoke all former wills by me at any time heretofore made and especially the following wills made by me while residing at the places and in the years following that is to say Sackville Street Westminster in the year one thousand eight hundred and seventeen Park Street Westminster in the year one thousand eight hundred and twenty five, Number eleven Suffolk Street Westminister in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty three, Number twenty two Dover Street Piccadilly on the eighteenth of October in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty three and at the same place on the fourth of November one thousand eight hundred and forty five

Thank you, Henry! Most obliged!

As you were. Grin

MurdoMunro · 28/02/2025 21:12

When you write your Great Gothic Novel @TressiliansStone this should be your opening chapter! There’s a HUGE story behind that testament. I’m sorry I wasn’t here when you rushed in.

Right. I have a much more prosaic item for consideration tonight please. I am a wearer or berets from around mid-October to late March. What could I wear on my noggin in the summery months?

Notsosecrethistory · 05/03/2025 13:51

I don't know... We are entering the season of difficult dressing. Well, not so much Spring, but certainly warmer days don't provide much for me to get excited about, sartorially speaking.

Anyone got inspiring outfits or things on their wishlist for Spring?

MurdoMunro · 05/03/2025 14:45

All I’ve got so far @Notsosecrethistory is to be on the lookout for some nice neckerchiefs. That’s not much of an enterprise is it?

I bought some cotton high waisted wide legged trousers a couple of weeks ago. They’re a pale sagey green…maybe…I keep looking at them and wondering ‘are they leaning towards pastel’. Pastels give me hives. Might have to dye them.

Notsosecrethistory · 05/03/2025 14:48

I've just got a lovely neckerchief, but I'm not tying it right. I wore it at the weekend over a plain jumper and it gave me Thatcher vibes...

SqueakyDinosaur · 05/03/2025 14:51

@MurdoMunro where did you get your trousers? Sounds like exactly what I'm looking for (though maybe in a darker colour...)

MurdoMunro · 05/03/2025 14:57

@Notsosecrethistory oh jeepers no! I’m hoping to pull off ‘summer term at old university’ not ‘milk snatcher’!

@SqueakyDinosaur they ate Zara but I picked them up at TKMax for £6 and they are about 5m too long in the leg so I had to hem, so probs last year’s stock or an error run? I’ll go off and have a look. Hang on

Notsosecrethistory · 05/03/2025 15:01

Exactly @MurdoMunro !
I kept looking at myself thinking, "what does it remind me of"? 😂It's all in the tying...
I'm working from home today so I could have worn anything, but went for joggers and a band t shirt.

MurdoMunro · 05/03/2025 15:02

Nope, sorry, not on Zara website. But that said, I did see some trousers there that could work for a ‘pims on the lawn with your fellow blue stockings after last seminar of term’ vibe. Have a look

MurdoMunro · 05/03/2025 15:04

Notsosecrethistory · 05/03/2025 15:01

Exactly @MurdoMunro !
I kept looking at myself thinking, "what does it remind me of"? 😂It's all in the tying...
I'm working from home today so I could have worn anything, but went for joggers and a band t shirt.

No side-eye from me. Also WFH, couldn’t be arsed locating bra, found husbands sweatshirt on bathroom floor, didn’t get much further than that.

Darklane · 05/03/2025 15:11

M.R. James is the king of ghost story authors.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1509827722/ref=sspa_dk_hqp_detail_aax_0?psc=1&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9ocXBfc2hhcmVk

weareallcats · 06/03/2025 09:51

Just popping on to say I loved Barrowbeck and have since read Starve Acre, by the same author, and loved that too. I then read Diavola by Jennifer Thorne, as it has an incredible spooky cover, but it was dire. Always interested in book recommendations!

Re summer dressing - I created myself a bit of a uniform when I was in the DA capital of Orlando earlier in the year. Cotton midi dresses - mostly checked - with Birkenstock bostons! I’ve been collecting from Vinted over the winter. I also think the Nobody’s Child starlight dress is a really good, slightly gothic, shape (to the point where I had to take a very dark coloured one back as it gave instant Morticia Addams vibes).

weareallcats · 06/03/2025 09:53

Darklane · 05/03/2025 15:11

Edited

Love MR James, but have read them all!

I loved Neil Gaiman’s 3 collections of stories and wish I could read them with fresh eyes again.

weareallcats · 06/03/2025 09:59

Also lightweight pinafores with linen t shirts underneath.

I struggle in summer, as I like to be covered up, but also tend to build outfits with layers and accessories, lots of items, and that is much more difficult in summer.

MurdoMunro · 06/03/2025 10:09

Oh I see what you mean about the starlight dress @weareallcats good call

‘…DA capital Orlando…’ 😆

Arraminta · 06/03/2025 11:34

I really dislike Summer clothes, heat, humidity, strong sunlight. Well anything Summer based, to be honest. My milieu is very much a misty November afternoon in Edinburgh.

But my attempt at a Summer DA outfit is usually a plain pinafore dress with a linen, 3 quarter sleeved t-shirt from Jigsaw and Lotta from Stockholm clogs.

whatwouldyoudoifisangoutofkey · 06/03/2025 12:38

I really dislike Summer clothes, heat, humidity, strong sunlight. Well anything Summer based, to be honest. My milieu is very much a misty November afternoon in Edinburgh.

Ooh , are you me ??

Arraminta · 06/03/2025 12:48

whatwouldyoudoifisangoutofkey · 06/03/2025 12:38

I really dislike Summer clothes, heat, humidity, strong sunlight. Well anything Summer based, to be honest. My milieu is very much a misty November afternoon in Edinburgh.

Ooh , are you me ??

Could be? I only really come alive between October and February.

Notsosecrethistory · 06/03/2025 14:04

"I really dislike Summer clothes, heat, humidity, strong sunlight. Well anything Summer based, to be honest. My milieu is very much a misty November afternoon in Edinburgh."

Same... I basically wear cords and boots as long as possible. I'll check out the Starlight dress because I never turn down a morticia vibe