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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:
Thread gallery
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MurdoMunro · 02/04/2025 14:31

https://modcloth.com/collections/accessories?loc=TopNav&osp=Top_Nav_shoes_acc_level_1_all_SHOES_accessories_20220827

Ah. Look at the Woody and Penny loafers. Sigh.

Notsosecrethistory · 02/04/2025 16:59

@MurdoMunro Yeah, I used to LOVE Modcloth! I had so much from there... And Miss L Fire for shoes - they were absolutely stunning.

Look at Memery - not cheap though, from memory (ahem)

Hotter do some, and Esska do some that fit the silhouette...

Notsosecrethistory · 02/04/2025 17:05

@swearsbymoonlight how do you feel about clogs?

weareallcats · 02/04/2025 17:29

I’ve got these:

https://www.toa.st/collections/womens-sandals/products/vibae-leather-fisherman-sandals-tan

I am VERY pleased with them. Not sure if they exactly fit the DA aesthetic but they are comfortable and look excellent with my various cord/checked dresses and also
with dungarees.

I also have a couple of pairs of velvet Mary Jane’s from Moi London:

https://www.moilondon.com/

in brown and saffron.

And brown suede Birkenstock bostons.

Think it might be worth looking at clogs too - I haven’t got any yet, but see them in my future.

Vibae Leather Fisherman Sandals | Tan

Vibae Leather Fisherman Sandals | Tan

Fisherman sandals from Vibae, handmade in a family-run Portuguese factory. Available in Tan.

https://www.toa.st/collections/womens-sandals/products/vibae-leather-fisherman-sandals-tan

MurdoMunro · 03/04/2025 07:11

Notsosecrethistory · 02/04/2025 17:14

Well, now I'm down quite the rabbit hole...

Look at this site I've just found.

https://americanduchess.eu

The Edwardian collection 😲😲😲😲😲

MurdoMunro · 03/04/2025 07:17

I have shoes v similar to the Birkenstock Bostons @weareallcats but I’ve had to relegate them to house shoes because if I go anywhere at pace in them I leave them behind. Skinny long feet I think. I have similar problems with clogs, had some lovely lotta of Sweden ones but gave them to my friend. I try to avoid her now because she wears them with elegance and ease and I’m bitter about it 😆

Love your wedding shoes @Notsosecrethistory what colour did you have?

swearsbymoonlight · 03/04/2025 09:44

Notsosecrethistory · 02/04/2025 17:05

@swearsbymoonlight how do you feel about clogs?

Hmmm, not sure about clogs. They don't sound comfy and I'm of an age where I have to be comfy lol!

henlake7 · 03/04/2025 10:32

oooooh, some lovely shoes there! I would love a pair of those type of heeled brogue-ish shoes but its hard to find something that isnt leather.

Birthday treat today and got some bits from Disturbia including a lovely plaid skirt that is almost a blackwatch tartan with buckles at the waist. I do love abit of plaid.
(also got a lovely jumper with toadstools and vines on it, which will feed the part of my soul dedicated to cottagecore!).😃

MurdoMunro · 03/04/2025 10:56

Am with you on clogs, at least in the traditional form, the rigid footbed and clonkiness can play havoc on the feet of us more mature bints with a fear of the plantar fasciitis

Notsosecrethistory · 04/04/2025 11:21

I have a sartorial dilemma, and I think on this thread will be the only ones who get it...

I am going to a wedding, in July. I need an outfit, but I just don't like the look of any summery dresses or such.

I love a wedding, it's a happy day! BUT I like them in winter, when I can wear something dark and velvet and wear a proper bra. I'm not against a suit, but would be too hot in July.

Anywhere I can look for an outfit/dress? Am tall, size 8-10, dark hair, suit earthy colours, long skirts and gothy stuff 😆

TressiliansStone · 04/04/2025 12:38

Why not wear something velvet and richly coloured, but not too dark? With accessories to brighten it?

Re brands, I'm not sure if this comes even close to meeting your brief but I've just discovered Joe Browns – and am trying not to get too sucked in. My natural style is librarian meets steam punk, and they're feeding my dreams...

TressiliansStone · 04/04/2025 12:45

Oh lord, this is why I'm scared to come back on this thread. So many gorgeous links: so little money.Grin

I shall allow myself a peek through everything you temptresses have laid out...

MurdoMunro · 04/04/2025 12:54

I sometimes find things by putting ‘vintage boutique dress’ in vinted. Loads of shite as well but it might be worth a shot.

Maybe House of Bruar? £££ plus they can go a bit wild on the ‘I’m going on a med cruise wearing 100% pastels’ on the summer stock tho

TressiliansStone · 04/04/2025 12:57

Sorry, you asked where.

Velvet dresses seem to be everywhere at the moment, in a lot of designs. Maybe it's just me noticing for once, but I was overrun with them when I was <ahem> having a little browse yesterday...

Is this your sort of thing?
https://www.stories.com/en_gbp/clothing/dresses/maxi-dresses/product.draped-velvet-maxi-dress-green.1235195002.html

TressiliansStone · 04/04/2025 12:59

Not sure why you didn't get an image with that link. Here's a screen shot.

Dark Academia 3 - de vestibus agamus - the conversation continues
MurdoMunro · 04/04/2025 13:00

Oh good lord. Stretch me a metre and power gloss my limbs and I’d be totally in that.

TressiliansStone · 04/04/2025 13:19

Mind you, I'm in Scotland and it's hard to remember what being warm feels like. I have my feet up on a hot water bottle as I speak.Shock

So my choices may be rather influenced by that...

TressiliansStone · 04/04/2025 13:44

Meh, image-fail again. Here.

Dark Academia 3 - de vestibus agamus - the conversation continues
evtheria · 04/04/2025 14:24

@TressiliansStoneLove that velvet dress, what a great shade of green.
@Notsosecrethistory My first thought was ‘rent a dress by The Vampire’s Wife’. Dark florals galore! They also have full sequined affairs, but it depends on how glam you can/want to go. I’d also look at The Reformation for more modern inspo, they are a favourite for wedding guest dresses and do many in darker or earth tones.

Dark Academia 3 - de vestibus agamus - the conversation continues
Dark Academia 3 - de vestibus agamus - the conversation continues
Dark Academia 3 - de vestibus agamus - the conversation continues
Dark Academia 3 - de vestibus agamus - the conversation continues
TressiliansStone · 04/04/2025 14:53

<drool>