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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.

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Beowulfa · 04/10/2024 15:23

Hint of frost first thing this morning; triggered my annual re-reading of October Dawn by Ted Hughes.

Got told I looked like Mary Poppins in the office the other day (long skirt and Edwardian style blouse). It's possible it wasn't meant as a compliment, but I took it as one. Don't sound like Julie Andrews at karaoke, sadly

Notsosecrethistory · 04/10/2024 18:46

Singleandproud · 03/10/2024 15:27

Teen DD loves dark academia look and asked for these pinstripe trousers with braces / suspenders for her birthday. Disturbia shirts were a bit too £££ so I bought her this collar brooch to jazz up any shirt

Excellent choices - the brooch will work with so many shirts. I hope she has a great birthday!

HerefortheDA · 04/10/2024 19:29

Oh hooray, back again! I am settling in for a winter of writing as I now have a publisher for the book. Either the series editor was wowed by my personality and was prepared to take any old garbage or they really do do things differently in those there furrin parts.

@HiveMindEchoChamber my take on joggers and sweatshirt is cords and a not particularly fitted (though not baggy) jumper. Sadly being generous of midriff I am utterly incapable of finding skinny cords so I will either have to get them taken in round the bottom, live with skinny looking like straight leg, or lose several dress sizes. (Believe me, I have tried every pair of “skinny” cords on the internet. My house looked like an Amazon depot.) I have decided to settle into unfashionable comfort/male academic c1950/geography teacher c1970 and to heck with anyone else’s opinions.

TressiliansStone · 04/10/2024 19:34

Thank you for the new thread!

I come bearing Brew and a warming 🥃 now the weather has turned.

TressiliansStone · 04/10/2024 19:38

What wonderful news, @HerefortheDA ! Congratulations on finding a publisher, and lots of good luck for the little detail of actually writing it...

Not seeing any problem with looking like an academic c1950... Smile

HerefortheDA · 04/10/2024 20:27

Indeed, @TressiliansStone that minor little detail. 😂 Fortunately the Italian attitude to time gives me hope that my similar attitude to getting important shit done will be less of an issue!

Given my love of all things meteorology-related, I feel that thwarted 70s geography teacher is perfectly acceptable! I can’t manage anything as classy as thwarted librarian. 🤦‍♀️

weareallcats · 05/10/2024 09:49

Oh crikey - just started reading over the old threads and I think you lot are going to cost me a fortune. Walker Slater…😳.

VictorianScreenTime · 05/10/2024 17:53

@weareallcats Walker Slater is the reason I’m on a clothing diet!

weareallcats · 05/10/2024 18:02

VictorianScreenTime · 05/10/2024 17:53

@weareallcats Walker Slater is the reason I’m on a clothing diet!

I want to buy everything!

henlake7 · 06/10/2024 13:41

Reading this thread with interest....and recognising quite alot of my wardrobe choices! (I do have quite abit of cord and tweed thanks to Vinted).

If the look is librarian/dated teacher then Im probably halfway there today. Wearing a gorgeous black pussy bow blouse (with a fern leaf and dragonfly pattern), sweater vest, boots and wide legged jeans. Def feels like I should be teaching english to uninterested middle schoolers! LOL😆

Notsosecrethistory · 06/10/2024 13:59

@henlake7 your outfit sounds right up my street! If you have any good sweater vest sources, let me know 😉

henlake7 · 06/10/2024 14:59

@Notsosecrethistory TBH I just tend to trawl through Vinted for likely options.
My best find this year was a beautiful brown check trench coat for £15. Cant wait to wear it with one of my many giant scarves!😁

parietal · 06/10/2024 16:39

Great thread. Any recommendations for where to buy tweed trousers? I prefer wide or straight leg.

highlandcoo · 06/10/2024 21:48

@FeralNun thanks so much for reminding me about Lotta! I came across them when looking at clogs online ages ago; I wore clogs as a student and I reckon they could look good at any age so very tempted. I didn't realise Lotta did boots too so will also have to give that some thought ..

@VictorianScreenTime I probably should have known what an Oxford comma is - maybe I did at some point - but had to Google it. It's the opposite of what we were very firmly taught at my old-fashioned Scottish grammar school. We most definitely had to miss out the comma before the final "and". Miss Harkness would be spinning in her grave if I didn't do so! Interesting though.

@Beowulfa Mary Poppins was my favourite film as a little girl. So magical. Totally a compliment imo!

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highlandcoo · 06/10/2024 21:51

@HerefortheDA congratulations on the book news! So is it being published in Italy - tell us more!

@henlake7 your blouse sounds amazing - where did you find it?

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NowInNovember · 06/10/2024 22:36

May I join? I absolutely love this style and I own lots of pieces that fit it. However, I always feel a bit self conscious dressing up and tend to hide away in jeans and hoodies.
I'm currently going through a divorce and trying to get out more. I have tickets to an upcoming literary event and to the theatre and I want to be dressed the part for them.

highlandcoo · 06/10/2024 23:39

Welcome to the thread @NowInNovember Smile

Getting out more sounds like a great plan and your events are an excellent excuse to dig some of your favourite clothes out. Go for it!

And if you'd like to, tell us what you decide to wear.

Now it's getting chilly, I'm looking forward to wearing a brown tweed jacket I picked up on ebay earlier this year. I forgot to post a photo at the time - I'll try to do that tomorrow.

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henlake7 · 07/10/2024 09:56

@highlandcoo my blouse was from Joanie....I regularly stalk their sales section!
Its very much my vibe. I probably have one foot in this camp and one in a more retro style, but they seem to mix and match quite well!

highlandcoo · 09/10/2024 14:20

@henlake7 Joanie is interesting .. probably a bit more pattern than is usual for me - I tend to go for plain stuff 90% of the time - however I did like the oak leaf dress.

S&B is brilliant for pointing me towards lots of clothing companies I would never have heard of otherwise. Expensive though! I've ordered three garments in the past two days.

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henlake7 · 10/10/2024 10:37

@highlandcoo my love of patterns is probably why I will never be fully in one camp or another! I def have DA days but then I might have a goth day or a cottagecore day just because I fell in love with an interesting pattern.
According to fashion in my early 50s I should be looking at tasteful, classic things with no more then 'a pop of colour' but its just so boring!!LOL😆

Probably abit DA today though....wearing a dark red/navy check Joanie shirt dress with navy henley underneath (coz its cold!), chunky cardie, tights and boots.

lilybloom2 · 10/10/2024 11:45

Hello everyone
I'd love to join in. I'm often told I dress like a grandma, a nanny or a librarian! I take them all as compliments 😂

weareallcats · 10/10/2024 13:05

lilybloom2 · 10/10/2024 11:45

Hello everyone
I'd love to join in. I'm often told I dress like a grandma, a nanny or a librarian! I take them all as compliments 😂

Funny you say that - dh watched me walking down the garden path in a new dress yesterday evening and said ‘mummy’s gone full Nanny McPhee’ to the dc when I walked in 😂. I’m not even sure the dress would be considered DA, but def a step in that direction (midi cord shirt dress with - subtle - owl pattern on it and a slight whiff of an Edwardian blouse around the shoulders).

applecatchers36 · 10/10/2024 16:19

Embracing Autumnal vibes and DA as the weather cools in grey trousers, denim blouse and fair isle sweater vest with dark brown boots...only my day glo cycling jacket broke the aesthetic 😅

FeralNun · 10/10/2024 20:39

I’m pleased that it’s going to turn colder this weekend. It’s a good excuse to get out last years Vinted bargain - a wool and cashmere black maxi length wrap coat. It’s fabulous and it cost me £35! Not to mention you would struggle to get the quality now, even for say, £400.
Also my burgundy lace up boots will be worn. Yay autumn!

Darklane · 10/10/2024 21:10

My favourite season. Wonder if there’s any truth in the old adage that you always love best the season you were born in, certainly true for me.
Thank you for the new thread.
I’ve spent all day gardening. Is gardening the most DA outdoor activity do you think ?
My little house is old, stone, high on the moors, bit scruffy ( or shabby chic my excuse) but although small it’s huge garden is my joy, if back breaking to prevent a wilderness. Sometimes I dream about a city centre flat. 🙄🙄
How DA do you reckon scruffy gardening gear is, ancient cords, wax jacket that saw better days twenty years ago & souwester( vital) ?