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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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FeralNun · 15/08/2025 19:57

IlovetoKnitandRead · 15/08/2025 18:56

We are off on a 2 week cruise to the fjords but also Copenhagen and Oslo. I love planning a holiday knitting project and book. I am going to knit Petite knits slipover in a Norwegian yarn. So excited.

I could never do this, but it sounds bloody lovely!

Selfishshellfishies · 15/08/2025 20:06

Hello all. Has anyone found tall corduroy trousers that aren't cropped or low rise? I am sure in the 90's they were more of a bootcut style and flattering. Now they are all paper bag style or something?

IlovetoKnitandRead · 15/08/2025 21:05

Selfishshellfishies · 15/08/2025 20:06

Hello all. Has anyone found tall corduroy trousers that aren't cropped or low rise? I am sure in the 90's they were more of a bootcut style and flattering. Now they are all paper bag style or something?

No help I am afraid, but I have been looking for a pair of corduroys in Hobbit length for myself with no luck. Even Seasalt seem to have neglected our DA staple this year. I will have the knitwear for the top half but no bottoms 🫣

weareallcats · 15/08/2025 21:19

Selfishshellfishies · 15/08/2025 20:06

Hello all. Has anyone found tall corduroy trousers that aren't cropped or low rise? I am sure in the 90's they were more of a bootcut style and flattering. Now they are all paper bag style or something?

Dd has a 90’s style pair from SuperDry (of all places) - they’re a few years old now though, so not sure if they have anything like that in at the moment.

TressiliansStone · 15/08/2025 21:28

Selfishshellfishies · 15/08/2025 20:06

Hello all. Has anyone found tall corduroy trousers that aren't cropped or low rise? I am sure in the 90's they were more of a bootcut style and flattering. Now they are all paper bag style or something?

You might need to wait for winter for the corduroy version to come back in, but you're describing M&S Sienna jeans/cords. I bulk bought a few years ago, as they were so good and I was terrified they'd never sell something so perfect again.

In fact they did reappear the next year, so keep your fingers crossed they'll migrate in again as the leaves fall.

They're a straight cut, which I like, rather than bootcut, but they have the highest of high rises so even I'm comfortable in them, which never happens.

Selfishshellfishies · 16/08/2025 11:16

Thank you for all of the suggestions! I know I am being impatient but I have ordered these, despite them being mid rise, as they had a tall option. I may have also bought a cable knit jumper in the sale...This is what happens with the unpredictable English Summer!
www.landsend.co.uk/Womens_Tall_Straight_Leg_Stretch_Cord_Jeans_Mid_Rise/pp/6234615.html

SquirrelFan · 16/08/2025 13:34

@MurdoMunro I'd love to hear more about your classicist visiting the ruins style! Haven't really cracked DA for summer - there's always next year.
Has anyone seen affordable tweedy blazers that are more cropped /short/fitted? It seems like the long blazer is taking a while to cycle out, and it's so unflattering to me!

MurdoMunro · 16/08/2025 15:03

Well @SquirrelFan, how to describe…that’s tricky… Have a look at https://trowelblazers.com/2022/07/26/what-do-archaeologists-wear/

or here https://verityvintagestudio.typepad.com/my-blog/2018/05/traveling-1930s-style.html

A bit vintage I suppose, nice blouses, skirts, trousers but more ready to clamber than cocktails. Linen, cotton, baggy cords turned up, A line or pleated skirt, absolutely no pastels, sturdy shoes, maybe a neckerchief.

Who was asking about bloomers the other day? There’s a good pic on the Trowelblazers link of an archeologist ditching the skirt and climbing in her bloomers there.

What Do Archaeologists Wear? - Trowelblazers

Lara Croft. We all recognise her as the pixelated video game character, or her live-action movie counterpart. And arguably, what makes her this recognisable is her outfit; the tight teal tank top and itsy-bitsy hot pants. Though probably not the most w...

https://trowelblazers.com/2022/07/26/what-do-archaeologists-wear

SquirrelFan · 16/08/2025 17:06

@MurdoMunro sounds gorgeous. Will start gathering inspiration. I may add a few 1930s safari touches...

TressiliansStone · 16/08/2025 21:20

This reply has been hidden

This reply has been hidden until the MNHQ team can have a look at it.

TressiliansStone · 16/08/2025 21:29

And, I have to share this with you, I have bought a straw-bonnet. A proper Victorian-shape straw bonnet.

It was masquerading as a sun hat with no rear brim from said outdoor store. "That'll be handy slumped in a deckchair", I thought.

But when I got it home and tried it on properly, it transpires that this shape is the classic bonnet: in fact, is all classic bonnets.

Turns out you can just squish the brim here and plump it there, and it transmogrifies between narrow Lewis Carroll oyster-shell style, round style, and dipped-in-the-front-elephant-ears-style.

I did not know this!

TressiliansStone · 17/08/2025 07:47

Oh, my post is still hidden. Anyway, I should confess it's not properly DA, more archaeologist in hot climes.

FeralNun · 17/08/2025 07:54

What on earth was your post, @TressiliansStone ? The context is pretty innocuous, surely!

TressiliansStone · 17/08/2025 07:58

A link to some linen-mix shorts! Nice long ones, suitable for clambering over ruins!

FeralNun · 17/08/2025 08:05

How completely bizarre of MN!

FeralNun · 17/08/2025 08:10

Oh, about bloomers, I was asking! I ended up with some lovely cotton ones with a broderie anglaise trim on Vinted. Considering for wear under long dresses/skirts in the winter. Will also make lovely pj bottoms.

weareallcats · 17/08/2025 09:18

I really want some bloomers to actually wear as knickers!

TressiliansStone · 17/08/2025 10:32

SquirrelFan · 16/08/2025 13:34

@MurdoMunro I'd love to hear more about your classicist visiting the ruins style! Haven't really cracked DA for summer - there's always next year.
Has anyone seen affordable tweedy blazers that are more cropped /short/fitted? It seems like the long blazer is taking a while to cycle out, and it's so unflattering to me!

I find Hobbs a good brand for this, lots on Vinted & eBay.

They seem to specialise in stylish cropped jackets, so while there are a fair few summer-weddingy crops, there's also a fair bit of tweed if you persevere.

TressiliansStone · 17/08/2025 15:56

This reply has been hidden

This reply has been hidden until the MNHQ team can have a look at it.

Notsosecrethistory · 17/08/2025 18:09

@TressiliansStone what are you posting now? 😂

MurdoMunro · 17/08/2025 18:31

Tressilian’s academy has gone dark…very dark…she has been cast out of the town to live amongst the heathens, on moonless nights with a northerly wind you can hear her wail stylishly in her Walker Slater skirt and Brora jumper

FeralNun · 17/08/2025 18:47

@MurdoMunro Excellent!

evtheria · 18/08/2025 09:33

MurdoMunro · 17/08/2025 18:31

Tressilian’s academy has gone dark…very dark…she has been cast out of the town to live amongst the heathens, on moonless nights with a northerly wind you can hear her wail stylishly in her Walker Slater skirt and Brora jumper

Ooh love it…

TressiliansStone · 18/08/2025 13:58

MurdoMunro · 17/08/2025 18:31

Tressilian’s academy has gone dark…very dark…she has been cast out of the town to live amongst the heathens, on moonless nights with a northerly wind you can hear her wail stylishly in her Walker Slater skirt and Brora jumper

Ooooooeeeeeeiiiiiii....