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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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TressiliansStone · 07/12/2025 21:11

(Outfit pics have been taken but having updated all of my technology this year, nothing is talking to anything elseAngry so I can't yet upload them.)

WoolTweedArtandBooks · 07/12/2025 21:41

I did wear my Indigo Moon jacket and my silver brogues, got lots of compliments on both and felt really good in them. Thanks for the gentle push to go for it!

i also layered a black shirt from hush (via Vinted) which has a ruffle around the neck and down the button line (in a v neck shape) over a leopard print roll neck and it gave a funky victoriana vibe which I really liked. Think I accidentally found a look I can work with! I had washed-out black jeans on with rolled up ankles. Not sure if I looked current, odd, aging Goth or properly dark academic- or something else!- but I was very happy in my ‘fit that day ☺️

TressiliansStone · 07/12/2025 21:54

So many wins!

Those both sound very satisfying. Grin

Notsosecrethistory · 08/12/2025 20:36

@WoolTweedArtandBooks those both sound lovely!

Notsosecrethistory · 08/12/2025 20:38

New job at Haunted Library is going well. Is it really haunted? Who knows, but that is the aesthetic, so indulge me please... Much of my desired wardrobe is deeply impractical for such a role, of course, but I am wearing it nonetheless.

TressiliansStone · 08/12/2025 20:39

If anyone has a few 1000 quid tucked down the back of the sofa (or just wants a fascinating read), Spink the auction house is celebrating its 360th birthday with a sale of 66 selected lots to reflect their tagline: “Where History is Valued.”

https://live.spink.com/auctions/4-IVZK5K

Hermès Birkin handbag or (cheaper) penny from the time of William the Conqueror, anyone?

25360 - The 360th Anniversary Sale | Spink

The items in this special anniversary auction have been selected by the Heads of all our specialist Departments to represent, in the broadest sense, the essence of what we do at Spink, reflecting our tagline: “Where History is Valued.” We handle object...

https://live.spink.com/auctions/4-IVZK5K

TressiliansStone · 08/12/2025 20:50

Notsosecrethistory · 08/12/2025 20:38

New job at Haunted Library is going well. Is it really haunted? Who knows, but that is the aesthetic, so indulge me please... Much of my desired wardrobe is deeply impractical for such a role, of course, but I am wearing it nonetheless.

Of course you are!Grin

Very glad to hear new job is going well. I've been dying to hear more about anything you're happy to reveal.

Should we imagine you in a creaky old manor house with a headless cavalier, or a 1970s concrete monstrosity with a leaky roof and a tragic student who could never leave in life and can never leave now, who moves the rubber stamps around when no one's looking?

FeralNun · 09/12/2025 07:43

TressiliansStone · 07/12/2025 21:09

Also, may I bring to your attention that 16th December 2025 will be Jane Austen's 250th birthday!

I shall be raising a glass – perhaps you'd care to join me? Wine

There’s loads of Austen stuff on Radio 4/4 Extra to celebrate this. I’m having a really good wallow.

Notsosecrethistory · 10/12/2025 19:03

TressiliansStone · 08/12/2025 20:50

Of course you are!Grin

Very glad to hear new job is going well. I've been dying to hear more about anything you're happy to reveal.

Should we imagine you in a creaky old manor house with a headless cavalier, or a 1970s concrete monstrosity with a leaky roof and a tragic student who could never leave in life and can never leave now, who moves the rubber stamps around when no one's looking?

It's a Victorian listed building, which has had many incarnations over the years, but still retains some nice quirky features (and dodgy plumbing) 😂

TressiliansStone · 10/12/2025 19:16

Oh my god, hope it is NOT haunted plumbing... 😱

Have spent too much of my life living with that!

TressiliansStone · 16/12/2025 20:07

To Jane.Wine

Happy 250th, Miss Austen!

Notsosecrethistory · 07/01/2026 20:14

How are we all? Hope everyone is remaining dry...
Any updated wardrobe wants for 2026? I am in the market for a floral, brocade waistcoat...

TressiliansStone · 07/01/2026 20:20

Happy New Year, Darklings!

Floral brocade waistcoat? Is it too uncool to suggest M&S? I have a very fine example from there (via eBay, natch), and they do seem to be A Thing.

Notsosecrethistory · 07/01/2026 21:57

Ooh, I like that! I think darker colours for me personally, but very much along that line. I really love a waistcoat!

TressiliansStone · 07/01/2026 22:08

I'm perennially poor at the "Dark" part of Dark Academic!

In fact searching for "floral waistcoats women" without "M&S" is also bringing up occasional gems, sprinkled between the duds.

I'm not really telling you how to suck eggs; you're just an excuse to indulge...

<must stop looking at waistcoats; must stop looking at waistcoats>

Notsosecrethistory · 08/01/2026 13:13

Nah, keep looking at waistcoats. We will be the dandyist dressers of 2026 😂

FeralNun · 08/01/2026 13:57

Oh the waistcoats! I have:

1 black velvet
1 black cotton, gold embroidery (boho rather than dark)
1 white cotton, rather fabulously embroidered with lovely flowers

Never worn any of them! But am actually planning on the black velvet one this weekend, over a dress. I’ve tried it over a crisp white shirt but feared I would be mistaken for a waitress..

TressiliansStone · 08/01/2026 14:51

FeralNun · 08/01/2026 13:57

Oh the waistcoats! I have:

1 black velvet
1 black cotton, gold embroidery (boho rather than dark)
1 white cotton, rather fabulously embroidered with lovely flowers

Never worn any of them! But am actually planning on the black velvet one this weekend, over a dress. I’ve tried it over a crisp white shirt but feared I would be mistaken for a waitress..

<happy sigh>

Yes, with a crisp white shirt it probably needs funky trousers to defuse the waitress problem (I share your pain in this).

Over a dress sounds glorious...

SqueakyDinosaur · 08/01/2026 14:54

TressiliansStone · 08/01/2026 14:51

<happy sigh>

Yes, with a crisp white shirt it probably needs funky trousers to defuse the waitress problem (I share your pain in this).

Over a dress sounds glorious...

I reckon the gold embroidered one would look absolutely tip-top with a white shirt, though.

TressiliansStone · 08/01/2026 15:26

Notsosecrethistory · 08/01/2026 13:13

Nah, keep looking at waistcoats. We will be the dandyist dressers of 2026 😂

I am not going to tell you how many waistcoats I already own. It's definitely more than 3.Blush

FeralNun · 08/01/2026 15:35

Ooh, thanks @TressiliansStone - good ideas! How about, white shirt, black velvet waistcoat, green wool trousers, and a TIE?! Wide, in a dark green?

TressiliansStone · 08/01/2026 15:48

Ohh that ensemble sounds lush! Suck it and see!