Dark Academia 3 - de vestibus agamus - the conversation continues

[highlandcoo]

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)
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.

Your house, garden and outfit sound amazing @Darklane. Do you have a greenhouse? There is something about greenhouses that is very DA (perhaps because of the amazing glasshouses at the Oxford Botanical Gardens).

I feel like my late September birthday is the first day of autumn and I tend to celebrate by wearing boots - my favourite season too.

How am I only seeing these threads now!! Goodness. Right i am settling in for a read - my finger on the Pinterest button

talking of which do you all have Pinterest folders for this ☺️

Today I'm wearing flared jeans, a thin knit stripy jumper, a navy coatigan and chunky brown ankle boots. All stuff I've owned for ages, but I bought a navy satchel handbag with brown leather straps and the bag makes an actual outfit of it.
I'm off to a book reading at my library and I'm going to go for a walk beforehand in the old part of down where I know there will a lot of fallen leaves. I feel very DA.

I really shouldnt have read all the past threads...have now discovered Disturbia and just spent way too much money (beans on toast til payday now!!LOL).
Totally worth it though!
Bought a couple of sale dresses (a lovely green shirt dress and a mini skater dress with a print that gives a slight Hieronymus Bosch vibe, which is creepy but cool!).
Also got a lovely chocolate brown cardie with embroidered fern leaves and a pair of taupe trousers that are possibly the most comfy and well fitted trousers Ive ever owned).
Id always dismissed them as very young and super Goth but alot of the stuff is def wearable by a boring middle aged woman!😄

Yes weareallcats, I have a greenhouse, badly in need of an autumn clear out at present, & a few cold frames scattered about the place.
I’ve recently bought a pair of Doc Martins, dark green, first pair ever & I’m no spring chicken. You’re going to tell me they’re too what? Trendy, biker…??? to be DA aren’t you. But at least my wellies aren’t Hunters but the local farm feed merchant’s best😂

Yes to greenhouses! My garden is too small, but I long for a greenhouse big enough to sit inside with a coffee while it’s raining.

I think there is definitely an argument for DMs - I feel there a 90’s student leaning version of this look - velvet/cord blazers, checked shirts, vintage 60’s/70’s jeans and DMs…I wore a long cord shirt dress with a burgundy velvet blazer and a huge wooly scarf yesterday and felt I looked quite DA, but also quite similar to how I dressed in the 90’s.

I’ve just got these boots and they are so gorgeous:

https://www.celticandco.com/womens/footwear/leather-boots/ladies-derby-boot?colourid=841

Went here yesterday:

https://www.gordonswinebar.com/

How DA is that? Could hear the tube rattling by too! Very cool.

Also, sorry if I’ve missed a previous discussion, but is there such a thing as a DA hairdo? I’m picturing my school art teacher - very messy/unkempt updo with a long, heavy fringe.

I’m thinking that DA is timeless 😆. I’m guessing I’m a decade ahead of you, when I put on my docs, my big coat that sweeps out deliciously behind me, plonk a beret on the top I feel like I’m still me in the 80’s heading doen to the Grassmarket with my friend, sharing a B&H

Those are beautiful boots @weareallcats

Those boots are lovely & your outfit sounds perfect. I have a really old pair of Celtic boots, knee high sheepskin, & they’ve worn so well & are comfy. They were a present & bit long so I have to turn down the tops a bit so they don’t rub the back of my knees, being a shorty shanks at just five foot.

Are the trousers quite fitted and cropped, by any chance?
I'm eyeing up a pair...

I got the Dianne ones, so Def not fitted! (I have fat calves so fitted or tapered trousers really don't suit me).
Have to say though I'm very happy with the quality and they fit great (I'm 5'5).

I think the trousers and knitwear are worth the price but the dresses seem over priced for the quality, although the patterns are gorgeous.

adds to cart
They look lovely, and I love the embroidery!

Joanie have some lovely T-Bar brogues in, I don't need new shoes so havent bought them but if they had them in red patent a là my shoes for primary school in the 90s I wouldn't have been able to resist. I would proudly show them to my mum who would probably roll her eyes (lovingly) at me as she did when I begged her for the original pair.

Ooh, the mention of DA gardening turned me from lurker to poster! Amazing threads (in both senses of the word).

Gardening wise, any DA plant suggestions? Cerinthe, black sweet williams and the rose 'deep secret' for me!
And very much not gardening footwear but I just ordered these solovair brogues for my smart work shoes, if you happen to be size 6 there are a few left at 70% off!! https://www.afinepairofshoes.co.uk/products/solovair-premium-gibson-brogue-shoe-burgundy?keyword=solovair

@napody

Cotinus (smoke bush). We have two in our back garden and they're beautifully gothic.

Oh great idea- I actually have one of these to go in! And also anthricus sylvestris 'ravenswing'- black cow parsley.

Sorry for slight diversion- hope it's within the remit...? also trawling back though for autumn/winter 'reading by the fire' recommendations so eager for more of those :)

Id love to be able to garden. Sadly I have a very scary, mentally unhinged neighbour so dont even go out into my garden anymore.😒
Although every room is filled with houseplants, I cant resist them! oh, and I am on the list for an allotment so that is something to look forward to.

Chucked on my chunky boots and plaid dress today and took myself for a walk through my local graveyard. Not alot of green spaces around here but the graveyard is beautiful and peaceful so nice for a sunday stroll!😁

I love graveyards and always have!

I like to garden. I'm growing leeks for soup and Brussels sprouts. I feel like soup is a suitably DA meal. I wish I knew more about herbs. I'd like to garden like the aunts in Practical Magic.

Agree re graveyards. Highgate has to be a DA location, right? I’m going with my dd this Friday - I’ve been before, but not in autumn, think it will be extra atmospheric.

I live opposite a graveyard - possibly outing, but I live in the grounds of a converted Victorian asylum and the patients are all buried in the green opposite my house - there is just one stone for everyone, no names on it. It is very sad, but not at all scary. The hospital building itself IS scary, however - because of what it was, but also because converting a huge Victorian building into flats and houses means the proportions are very strange and it feels a bit like Alice in Wonderland or Hill House - the house we viewed had what was once corridors in the kitchen and it was weird, also very high ceilings in small rooms and attics that were impossible to get into. I have too much of an overactive imagination to live somewhere like that, so we decided we’d just enjoy it from the outside!

I’m quite glad I wrote all that out - I’ve been feeling a bit jaded about where I live recently, as it has changed a lot since we moved here 20 years ago, but it is still quite cool.

@weareallcats that does sound absolutely fascinating. I'm like you, I'd find it interesting, but not necessarily want to live there.
My childhood home was also opposite a graveyard. It used to freak my friends out, but of course I was very used to it.

@highlandcoo my Ten Points boots have arrived and I love them. Comfy, practical and they have a warm lining which will hopefully benefit my Raynaud's-afflicted limbs.
I'm doing a whole raft of online training today. 'Tis dull, and I'm wearing basically pyjamas. But with a poncho on for warmth and boots on to break them in. So, it's a 'camera off' situation. 😂

I know somewhere that meets that description near me. If you're in that location, my grandma worked as a night orderly there when it was still in use. I couldn't live in the conversions either! Do the changes involve a lot of road works causing huge delays at the moment?

Inspired by this thread I've ordered a lovely dark velvet blazer from Vinted and am trying to find a long plaid skirt or possibly fabric to make my own. I love skirts but struggle with tights so whilst I want to dress in this way, I mostly don't.

I have these as my shorter boots.

https://www.dunelondon.com/prestone-cleated-sole-lace-up-hiker-boots-brown-0092501020013509.html

But really hankering after these, that I think they've made for years as I know I've looked at them multiple times in the past. It looks like Dune might have discontinued them so I'm thinking buy from elsewhere now before I can't ever get them. I do have a birthday coming up....

https://www.sportsdirect.com/dune-london-dune-pixie-boot-ladies-233791?cqsrc=googleeads&cqcmp=17597583573&cqqterm=&cqplac=&cqqnet=g&cqplt=gp&cqqcon=139404206618&cqmed=pla&cqqpos=&gadsource=1&gbraid=0AAAAA9YIuACexXgxKY1YdTnnEaKgNNApQ&gclid=Cj0KCQjwgrO4BhC2ARIsAKQ7zUkZ1bG-ftcFKItsDMuBaLh4kQ14Nz58TNhJWaV7BKxtipO8sVTVCHEaAgiiEALw_wcB#colcode=23379105

Oh yes! It’s now 4 sets of lights 😩.