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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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TressiliansStone · 03/02/2026 22:18

Oh. My. God.

I'm so jealous I can barely speak!

Um, clothes. Oh dear, can't even think for the vicarious excitement!

TressiliansStone · 03/02/2026 22:23

The recent Branagh version of MotOE comes to mind, and the character Mary Debenham played by Daisy Ridley.

I haven't checked pics, but I seem to remember wide leg wool trousers and a waistcoat?

TressiliansStone · 03/02/2026 22:25

Oh, I'm sorry to see @StealthSightHound has disappeared from the thread.

I hope she wasn't abducted while carrying her minimalist suitcase through occupied territory...

TressiliansStone · 03/02/2026 22:46

Nope, I misremembered. She had a long wool check skirt, ditto coat.

Murder on the Orient Express | On-set visit with Daisy Ridley - Mary Debenham

Dark Academia 3 - de vestibus agamus - the conversation continues
TressiliansStone · 03/02/2026 22:53

Or look at Harriet Walter's wonderful Harriet Vane in Gaudy Night.

Long check wool jackets must surely be both Dark Academic and highly suitable for an interwar murder mystery!

TressiliansStone · 03/02/2026 23:00

mightymalties · 24/01/2026 23:20

Jacob Elordi's performance in Frankenstein was masterful, so for his casting as Heathcliff I intend to watch despite my misgivings.

It's been a while since I commented on these threads, but I found this one again yesterday and am so happy it's still being updated! You lovely ladies inspired me to "dress up" a little for a trip to town today. Brown tweed wool trousers, tan Hamble Oaks, cappucino lightweight sweater worn over a lace collar and topped off with my Joules waxed Canter jacket (the one with the little cape). All Vinted bargains, except for the jacket (for which I'd saved for months and managed to snag in the sales).

After a troublesome few months, it made me feel very nice indeed 😁

In fact @mightymalties fab outfit might be a good first sketch.

@mightymalties , that does sound wonderful. We all need some Nice sometimes.Grin

lilybloomtoo · 04/02/2026 18:36

I have found you again!!!!! Mumsnet stopped showing me updates!

Speaking of dark academia homes. I live in a Victorian house in a conservation area of Scotland so lots of features are original. My street is winding with wrought iron railing and lots of trees. I love it. I am mid renovating and trying to have a touch of the DA vibe.

Clothes wise I was wearing black tights and boots with a cord skirt and grey woollen jumper. All covered with a black woollen coat from the 90s with a matching beret.

TressiliansStone · 04/02/2026 19:33

Welcome back, @lilybloomtoo ! Brew

Did your railings survive the call for iron during the wars, or are they reconstructed?

lilybloomtoo · 04/02/2026 19:53

They survived! My aunt, who lived about a mile from where I am now, often talks about how my area was middle class so they were allowed to keep them whilst other streets were not so privileged,

We have gorgeous little iron boot cleaners at the front door too.

TressiliansStone · 04/02/2026 21:33

Ooh I used to live on a street with boot cleaners. Many had been filled with mortar. Vandalism!

I'm so surprised about your street's railings! Middle class area or not I've seen precious few streets that weren't just rows of stubs.

Notsosecrethistory · 05/02/2026 13:37

TressiliansStone · 03/02/2026 22:53

Or look at Harriet Walter's wonderful Harriet Vane in Gaudy Night.

Long check wool jackets must surely be both Dark Academic and highly suitable for an interwar murder mystery!

I already have a checked wool blazer and wide-leg brown pleat front trousers, lace up brogues and a Gladstone bag.

Now, what can I wear on top that makes it look more in keeping with the fancier dress code, and less office-y. I think a waistcoat would be nice, but I don't have anything smart enough. Maybe a lace detailed/silk blouse in cream? Do I go for a hat??

TressiliansStone · 05/02/2026 13:47

I already have a checked wool blazer and wide-leg brown pleat front trousers, lace up brogues and a Gladstone bag.

Of course you do! Grin

I'm hopeless with blouses so can't make suggestions on that, but definitely a hat. Will move it from office-y into all-dressed-up.

Also I've been looking back through our threads for info (an enjoyable way to spend a morning!), and we were sharing our pocket watches. If your jacket is suitable or you can acquire the right waistcoat, might that work for you?

(I'm assuming at least a litte shopping is in order for this adventure.)

TressiliansStone · 05/02/2026 13:55

I don't want to look like I'm going to a wedding, I want to look like a 1930s detective

Thinking more about this... would office-y per 1930s women, elevated with the right accessories (hat, Gladstone bag, jewellery, perhaps watch), hit the spot?

Notsosecrethistory · 05/02/2026 15:33

TressiliansStone · 05/02/2026 13:55

I don't want to look like I'm going to a wedding, I want to look like a 1930s detective

Thinking more about this... would office-y per 1930s women, elevated with the right accessories (hat, Gladstone bag, jewellery, perhaps watch), hit the spot?

Yes, it would... I think because I wear these trousers to work, they just feel like normal clothes to me. So I don't want to feel drab if everyone is in dresses and heels. (But I don't want to wear a dress or heels. 😂 I could wear a dress, but you know what I mean)

TressiliansStone · 05/02/2026 15:36

Naturally your "normal clothes" are 1930s. We all understand. Grin

TressiliansStone · 05/02/2026 19:16

Oh good lord. Now I've discovered two whole new classes of lovely objects: pendant watches and brooch watches.

Dark Academia 3 - de vestibus agamus - the conversation continues
Notsosecrethistory · 08/02/2026 13:34

TressiliansStone · 05/02/2026 15:36

Naturally your "normal clothes" are 1930s. We all understand. Grin

😂 They aren't really period pieces... but they do lend themselves in that direction!

Notsosecrethistory · 08/02/2026 13:35

TressiliansStone · 05/02/2026 19:16

Oh good lord. Now I've discovered two whole new classes of lovely objects: pendant watches and brooch watches.

Oh, that's so lovely. My mum had a turquoise enamel 'ring watch' that I'd forgotten all about till you showed that!

TressiliansStone · 18/02/2026 23:25

Well well well.

Fans of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell may be amused to know that a real John Strange (1732–1799) was the resident British diplomat at Venice until 1788.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Strange_(diplomat)

His mother Susannah Strong came from a dynasty of sculptors and stonemasons whose works included St Paul's cathedral and the statue of George I on the steeple of St George's church, Bloomsbury.

I feel like I've just come across the jotting book of Susanna Clarke!

John Strange (diplomat) - Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Strange_(diplomat)

weareallcats · 19/02/2026 10:23

TressiliansStone · 18/02/2026 23:25

Well well well.

Fans of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell may be amused to know that a real John Strange (1732–1799) was the resident British diplomat at Venice until 1788.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Strange_(diplomat)

His mother Susannah Strong came from a dynasty of sculptors and stonemasons whose works included St Paul's cathedral and the statue of George I on the steeple of St George's church, Bloomsbury.

I feel like I've just come across the jotting book of Susanna Clarke!

My favourite book by some margin! I love everything she’s written and wish there was more of it!

I’m stuck with the cat on my lap (not complaining) so going in for a look now!

TressiliansStone · 19/02/2026 10:33

According to Wikipedia, Clarke's idea for the novel came out of

"a kind of waking dream ... about a man in 18th-century clothes in a place rather like Venice, talking to some English tourists. And I felt strongly that he had some sort of magical background – he'd been dabbling in magic, and something had gone badly wrong."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Strange_%26_Mr_Norrell#Composition_and_publication

weareallcats · 24/02/2026 11:47

A link for anyone who wants to swoon o er excellent boots today:

https://www.untamedstreet.com/collections/women/women-military-boots

Scroll down for more DA leaning styles (although the bikers are also 😻).

TressiliansStone · 24/02/2026 19:59

Ooh, ver' nice!

I'm averting my eyes, mind you, because I've just been on a Vinted shoe spree – inspired by @Notsosecrethistory 's 1930's detective brief.Grin

Although I actually went a bit more 1940s for mine, as I've simultaneously been treating myself to the full run of Foyle's War from the beginning. I'd only seen a few stray episodes previously, so submersing myself in the full thing has been highly enjoyable!

lilybloomtoo · 22/03/2026 09:57

i am very dark academia today! I am meeting some family for lunch and wearing cherry docs, brown barrel trouser, white blouse and a lovely navy trench. I am taking my book as I am always early and quite fancy a wine as I wait

TressiliansStone · 22/03/2026 10:05

May I ask for a recommendation for the brown barrel trousers, please?

I've lived in skinnies/narrows all my life but have suddenly discovered the joys of a barrel leg...