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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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weareallcats · 01/04/2026 09:34

SqueakyDinosaur · 31/03/2026 23:10

Coventry is an interesting mix of medieval/Tudor/Georgian stuff with a lot of absolute Brutalist 50s/60s concrete, due to the heavy bombing in WW2. I have genuinely got lost in the centre within 50m of my destination thanks to the layout. TBH, it wouldn't be my first choice for a DA break!

I have sung in the cathedral, and it was a wonderful experience, btw.

No, I know Cov’s a bit rubbish - was intending to be a bit sarcastic with this suggestion - just thought it was funny that someone said any old Cathedral city will do. The Cathedral is unique because of the bombing though. And the ring road is like a portal to hell.

SqueakyDinosaur · 01/04/2026 15:20

It was me - I said "a lot of cathedral cities" - because I sing in a choir that deputises for cathedral choirs, I've been to loads. I wouldn't pick Coventry or Gloucester or Peterborough, that's for sure. York, Winchester, Ripon, Norwich, Chester, Hereford or Salisbury, off the top of my head, would all hit the spot to some degree.

weareallcats · 01/04/2026 16:40

SqueakyDinosaur · 01/04/2026 15:20

It was me - I said "a lot of cathedral cities" - because I sing in a choir that deputises for cathedral choirs, I've been to loads. I wouldn't pick Coventry or Gloucester or Peterborough, that's for sure. York, Winchester, Ripon, Norwich, Chester, Hereford or Salisbury, off the top of my head, would all hit the spot to some degree.

Worcester? I remember the cathedral being gorgeous, but not sure the town has that much (other than Elgar, of course). It was my nearest city growing up but only really have hazy memories of dodgy nightclubs 😬. Wonder what it’s like now?

SqueakyDinosaur · 01/04/2026 18:01

The thing I remember at Worcester is that outside the song school there is a flight of stairs, and the base of the newel post is carved in the shape of an absolutely beautiful greyhound's foot. The town isn't up to much.

Wells is another good DA possibility, but very little.

WoolTweedArtandBooks · 05/04/2026 16:52

I have been to Barcelona and stayed in the gothic quarter. Fantastically gothic, and found a bookshop which is also a bar selling wine and snacks, a cafe called Cafe del Academia, and another bar which is like a 1930s train inside and has a sliding door to go in (and where I had a really nice whisky, unexpectedly expensive 😬). Plus all the Gothic architecture and streets. If I’d stayed much longer i’d’ve probably written a sequel to Frankenstein’s Monster.
💯 recommend for dark academia trips. Go in winter for extra darkness.

Notsosecrethistory · 05/04/2026 17:30

WoolTweedArtandBooks · 05/04/2026 16:52

I have been to Barcelona and stayed in the gothic quarter. Fantastically gothic, and found a bookshop which is also a bar selling wine and snacks, a cafe called Cafe del Academia, and another bar which is like a 1930s train inside and has a sliding door to go in (and where I had a really nice whisky, unexpectedly expensive 😬). Plus all the Gothic architecture and streets. If I’d stayed much longer i’d’ve probably written a sequel to Frankenstein’s Monster.
💯 recommend for dark academia trips. Go in winter for extra darkness.

You have absolutely sold this to me!! If you can remember the train cafe name, I'd be much obliged

WoolTweedArtandBooks · 05/04/2026 19:52

Notsosecrethistory · 05/04/2026 17:30

You have absolutely sold this to me!! If you can remember the train cafe name, I'd be much obliged

In the light of day it isn’t a train carriage, it’s a really really nice lift! Sorry. But one of those lovely old fashioned ones you might associate with Paris.
Cafe-Bar L’Ascensor.

ETA the s on Paris!

and the bookshop-bar is called Libreria Sant-Jordi.

RunSlowTalkFast · 05/04/2026 20:12

WoolTweedArtandBooks · 05/04/2026 16:52

I have been to Barcelona and stayed in the gothic quarter. Fantastically gothic, and found a bookshop which is also a bar selling wine and snacks, a cafe called Cafe del Academia, and another bar which is like a 1930s train inside and has a sliding door to go in (and where I had a really nice whisky, unexpectedly expensive 😬). Plus all the Gothic architecture and streets. If I’d stayed much longer i’d’ve probably written a sequel to Frankenstein’s Monster.
💯 recommend for dark academia trips. Go in winter for extra darkness.

This sounds amazing, I've never been to Barcelona!

RunSlowTalkFast · 05/04/2026 20:15

Also I just started reading a book called Lucien, it's described as 'The Secret History meets Saltburn', probably an exaggeration but I'm enjoying it so far.

It's set at Harvard and also involves art forgery.

Thought possibly some of you might enjoy it.

Notsosecrethistory · 05/04/2026 20:16

WoolTweedArtandBooks · 05/04/2026 19:52

In the light of day it isn’t a train carriage, it’s a really really nice lift! Sorry. But one of those lovely old fashioned ones you might associate with Paris.
Cafe-Bar L’Ascensor.

ETA the s on Paris!

and the bookshop-bar is called Libreria Sant-Jordi.

Edited

That whisky must really have been something 😂
Thank you for the recommendations!

lilybloomtoo · 09/04/2026 13:24

I treated myself to the faux vintage style suede blazer from boohoo. it was £18 in the sale. I love it adds a little dark academia to my boring jeans and jumpers.
I am meeting an old uni friend on Monday and cant decide how to style it but will wear it whatever!

WoolTweedArtandBooks · 09/04/2026 13:45

lilybloomtoo · 09/04/2026 13:24

I treated myself to the faux vintage style suede blazer from boohoo. it was £18 in the sale. I love it adds a little dark academia to my boring jeans and jumpers.
I am meeting an old uni friend on Monday and cant decide how to style it but will wear it whatever!

Ooh, may we see pics?

WoolTweedArtandBooks · 09/04/2026 20:45

That’s very nice! Enjoy wearing it!

UnimaginableWindBird · 11/04/2026 16:40

Hello. I live in York and can confirm that Trembling Madness is still good and also that there are several excellent new bookshops - Criminally Good Books (for crime books) The Poetry Pharmacy (for poetry) and Topping & Co will be opening a branch in a few months. And York Minster have teamed up with a local brewery to make a beer called Poisoned Chalice to commemorate to 800th anniversary of St William of York who was said to have been murdered with poisoned wine during Holy Communion. yorkminster.org/latest/york-minster-launches-beer-to-commemorate-saint/

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