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Dark Academia 3 - de vestibus agamus - the conversation continues

877 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
76
weareallcats · 10/05/2026 10:42

I am a cold, dark and rainy person to my core - very sensitive to bright sunlight and heat (neurodivergent, pasty redhead), so I don’t leave the house much during the summer. I do like looking at all the green and the flowers blooming and I love how my front garden looks in the summer - I have a crazy rose that grows all around (and over) my door and windows and then lots of wildflowers and daisies on my ‘lawn’ at the back, which we just leave to be mad and wild. It is not an especially well tended garden, but I love that it does it’s own thing and it looks its best in the spring and summer months. I also quite enjoy light and peaceful mornings and evenings, when you might need to put a jumper on.

Sorry, small digression, I just wanted to say that I do like a couple of small things about summer, but mostly spend it wishing for autumn (which I adore). I tend to wear light and floaty dresses, always long and mostly with sleeves - Florence Welch, witchy boho, pre-raphaelite, still rather florid. For shoes I have flat velvet mary janes in various colours and live in those - I never wear trainers, sandals occasionally. I also have simple cotton dresses from Toast, that dh says make me look like a maester from Game of Thrones, or like I am going to be burned at the stake. I don’t do hot holidays, so never have to think about that.

WoolTweedArtandBooks · 10/05/2026 14:35

Sounds lovely. Where do you get the Mary Janes? When I was a teenager I loved them and you could buy them quite cheaply (in black, burgundy or bottle green) in some of the hippier shops.

weareallcats · 10/05/2026 18:25

The Mary Janes are from Moi London:

https://www.moilondon.com/

They are a huge spring and summer staple for me - once the tights are off these are on my feet until they go back on again!

They look dainty, but do actually wear quite well - I’ve stomped round London in them. I’ve also got them soaking wet and they survived!

Handcrafted Women's Shoes | MOI London

MOI London - Handcrafted shoes from Istanbul. High-quality, soft, comfy, stylish shoes for women

https://www.moilondon.com

Notsosecrethistory · 24/05/2026 18:09

Too hot to be dark or academic or have any sort of vibe! Well, actually I am wearing black, but still... my 'not to be seen by the public shorts' and a band tee today.
All week will be warm... inspire me please!

FeralNun · 24/05/2026 19:14

Today I wore a very loose, floaty block print dress from Dilli Grey - not remotely dark, but fitted the day.

Tomorrow will be another block print floaty number or perhaps a cream ruffled play suit - again, not remotely dark, but not mainstream either.

lilybloomtoo · 24/05/2026 20:19

Today I am wearing a dark blue floral long empire waist dress. I tend to imagine I am running the moors in the summer when choosing warm day outfits. 😂however my adidas gazelles waste that vibe

weareallcats · 24/05/2026 22:23

Yesterday a floaty stevie nicks style dress in burgundy with a gothic, Wuthering heights inspired print from Olivia Annabelle.

Today a floaty ‘art teacher’ dress (dh’s description) in green from Free People.

Tomorrow probably a faithful floaty dress - gold/orange ditsy floral on black - from
Iris.

All with Moi velvet Mary Janes.

Summer doesn’t suit me, so I do my best to enjoy it by floating around in fabulous clothes.

FeralNun · 25/05/2026 08:17

Oh, are you pleased with your Olivia Annabelle, @weareallcats ? I was seriously tempted by the latest collection - the caped jacket thing! All beautiful..

WoolTweedArtandBooks · 25/05/2026 14:17

Notsosecrethistory · 24/05/2026 18:09

Too hot to be dark or academic or have any sort of vibe! Well, actually I am wearing black, but still... my 'not to be seen by the public shorts' and a band tee today.
All week will be warm... inspire me please!

I got a playsuit from Vinted in patchwork orange/yellow/pink, which is floaty and has a 70s vibe. It’s coming off in a minute though so I’ll be in my bikini.

Notsosecrethistory · 25/05/2026 16:51

I've never heard of Olivia Annabelle, so I've just had a search - I LOVE it!! Expensive, but I will happily scroll through and drool...

weareallcats · 25/05/2026 17:59

I love Olivia Annabelle! I have a handful of dresses and they are all exquisite. Yes, expensive, but worth it - so unique and lots of love put into the designs. @FeralNun I was deeply tempted by both jackets - in fact I could have bought the whole of that collection.

Notsosecrethistory · 22/06/2026 20:26

How are we faring? What are we wearing?

Get me into September asap, tbh 😆

HellonHeels · 24/06/2026 21:12

Black linen shirt dress and pearls. Not sure if pearls fit the DA vibe but I think they have a 40s air to them.

SqueakyDinosaur · 24/06/2026 22:24

Long, unstructured navy blue and black fine stripes, with a kimono pattern in white and a gathered bit at the waist which is a bastard to iron.

weareallcats · 25/06/2026 11:17

Hid in the house all day - sat outside from 8ish till after midnight. I have this dress in several
colours:

https://www.freepeople.com/uk/shop/plenty-of-love-maxi/?color=052

Dh calls them my art teacher dresses. Live in them when it’s hot.

Catsandcwtches · 25/06/2026 16:45

@weareallcats love that! You’d be a very stylish art teacher

FeralNun · 25/06/2026 17:02

Don’t know why pic didn’t load in last post!

Dark Academia 3 - de vestibus agamus - the conversation continues
weareallcats · 26/06/2026 16:11

FeralNun · 25/06/2026 16:59

I’m wearing this hand dyed, light as air, floaty 2 piece in piglet pink, by the genius that is Emma at the Big Dress Cult. Sold out in all colours, but she has other floaty things. Full on art teacher. Adore.

Big Dress Cult

Ooof! Love that. I’ve just ordered a big float dress in beetroot!

SqueakyDinosaur · 26/06/2026 16:15

Piglet pink is the most adorable name for a colour!

Notsosecrethistory · 27/06/2026 09:51

FeralNun · 25/06/2026 16:59

I’m wearing this hand dyed, light as air, floaty 2 piece in piglet pink, by the genius that is Emma at the Big Dress Cult. Sold out in all colours, but she has other floaty things. Full on art teacher. Adore.

Big Dress Cult

I have looked through this whole website because I enjoy her product descriptions 😂

FeralNun · 27/06/2026 10:13

Notsosecrethistory · 27/06/2026 09:51

I have looked through this whole website because I enjoy her product descriptions 😂

😂
I’ve bought so much from her over the years that we’ve become friendly. She used to make the most amazing copper jewellery out of old pipe, described as armaments, which they very much are. The latest colour descriptions inspired me to suggest some of my own to her:

Hot Spanner
Lurex Daydream
Otter’s Pocket

Anyone want to join in?! 😂

weareallcats · 01/07/2026 17:10

@FeralNun My big, floaty dress arrived today and I love it! Will definitely be ordering more.

FeralNun · 01/07/2026 17:18

@weareallcats oh, brilliant!

weareallcats · 02/07/2026 11:27

FeralNun · 01/07/2026 17:18

@weareallcats oh, brilliant!

Wearing it today and loving it. Have ordered another in mole and also the linen wrap jacket.

What a great find!