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.

My husband spent a lovely few hours in Toppings the other day. I'd bought him a gift voucher for "Coffee with a Book Seller" for Christmas last year. Value goes towards your book spend and you email the store with your preferences and they'll select you a choice of books for you to peruse whilst having your tea/coffee.
You're free to pass on any and choose your own of course.
Hubby was most thrilled at the cookies he was given and has requested another voucher for this Christmas.

Deep envy of Witchery/Edinburgh @Arraminta . I was supposed to go with my dd late August but ended up cancelling.

I’ve been planting black tulip bulbs today and am making cottage pie as I type (just waiting for the wine to reduce). Unfortunately a neighbour is playing dance music in their garden, but you can’t have it all.

It’s chilly enough in the garden for the huge rusty coloured merino cardigan (Toast) I got from Vinted for £30, wearing it with my huge mother moon’s dress cult dress, which one of the great joys of my wardrobe.

I recently read a book called The Residency which was rather good - it touched on a few genres, probably mostly gothic, but a bit of folk horror and dark (art) academia. I’ve read so many disappointing things recently, so this was refreshing. Just started The Red Sacrament, which is also promising (vampires, opera).

Would be interested to hear about people’s favourite novels/stories. My absolute favourite is Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, nothing has come close to beating it (also loved Piranesi and The Ladies of Grace Adieu); The Summer People by Shirley Jackson (obviously The Lottery is notoriously horrifying, but this one just as chilling). Of course Neil Gaiman has let us down but The Ocean at the End of the Lane scared me half to death (Ursula). All of Robert Aickman’s stories, but especially Bind Your Hair and The Stains. Mansfield Park is my favourite Austen to a point - I am team Crawford I’m afraid, love them both, so the end bugs me. Jane Eyre best Brontë . Dracula best gothic. The Winter’s Tale is my favourite Shakespeare.

A crow just cawed! Autumn equinox is upon us. Now there is an aeroplane - boo.

I loved nothing I studied at uni, apart from Northanger Abbey, which I first encountered as an audhd 12 year old and took literally. Still love it as satire, loved the drama of the 80’s BBC adaptation.

We have a veritable parliament of owls outside our home who set up a proper chorus once night falls. Love it!

@weareallcats i also enjoyed Piranesi, Dracula, and Jonathan Strange. Favourite Shakespeare is Macbeth. Some of Iain Banks’ work was pretty dark, like The Castle and of course, The Wasp Factory.

I also enjoy Diana Wynn Jones, since I was about 8 I have loved her books, and Fire and Hemlock in particular would be on my desert island shortlist. It’s very literature-heavy in its references and I don’t know them all, but I still really enjoy it.

And Cold Comfort Farm - Flora Poste is a great heroine.

I sympathise with your uni literature experience. I did French and I hated the novels we studied. The cinema module, on the other hand, was wonderful! I loved the New Wave films and am currently sporting a rather A bout de souffle crop… somewhat more chat than Jean Sevurg though 😂

Back to clothes! Today I collected a lovely shawl in a pink/black/grey plaid which I found on Vinted. I bought it for my office, which is chilly, but I like it so much I may need want another one for home!

I’ve been getting the waistcoats out. Today was a black linen one with black pinstripe trousers and a long sleeved burgundy t shirt. It’s a useful extra layer for the chilly mornings!

There are ravens that come outside our house every day and I keep threatening to my husband that I shall befriend them.

You should! I’ve only ever seen a raven in Japan, never here, even at the Tower of London. I think I might try and befriend the crows this year - I hear they’re quite receptive. I love their cry. Lots of robin song at the moment. Bloody pigeons still everywhere, but at least they have stopped mating!

I don’t understand why they are so determined to make degrees miserable! I did literature and history and my favourite modules were on women’s history, particularly ‘witchcraft’, although it was harrowing.

Morning, fellows. Wishing you a fruitful autumn equinox, as we tip over to the dark half of the year (and get out all our lovely knitwear and boots!).

Talking of fellows, and because I’m so thrilled, and it is academia related, if not dark - DD is to become a fellow of her university!

That’s wonderful @FeralNun 💖

Thank you! I am so proud. She hasn’t had it easy, she has dyslexia and chronic health issues, but she is expert in her field now and it’s fantastic that she’s being recognised. My dear old departed father would be so proud too - his granddaughter a fellow at the uni he worked at!

Oh, and ravens - they are HUGE, aren’t they? You think they might be like a big rook or a crow, but no - surprisingly massive!

That's absolutely wonderful, @FeralNun (great name too!) - many congratulations to your daughter.

I love all corvids because they are so jaunty, even when they're being evil. My mum's old house had a rookery in the garden and we spent hours watching them and their social interactions.

The Tower of London on x (https://x.com/TowerOfLondon ) often posts about the ravens there - worth a follow if you're on there.

@FeralNun Congrats to your daughter, amazing!
@weareallcats really!? I'm so surprised by this, we have a few where we are! My new mates 😂

Yes! Just crows and jackdaws (which I love) and the occasional rook. We do get lots of songbirds though.

I’ve come over here to hide from the horrifying AI thread on AIBU. I hate it so much, please say you all do too? Luddites assemble?

Oooh! Who wants to see a pic of my new black kitten, joining our gang in November?

The white will fall off - it’s a fever coat. This one is a girl - we already have 2 blue boys (1 tabby, 1 solid) and a black lab. All a bit outing, but I don’t think any of my friends are on this thread.

@weareallcats
beautiful
Here is Micia

Gorgeous!!! Is the babe pronounced ‘mee-sha’?

We are calling our girl Sigrit (beautiful victory - the victory I had over dh in order to get her). Boys are Raikou (Japanese thunder god) and Wolfgang (we were in Salzburg just before we got him). Dog is Jago. All animals should be pretentiously named.

Name! Too late to edit.

I didn’t notice it was a mistake, because calling that kitten a babe is perfectly reasonable 😍😁

Beautiful cats!
I would love a black cat, but my husband insists we already have too many pets. (He’s absolutely correct, but the heart wants what it wants!)

@weareallcats is Sigrit a particular breed? I’ve not heard of a fever coat.
I’ve not seen the AI thread, but I actually find it all really worrying, so I won’t seek it out.

She’s a Maine Coon. I hadn’t heard of a fever coat either, but apparently it’s fairly common (and completely harmless) - it happens when the mother has a high temp at some point during pregnancy. It’s very visible on a black cat. I think the rusting (gingery bits) may stay as her dad has it.

It’s a horrible thread - wise to stay away.

Just got a raven on Merlin app! So they are there! Also aeroplane 😩.