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.

I love long boots too!😀

Visiting family and wearing my most 'halloweeny' dress. A dark green mini skater style with a gothic looking print of skeletons, snakes, birds and books!
Also oversized cardie, thick tights, my most sensible chunky boots (lots of walking!) and my Vinted plaid trenchcoat.
I was curious what my elderly parents would think as its def not my usual look but their opinion was that I looked skinny and the dress was cool so....😁

oh, also scored when rummaging through their charity shop pile. A couple of books from my mother and a 'new' hoodie from my biker brother (black, XL with dragons and celtic designs on....awesome for a freebie!).

@henlake7 I love the idea of a plaid trenchcoat, I didn't think I needed anything else this season, but...

Oh wow, I've just wandered into the most magical thread! I'm on the train back home after a break in the highlands and a quick saunter round Edinburgh so am totally in the mood for talking all about DA related things.
I'm 5'2" so always need petite versions of things-anyone else of similar height and found good needle cord trousers by any chance?

My dd is petite and got some amazing cords last year in Fat Face - I think they’d potentially be considered culottes, as they are slightly cropped with widish legs, but she looks gorgeous in them ( I tried them and definitely did not…). They have them this year too, I think, although in different colours.

Seasalt often have similar.

Yes! Dd’s are burnt orange - she wears them with her cherry red dms and a navy peacoat and looks fab.

I have some very nice cords from White Stuff - they have a tapered leg and are ankle grazing length - possibly the style is called ‘twister’. Look great with a chunky knit and loafers/brogues.

Thanks all, these are shops that I wouldn't necessarily have gone in, so I'll take a look.

Even though the overall vibe is more pottery teacher than DA, they are really good for basics - cords and knitwear particularly. I got some very nice brogues from White Stuff this year too - definitely worth a look.

There is amazing stuff to be had in WS, FF and Seasalt if you cherry pick and ignore the frumpy frocks. I've had some very DA pinafores in dark tones of linen and cord that I wear over Seasalt Easel t-shirts in purple, charcoal and rust. As you rightly say, they also do some lovely knitwear. My other WS/Seasalt essential is thick cotton tights.

I also got an excellent beret in Seasalt.

I love this look, love the fabrics ( cord, tweed, heavier cottons ). The challenge is to find the good quality stuff at prices that aren’t crazy. Margaret Howell would hit the spot but it’s too expensive for me. I lurk on eBay for vintage cords and Scottish knitwear.

I have treated myself to an indulgent day reading this new thread again from the top and following links, like eating a very rich chocolate cake in tiny forkfulls.

You lovely people cost me far too much!

After taking stock of what I was actually wearing out of last winter's purchases, and what might constitute a genuine hole in my wardrobe hindering the wear of old favourites, I have splashed out on a couple of items actually new rather than from eBay including Seasalt's fitted cord waistcoat in umber.

https://www.seasaltcornwall.com/womens-pinpoint-fitted-cord-waistcoat

It is splendid!

Although, worn with a dark brown top and dark berry cords, it does make me look like a log fire.

I also found a Uniqlo merino turtleneck in the colour I painted my shed (dark fir green), and the yellow of the same series is not the dubious baby-poo colour it appears on my monitor but a delightful gold.
www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/products/E450514-000/00?colorDisplayCode=58&sizeDisplayCode=003

These combined with the waistcoat make me look like a pile of leaves...

I feel I am channelling the autumnal theme well here, if not entirely as I'd intended...

Although perhaps edging somewhat into hobbit-core rather than quintessentially DA...

‘Chocolate cake in tiny forkfulls…makes me look like a log fire…pile of leaves” 😆

That feels all very dark academia with a splash of life sciences* eccentricity to me - I think you’re good to go!

Sorry about errant asterisk - I was going to add that I know an excellent entomologist and had her mind when you were describing your purchases

I'm getting visions of the entomologist poking me and trying to turn me over while I'm curled up reading...

My dd has that Seasalt waistcoat! I agree it’s a great piece - she wears it with 90’s style long skirts and dms (and a long sleeve t shirt underneath).

Ah, nice to hear from you @TressiliansStone and I LOVE that waistcoat. Had I not already got too many pairs of cord trousers, I would be snapping that up.

Another vote for the waistcoat!😃Dark berry and gold (along with chocolate cake!) is def giving seasons of mists and mellow fruitfulness.

I threw myself with wild abandon at Vinted last night and will now be eating baked beans on toast for the rest of the month....worth it though!😁
The other day I bought a black cord pinafore dress from there and was shocked to find that, at over fifty, I am apparently a huge fan of pinafore dresses. Cute, comfy and so many layering opportunities!
So I had to return to the scene of the crime obviously.😊Finally emerged this morning with 3 new ones (a denim, a burgundy cord and a dark grey checked one for only £1!). The corduroy was not done calling my name however as I added a burgundy jacket (£3) and deep forest green over sized shirt (£3).

I was also mugged by a couple of jumpers who refused to be left behind, including one in gorgeous deep plum and aubergine shades.
Finally a coat....do I already have a plaid belted wool coat?
well, yes. But that one is brown and more of a tweed design. This one is black/grey and more of a flannel shirt style plaid....totally different!😊

@henlake7
Wow! All this sounds gorgeous!

I'm 60, absolutely adore pinafore dresses, I live in them all year round! They've become very much my trademark style over the last few years.
I'm sort of on the arty/witchy/goth side of DA and I wear my pinnies with stripey Seasalt tops, leggings/trousers and long lace-up flat heeled boots. Stick a cardi on top in winter and add a big scarf
I've had fab pinafores from Toast, Seasalt and Fat Face. Sometimes a sleeveless linen sundress actually works better as a pinafore, worn over a long sleeved t. I'm wearing a Fat Face Lola dress in that way today.

@PyreneanAubrie
I love the sound of your outfits! I will def have fun styling mine.
I feel like we might have similar vibes, I also love adding abit of goth/witchy to my outfits and have several dresses from Disturbia.

I suspect we do have similar style 😊
I've got a couple of checked/plaid dresses from Disturbia. I feel a bit too 'mature' to wear them just with tights, so I put them over a long plain linen skirt and chunky boots and stick a handknit hap around.

I'm a great believer that style is ageless; at 60 I won't necessarily wear Disturbia in the same way as the models they show, but layered up they work well for me.

I agree, styling outfits is fun, I do love putting together interesting combinations.
Seem to get far more compliments about my clothing now than I ever did at 25 or 30, which is interesting...🤔

I am not DA, but lurking here for inspiration!

Although, I am partial to gardening, calling plants by their botanical names, and when I incorporate some of my Scottish knits or tailored trousers… well . say no more.

Your Vinted frenzy sounds like a triumph, @henlake7 !