Dark Academia is a well-known “academic” aesthetic centered on classic literature, uncovering personal identity, and a general thirst for knowledge and learning. There are more variations of the Academia aesthetic, each with its own focus on a specific subject. But all of them have learning processes, especially through study, library research, and reading, in common.
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The visuals in the Dark Academia aesthetic are mostly inspired by European higher education of the nineteenth century and Gothicism. The upper class of this era valued a liberal education that included courses like Latin and Greek, classic cultures studies, like philosophy and literature, or rhetoric. The aesthetic's main appeal is to romanticize education and life experiences. Among more popular works of art referring to this aesthetic are The Umbrella Academy series, Dead Poets Society and even some of the Harry Potter films, and, of course, The Picture of Dorian Gray novel.
Moreover, Dark Academia combines such aspects as crime, dangerous adventures, and mystery in addition to the appreciation of study. Within this aesthetic, secret societies, sects, and murder can occur. Characters in Dark Academia-related works of fiction, such as The Secret History and Kill Your Darlings, lead luxurious and self-destructive lives filled with violence, and secrets.
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Sometimes, characters study for the sheer pleasure of it, both in relation to the subject matter and as a scenic activity. These people find note-taking and being in study rooms appealing. As a matter of fact, many folks connect with the Dark Academia aesthetic to help themselves stay motivated in school, as beauty is a powerful motivation. Besides, most of the clothes are versatile and androgynously styled which makes this aesthetic nice and easy to work with.
One of the most appealing aspects of a Dark Academia outfit is its adaptability, as many of the pieces can be made into numerous outfit combinations. Items of clothing, like school and college uniforms, free students and academics from having to worry about what they're going to wear during the day. Furthermore, all of these garments may be found in a wide variety of stores, ranging from thrift shops to designer labels. Seeking for clothing is thus simple, as it can accommodate a broad spectrum of budgets and locations, in contrast to styles that require more specialized and unique pieces that are difficult to come by.
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Now that we have a rough idea or for some of us quite an accurate picture of this particular Academia aesthetic, we`ll try to pinpoint some of the focal motifs in Dark Academia clothing. The Dark Academia fashion is heavily influenced by 1930s and 1940s fashion, particularly attire worn by students at Oxbridge, Ivy League colleges, and prep schools during the time. Cardigans, blazers, formal shirts, anything plaid, Oxford styled shoes, and apparel made of houndstooth pattern and tweed fabric, with a colour gamut containing primary and earthy tones. Black, white, shades of brown, beige, dark green, and every so often navy blue, are some of the most identified colours for articles of clothing within this aesthetic. Anything you can picture yourself in when engaging in activities such as visits to museums, libraries, and coffeehouses, as well as overnight research sessions can be the perfect Dark Academia outfit.
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For example, one of the most regular yet lovely and aesthetically pleasing combinations is a plaid blazer jacket over a retro patterned knit vest or sweater with a pleated solid coloured skirt, high stockings and vintage shoes. As appropriate, accessories we can think of simple round glasses, a leather belt with a metal buckle and some stylish wristwatches or a bracelet. Anything practical and comfortable yet classic high-fashioned and chic is a nice Dark Academia aesthetic option. Dresses are frequently used more as layering garments. Under turtlenecks and collared shirts, pinafores and more formal classic-styled dresses are typically worn. These can have the same elements as skirts, such as pleating and plaid pattern, but they're more meant for layering than for main element of an outfit.
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As we mentioned before, this subculture/aesthetic is related to the Goth one, which also romanticizes the discovery of beauty and poetry in grim themes. Therefore, Vintage (Romantic) Goth and some parts of Gothic Lolita style apparel are very suitable in Dark Academia aesthetic. Dark denim jeans with a dark blazer over plaid knit vest paired with leather boots and frilly accessories, like socks and collars.
More about some of the mentioned aesthetics, like Vintage, Goth and ones you can learn on our Blog page. There we collected some general outfit ideas, clothing combinations and various style interpretations, so they could be a nice fashion inspiration. As always, we advise you to listen to your personal sense of beauty and “art-worthy”, as it`ll always lead you to the most gorgeous outfit versions. Be true to yourself and you`ll find unique and creative solutions.
