Dark Academia indicates a new aesthetic style that takes creativity from the vantage of Greek arts, architecture, writing which is filled with Gothic factors and concepts of death. It aims to create the vibes of the 19th century of private English boarding schools and collages in New England. For this reason, the Dark Academia fashion style is filled with nostalgic vibes.
Dark Academia fashion style is designed to show a subculture that highlights knowledge, reading, learning, writing, and thus the ‘Academia’ style.
Actually, the difference between Dark Academia fashion look and the classic academia fashion, is that the style in Dark Academia fashion has dark and gothic aesthetic effect. To describe the Dark Academia fashion, just imagine a person who is wearing a pair of old tweed pants worn with a thick cardigan.
Dark Academia fashion emerged on the blogging platform Tumblr in 2015. At first, it was similar to a book club more than an internet aesthetic. The reason for this thing is that in the 1992 novel The secret history by US writer Donna Tartt, and the book talks about a group of weird students at an upper-class university. These students, along with their teacher, separated themselves from others to gather and have intellectual discussions.
After that, Dark Academia improved from a psychological inclined community into a full adult style concept, stimulated on by the appearance of other social media platforms.
One of the fashion brands who specially combined with Dark Academia is Ralph Lauren. In the world of fashion, you can’t find anybody does preppy like Ralph Lauren. This designer all the time manages to masterfully mix the glamour and elegance of the American upper class with a specific nonchalance. The best example for this, is a look from the Fall 2016 Ready-to-Wear collection. A knitted dress is worn with a white shirt and tie, all in shades of brown or the wool sweaters, rich textures cardigans, and brown pants.
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Why Dark Academia is fashionable now?
Dark Academia fashion is so popular among teenagers. This fashion considers the dresses that are similar to school outfits. It is much trending between the ages from 14 to 24.
Coronavirus is another reason which made Dark Academia fashionable. The Coronavirus lockdown led people to choose this style because it keeps them in a way connected. This happened during the lockdown period, the time when the 14 to 24 years old have started to get in the social media platforms with school- like outfit. Maybe the reason of this thing is a kind of escaping for teenagers during this period. So, we can say that this boom of Dark Academia fashion is a result of community’s openness and acceptance of mental illness.
So now that you have realized that you really are someone who wants to escape into favorite novels and periodic drama films, you are on your way to revitalizing the spirit of nineteenth-century English Ivy League schools. Here are some tips you need to know for your ideal Dark Academia fashion wardrobe.
Popular Dark Academia Fashion now:
Dark Academia Blouses and Tops
Choose blouses with cuffed sleeves, this helps to create an extra old British touch. You should also wear blouses with large bell sleeves, because they give you the special academic look you like to have.
If you like to have a more cultured Dark Academia look, then choose tops that you can button up.
For the colder weather, pieces like sweater vests, jumpers and pullovers play a crucial role.
Dark Academia Skirts and Trousers
High rise is like a rule, you cannot ignore it. Choose long skirts.
The long skirt gives you a great stylish Dark Academia look.
In summer, you can choose comfortable trousers or long skirts. Because skirts protect your legs from the sun and the heat. If you choose to wear trousers, don’t forget that wool- blends and corduroy materials are ideal for this style.
Dark Academia Outwear
The tweed blazer is the best outwear for the Dark Academia style. But always remember to put over your shoulders, without the sleeves on. Ideal picks include waistcoats, blazers and suit jackets. Cardigans, overcoats and trench-coats definitely protect you from the windchill.
Dark Academia Shoes
When talking about the most suitable shoes for the Dark Academia look, the opinions differ. Some people prefer open shoes, like old Romans and Greeks. While others think that boots and low chunky heels are the best.
Actually, boots gives more Gothic look. Apart from any shoes you choose, be careful not to wear flip- flops with the Dark Academia style.
There are different types of natural fibers for Dark Academia clothes, here are the best ones you should wear:
• Silk- It is light, comfortable, and refreshing. Actually, you can say that there is something marvelous about vintage silk.
• Linen- it gives great ventilation and it is also preferable for the environment.
• Organic cotton- it is really a light material, and it is so easy to wear. In addition, it has little impact on the environment.
• Wool- aside to being so ideal in winter, it is a great alternative to cotton.
If you are interested in Dark Academia fashion, here are the best places to shop Dark Academia dress:
1. Online Thrift Stores – the best places to shop Dark Academia are the vintage and online thrift shops, particularly if you’re searching for unique pieces. Apart from this, right now, this is the most sustainable fashion you can buy.
2. Cato – this is one of the best places to find pleated dress pants. Button-down shirts, vintage blazers, and pencil skirts are available as well. Cato is popular because they have special offers most of the time, and you never spent more than $20 on any piece.
3. Everlane – this is another favorite brand specially for blazers. Actually, it is More expensive than Cato, but the quality is excellent.
4. Torrid – people choose this brand when buying Dark Academia dress for their excellent corduroy creations and pants.
5. H&M is a popular brand among people because they find some rare gothic pieces.
6. Target – Specially their Ava Viv line.
7. Amazon – If you are looking for absolute cheap Dark Academia clothes and bargains, here is an ideal place for you.
Most of the popular Dark Academia styles now are built on two main things:
1- it is important that the dress you wear together be vintage, from thrift shops, or online websites selling secondhand dress, with a gothic vibe.
2- the overall style must increase the intellectual look. So, try to add the leather-bound books, notes, and rolled maps appearing from your purse.
Summary
Dark Academia fashion is not so suitable for countries which have long summers with hot and humid weathers. Thus, it’s obvious that Dark Academia style are ideal for cities which have cold weather.
Like any other trend, Dark Academia has seen its fair share of satisfaction and criticism, and only time can tell how long this will last. Similar to all other fashions, there will come a time when Dark Academia fashion loses its traction and only some people keep following it, maybe only those that originally loved it.
But many people think that this fashion will remain because it is really a beautiful fashion to hop on board.