Listen To Classical Music While You Do Your Chores. Scribble Quotes And Thought Fragments On Your Arms.

Some more!

Instgram : @stars.aflame

A list of more personal dark academia things:

Post a picture of your favourite book, annotated or otherwise.

Outfit pictures – embrace your individual style.

Any pretty locations you visit: libraries, coffee shops, campus buildings, vintage stores, etc.

What you study: confuse the literature students by posting your science work. Stun the science academics with your knowledge of your favourite authors/genres. Help the researchers with your history notes.

Where you study – your own desk, what’s on your desk, when you like to work, etc.

Other: jewellery, your favourite mug, pretty flowers, candles, personal book collection, etc.

Studying. Study notes, thoughts about your research, any text books, etc.

Unique Dark Academia Fashion Ideas

By now I think we all know that silk shirts, oxfords, and old blazers are staples of Dark Academia fashion. Here are some ideas for fitting your wardrobe to the aesthetic that I haven’t seen a lot of. 

Tops

Silk button downs are great, but if you want something perhaps less fancy and simple, here are some ideas:

Cardigans. Specifically, tighter button down cardigans. While they are very similar to silk shirts, they aren’t quite as eye catching, and usually not as bright. I have a cream silk blend cardigan that I’ve been wearing under blazers instead of silk; it’s warmer, for one, and doesn’t make me feel so pretentious when my classmates are all in sweatpants.

Cotton. Especially for warmer months, a good cotton shirt looks great tucked in a pair of high waisted shorts or trousers. I would suggest one with buttons as an accent, to avoid it being too plain. You can also roll up the sleeves for peak “disgruntled professor/lawyer” look. 

Sweaters. I don’t just mean a black turtleneck here. Turtlenecks are of course great for winter and fall, but other sweaters are great also. I especially would suggest sweaters with interesting weaves or embroidery, as without the turtleneck they often need a little something extra to dress it up. There’s also the classic look of putting a button down underneath and pulling the collar out. For colors, jewel tones are always best in my opinion: deep reds, emerald greens, midnight blues. But you know yourself best, and if your hair looks great with cream, or light blue makes your eyes pop, go for it. Be sure to tuck over sized sweaters into your bottoms to avoid losing your figure. 

Bottoms

Bottoms are a little easier, as they’re usually not the statement piece of an outfit, especially in dark academia. Still, high waisted, pleated, 100% linen trousers are hard to find in thrift stores, so here’s some alternatives: 

Black jeans. Personally, I avoid low waisted pants like the plague. Unfortunately, it’s hard to find high waisted suit pants in thrift stores, especially ones with the tighter fit that I prefer. Often, I go for my pair of good quality, 100% cotton, extremely high waisted black skinny jeans instead. Avoid jeans with rips or that aren’t a uniform color. I definitely would suggest black if you’re going to wear jeans, though that may be my inherent dislike of blue jeans talking. 

High waisted pants of any kind. When it comes to tucking shirts in bottoms, you want a high waist. I can tuck the bulkiest of sweaters easily into my jeans, because they are high waisted and made of a thick material. Thin, flimsy material is hard to hide the lines of your tops in, and lower waisted pants often can’t hold the hem long before the top gets untucked. 

Skirts. I prefer more masculine clothing, but I do have quite a few skirts that I wear on occasion. And good lord, if they aren’t the most comfortable pieces of clothing I own. Specifically, long flowing skirts made out of 100% silk, cotton, or wool. Wool is great for winter months, and adds an extra layer of protection from the cold. Cotton and silk is best for the hot summer time, and if you’re having trouble with staying in dark academia fashion when you’re sweating out of your fingernails, consider skirts. A long skirt can dress up something like a t-shirt if you do it right. Sandals, a long breathable skirt, and a tied up or tucked in shirt is a great go-to when the sun is sucking away your soul. 

Shoes

I still don’t own a pair of oxfords. 

Boots. I’m a boot person. For dark academia, I would avoid taller boots; ankle boots or calf-length boots are the way to go. Go for leather, and tighter fits. A great way to pull your outfit together is to match your shoes and your belt or bag, and well as the hardware. If your belt is black with a silver buckle, go with black boots with silver accents. Try to avoid mixing metals (silver with bronze, etc.) if at all possible.

Ballet shoes. I don’t own any, but personally I think they’d be a great alternative to simple flats; especially if you lace the silk ribbons up your shins a bit. These are definitely best for summer months though, I would not recommend during the winter.

Accessories

A single accessory can completely change your outfit and aesthetic. Personally, some of my most used clothing pieces are not what you’d call dark academia. My go-to jacket is a bomber jacket with patches, and my usual boots are heavy Harley Davidson biker boots with metal caps. Here are some accessories that can turn your everyday outfit to something more dark academia-esque. 

Suspenders. I would recommend suspenders for everyone honestly. I was having trouble with a pair of trousers, because I needed to keep them high on my waist and tight to tuck in my shirt, but they had no belt loops. Suddenly I realized someone had solved the issue centuries ago, and used my suspenders. It worked perfectly, and also added a whole new level of dark academia to my outfit. I like using them in a subtle way though: under a jacket or blazer usually, that I might take off if it gets hot and just so happen to show off the suspenders underneath. Or, never even take the jacket off and just let people get subtle looks at them. Drawing attention to suspenders makes me feel like a douche for some reason; maybe it’s the images of fedora tipping that flood in. 

Satchel or book bag. I know this one is a staple, but listen. Buying leather satchel changed everything for my look. I might have a bomber jacket, skinny jeans, and biker boots but a satchel thrown over one shoulder shifts everything about my appearance. If you are able to buy one new, Amazon has some great options under $100 dollars. If not, keep your eye out whenever you go to the thrift store.

Hair accessories. Try silk ribbons. Pull your hair back with them, braid them into your hair, or use them as headbands. Learn how to braid metal cuffs into your hair if you’re up for a challenge.

Scarves. Scarves are such an easy way to dress up an outfit, as well as keep you warm. I would suggest long, silk scarves that have enough width that you can style it around your head/hair, which I think is a great look that also keeps your ears warm. Jewel tones are definitely suggested here, especially if you’re wearing all black it’s a great statement. 

Jewelry. If you’re religious, I would highly suggest jewelry with some sort of religious symbolism. Religious imagery is something I defiantly associate with dark academia. If you have any jewelry pieces that were passed down to you, try them. I like rings a lot, but for my right hand I cover all my finger with heavy steel rings that cover my knuckles (for punching purposes). On my left hand, I have rings from my family. I would again suggest not mixing metals, though it can look eclectic if that’s a look you like. 

That’s all I could think of at this moment, but feel free to add your own or message me!  Go forth and dress to make yourself confident, whatever that may look like. 

Adding dark academia and scholarly items into my day to day

-Attire-

Button downs (red, black, white)

Turtle necks (beige, red)

Sweaters (dark blue, black, white)

Overcoats (Black, beige)

Belts (black)

Oxfords (Rockports)

-Beverages and snacks-

Homemade Cheeseboards

Coffee sweetened with condensed milk

Tea (earl grey, green, chai)

Pomegranates

Apples

-Hobbies-

Vocabulary studies

Journal entries (once a day)

Read music

Full sketch pages

Organize books

Book hunt in thrift stores

Documentaries

Novel ideas poorly written down

-Miscellaneous-

Notes only in black ink

Four+ journals

Hanging flowers from the wall

Staying in a study hall for hours

Mixtures of print and cursive, both sloppy

Hands smudged with ink

Letters to your past self, future lover or no one, all with wax seals

Attempting your instrument in an apartment

Bake small treats to eat while working

dark science

okay i’m starting a new aesthetic, mashing together dark academia and sciencecore / mysterycore, i call it...

dark science

some dark science stuff:

so like. dark academia but instead of literature (which is pretty good) it focuses on the sciences

biology

chemistry

the natural sciences

forensic science!!

anatomy and physiology

a dash of psychology for good measure

studying the human body inside and out

staying in a lab until the early morning light, distraught and fascinated over your most recent discovery

thinking about science ethics and morality

frankenstein!!

the strange case of dr jekyll and mr hyde

mad scientists in general

spending hours at a time engulfed in a subject

preserved specimens, bones, pinned insects

trips to science museums

bundling up in warm coats outside, cold air chilling you still

wearing colors just as cold, hues of blue and deep forest green and the gamut of grey to black

having lab gloves or goggles available at all times

messy hair, perhaps pulled back into a bun or ponytail if it’s too long

a fascination with bunsen burners, candles, etc

beakers, graduated cylinders, evaporating dishes, all sorts of science equipment

curious things trapped behind glass, drenched in formaldehyde

mock crime scenes

investigating real crimes, solved or unsolved

hastily written notes written in the fervor of discovery

retracing your steps when an experiment goes awry

glancing behind your back as you walk home from the lab, books under your arm

Any recommendations for DA school supplies? Alternate question, any tips for DA bullet journal spreads? Thanks!

fountain pens

quill pens

muji notebooks

leather notebooks

simple, little, moleskine-like journals

leather pencil case

metal case

for bujo spreads, i can’t recommend any specific ones, but i can recommend the youtube channels of made by malin, sarica studio, tristartist and weylie hoang for inspo!

Research ideas for bored students

The evolution of national identity in the country of your interest (ancient or modern)

The influence of paganism on christianity in Ireland and Scotland.

The impact that fairy beleif had on the Scottish witch hunts.

How fashion was influenced by the second world war.

The differences between and evolution of first, second and third wave feminism.

The impact the post-modern globalism has had on human rights.

Depictions of homosexuality in the ancient world (are there similarities/differences between nations?)

The evolution of tavern and drinking cultue in England, Scotland and the Netherlands.

The portrayal of women in early-modern English ballads.

The use of certain tunes or melodies in E.M. English ballads.

Portrayals of the devil in E.M. English ballads.

The difference between collective memory and historical facts (war is a time when our memories are often romanticised).

Fashion in the Elizabethan era and how it changed after.

The evolution of pens and writing materials

Historical methods of making paint/paint thinners.

Men in the early-modern witch hunts.

Differences between old world and new world witch hunts.

The use of torture in witch trials and the laws regarding torture (differences between countries)?

The use of salt as currency.

Depictions of intoxiication in ancient art.

How ancient societies viewed drinking and how they drank.

The lives of great poets.

The decline of the latin language.

The English civil war during the 17 century.

The relationship between ancient Celts and the Romans.

Religious symbolism in early modern art.

The history and evolution of marriage.

“In Praise of Folly,” by Desiderius Erasmus

The Protestant Reformation and/or the resulting split of protestantism (calvinism, lutheranism, anabaptists, etc.)

The history of Christmas in the new world.

Add your own in the comments!

Outfit for when I'm feeling sophisticated and also a little bit evil.

daily I.