As far as you may not know, this year, prep school style has turned gothic, and as a result, there is a new fashion trend: dark academia fashion. Such a sombre and existential style is influenced by famous places like Harvard, Oxford, and other universities that are ranked in the Ivy League. Therefore, it should not be confused with its twin in the realm of college and light academia.
The films like The Holdovers and Sherlock Holmes and novels such as Donna Tartt’s The Secret History and M.L. Rio’s If We Were Villains fall within the category of contemporary ones.
Dark academia fashion romanticizes everything related to academics and appeals to the instinct that dressing like an intellectual will help you become one. It is classical and European, romantic and tragic, and influenced by existentialist Greek mythology and poetry, as well as the works of writers such as Shakespeare, the Brontë sisters, and Jane Austen.
Are you interested? We have compiled a list of the key components of the dark academia fashion that you may put together using items from your closet, which you can find below.
The Must-Have Items for Dark Academia Fashion
Traditional library colours from ancient times and timeless leather book bindings lay the foundation of Dark Academia colour theory. The most commonly used colours include dark browns, light greys, dark greens, and the rare burgundy. These colours are selected for their visual attractiveness and nostalgic and timeless appeal, which are essential for creating a genuine Dark Academia outfit. This palette provides a strong and enigmatic basis.
Textures and Fabrics: A Harmony of Elegance and Comfort
Dark Academia’s fabrics are as essential as the colours. Wool, tweed, and velvet are important for the style because they provide comfort and durability. These textures give a sensual experience as significant as the visual appeal. Wool works on a misty, cobblestone campus, but tweed makes you look like an interloper of sorts. Velvet, when utilized in little amounts in accessories or embellishments, provides any outfit with a sense of luxury and depth.
10 costumes that are appropriate for the Dark Academia fashion
Old Ivy League
Dark academia fashion draws a lot of influence from traditional school uniforms and the aesthetics of Ivy League institutions. At one point, it has been referred to as gothic core or business casual, but there are differences. While these two throw initiative into dark fantasy and vampire themes (like Kourtney Kardashian-Barker and Megan Fox), Dark Academia fashion is more posh and intellectual and strongly tied to traditional scholars’ fashion.
A dark academia fashion wardrobe consists of robes, gowns, skirts, trousers or any type of garments and fashionable accessories that infuse sophistication and comfort for all ages. They may include styled trousers,нести pair of pleated skirts, and necked shirts to give an erudite touch.
Blazers, fluffy knitted sweaters, and other nice warm tops and overcoats also add depth and warmth to the outfit. For footwear, heavy loafers, staple Oxford shoes or laced boots are ideal to slot in with the theme. It is about capturing the essence of a learned man of the old world without compromising on comfort and style.
Layers on top of layers
Dark academia fashion wouldn’t be complete without layering, as this is the perfect way to achieve a sophisticated, scholarly look as well as warmth and comfort. This style is basically achieved by mixing different textures and clothing pieces to create a well-put-together outfit. Of course, for example, a soft knitted sweater or a trendy vest worn on top of a classic button-down shirt, wil give you a nice refined, academic outfit.
Pantsy pairing skirts with leggings or tights are great to pair with and spice up your outfit while keeping you warm during cold months. Trench coats and wool overcoats lend a glamorous touch to the layered look with its long coats. You could mix all these parts together to get a dark academia fashion: a button-down shirt underneath a vest or sweater, a skirt and leggings, and finally, a nice coat for a dressy and outdated appearance.
Thigh-highs and loafers
Weighing out in thigh-high socks with loafers & a short skirt is terribly stylish while smart and intellectual at the same time. It’s the combination of this which lends itself to being both fashionable and also comfortable. The outfit is polished with a fitted jacket. The mermaid-style top features a wonderful shape and flattering fit, making it elegant and adding personality. This outfit is ideal for a class setting, as it is comfortable yet stylized with the likes of an academic.
Moody, Yet Romantic
Kylie Jenner looks fabulous while posing in a black lace dress, which is semi-transparent and reveals quite an exotic and sensual appeal. The item of lace produces an extra classy feel and, therefore, is recommended for those who wish to go bankrupt in style. Finally, she selects a long black coat to go over the dress to make a complete, fashionable, and warm overall appearance. The coat not only adds drama to the outfit but also calms the overly frilly aspect of the lace making this an elegant and timeless outfit. This fashion is just like women in the cult fashion shows.
Relaxed Sophistication
Nowadays, casual work wear is part and parcel of our daily dressing style but it has developed over time. There is no denying that a person’s casual wear used to be something boring and homespun, oversized sweats and track suits. What we find in the current casual wear is that it is moderately formal with a little bit more looseness for comfort than the formal wear.
A good example of such an ensemble is the black academic outfit that comprises of wide legged trousers, a knitted sweater and a big jacket. Such a combination is stylish and at the same time looks very natural. Lastly, shoes which are bulky or thick and fashionable complement the complete appearance. This particular attire is good for both casual occasions and business meetings because it can be formal yet very comfortable to wear.
Dark Color Palettes
This is why dark academic fashion is ideal because it is an attractive style that involves using classic clothing and accessories that do not have ridiculous trends set for a short period of the year. To put together a simple, dark academic fashion-inspired outfit, you don’t need to make many purchases from the store because these are some basic wear that should be in every wardrobe. A black dress is the best choice since it creates an air of sophistication and mystery around the wearer.
If you like a wear loose clothes, turtleneck is another excellent choice: it is warm and very representative, makes a man look like an intellectual. Next, pick the most preferred jacket or coat to wear on top of the outfit. Accessories like a well-fitted blazer, a long wool coat, or a retro trench coat can make the look more fashionable and classy.
As for the element of richness, deep-blood crimson will be valuable and adequate. This could be a scarf touching the neck, the gloves touching the hands or lip stick on the lips. The dark shades with intense red highlight is qt as it is quite dramatic and suits the gothic feel that one can get from TV series like Penny Dreadful.
Believe it, achieving a dark academia fashion doesn’t require a lot of thought or pieces of clothing; some of the basics are quite sufficient.
Plaid Everything
Perhaps, plaid is one of the oldest patterns that have been integrated into fashion and remain fashionable up to the present days. It is considered to symbolize classic and timeless styles, which makes it versatile for dark academia fashion. This style’s concept originates in the library, antique clothing, science, and learning and is characterized by the use of tones ranging from ocher to brown, and plaid is a perfect fit for this style.
This pattern is fitting if it is a blazer, a skirt, or a scarf, as it gives that formality and tradition of the burgundy color. Dark academia fashion pertains to literature and the historical element, drawn like mysteries, therefore, plaid brings a touch of the scholarly epoch.
An Accessory with a Purpose
For this reason, you can add an accessory to boost the looks of your entire attire and make it look trendy. This is why various accessories such as iconic leather messenger bags, businesslike briefcases, or caplets swinging back and forth usually come into play. Wearing a tie for a more formal or elegant look shows formality, while a hair bow adds elegance and playfulness.
As for appearance, if you want to display your intelligence subliminally, having a book under an arm is quite helpful. Should you be inclined more towards making your visual appeal your priority, then coffee or tea may enhance your appearance and, put differently, can make the outfit look far more relaxed and posted. Some people believe that the right shoes can change things, allowing one to be unique or express oneself.
Tweed Suit
One of the most professional and sophisticated outfits you can wear is a tweed three-piece suit, and therefore, it is the ideal choice to wear for formal and formal academic settings. A durable and textured tweed fabric for this classic ensemble usually includes a matching jacket, vest and trousers. For that extra bit of charm and character to your look, a suit with elbow patches will work just fine: these allow you to bring a timeless, scholarly vibe.
Fall-inspired shades are about as good as any to choose from. A suit in deep forest green, rich brown, warm burgundy, or even sagey grey will make you look elegant and refined. The key, however, is to pick a finished hue compatible with college or professional environments. A well-fitted tweed suit will always reflect well and is undoubtedly appropriate whether at a conference, giving a presentation, or hoping to look smart and academic.
Put on a headband.
Olivia Palermo can’t be beaten at offering a perfect example of classic prep school headband style. Her outfit consists of a checkered dress with a sense of polished and sophisticated vibe, making it appear stylish and refined. She has opted for a basic black headband to top off her look, giving her outfit a classic twist. The outfit and accessories combo in her is an equal amount of preppy charm coupled with a modern twist, all at the same time.
Conclusion
Dark Academia fashion has grown into a well-crafted intellectual fashion movement that blends traditional academia with gothic feeling and romantic elements. This style feels elegant and sophisticated due to its permanent colour choices of dark browns, burgundies, and greys and the luxurious wool, tweed, and velvet fabrics.
You can embrace scholarly elegance through Dark Academia fashion, making creative choices between sweaters, plaid, and leather bags. This fashion style builds upon academic tradition by adapting it into modern trends suitable for people who want to portray intellectual style with fashion-staying power.
