Dark Academia.

 
Dark Academia​ is an aesthetic that revolves around classic literature. Common themes within this aesthetic are 
books, poetry, friendship, prep/private schools, classical music, coming of age, existentialism, death/murder, social 
class, and romance. Writing poetry in notebooks, reading the classics, going to local coffee shops, bookstores, 
libraries, and museums also fuel this aesthetic. 

INSPIRATIONS.

Books:
The Lessons by Naomi Alderman
Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
If We Were Villains by M. L. Rio
Maurice by E. M. Forster
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Possession by A.S. Byatt
The Truants by Kate Weinberg
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark
The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater (tangentially related)
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
The Likeness by Tana French
The Rachel Papers by Martin Amis
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
The Lake of Dead Languages by Carol Goodman
Oleanna by David Mamet
Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl
The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides
The Iliad and The Odyssey by Homer
A Separate Peace by John Knowles
The Bacchae by Euripides
Antigone by Sophocles
Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman
Frankenstein: The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley
Dracula by Bram Stoker
The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle
The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
The Butchering Art by Lindsey Fitzharris
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Miss Peregrine's home for peculiar children by Ransom Riggs
Authors/Writing Styles:
Edgar Allen Poe -
H.P. Lovecraft -
Jane Austen -
Beat Generation (post-war literary movement) -
Shakespeare -
Greek Tragedies -
Oscar Wilde -
Walt Whitman -

Movies:
If... (1968) -
Suspiria (1977 or 2018) -
Dead Poets Society (1989) -
Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993) -
Mona Lisa Smile (2003) -
The Notebook (2004) -
The Great Debaters (2007) -
Black Swan (2010) -
Kill Your Darlings (2013) -
I Don't Feel At Home In This World Anymore (2017) -

Artists: 
Claude Monet -
Vincent Van Gogh -
Rembrandt -
Leonardo Da Vinci -

Music:
Johann Bach -
Antonio Vivaldi -
Wolfgang Mozart -
Ludwig van Beethoven -
Pyotr Tchaikovsky -
Frédéric Chopin -
Franz Liszt -
Lana Del Rey -
Hozier -
The Smiths -
Suede -
Arctic Monkeys -
Florence and the machine -

ACTIVITIES:

Sports:
Tennis -
Badminton -
Rugby -
Swimming -
Equestrian -
Figure/Ice Skating-
Running (to prepare for chasing after your lover, or maybe for after your act of civil
disobedience and the cops are after you)-
Boxing-
Archery-
Ballet, ballroom dancing, any traditional dance works-
Climbing--
Snooker/Pool/Billiards-
Oscar Wilde approach (aka no sports)-

Games:
Chess-
Backgammon-
Checkers-
Cards: rummy, poker, blackjack, speed, whist, etc.-
Cluedo/Clue (for the murder of course)-
Scrabble-

Crafts:
Knitting-
Embroidery-
Gardening-
Realistic Drawing-
Cooking-
Sewing-
Calligraphy-
Painting-
Outings:
Museums-
Art galleries-
Places of historical interest-
Pubs/Bars/Cafes (bonus points for sketching people around you)-
Parks and gardens-
Churches/Synagogues/Temples-
The theatre-
The opera-
Concerts-
Libray's-
Horse Racing
Art stores-
Sporting Events-
Special events (memorial services, tours of local schools/universities, open houses, etc. It's
an opportunity to learn and spark local intrigue because of your dark, mysterious, and
alluring demeanor)

Things to do When Bored:

Write essays (doesn't have to be intellectual, just about something you are passionate
about)-
Research-
Daydream -
Read something light (suggestions above)-
Read aloud-
Dress up-
Perform a play alone or to a pet x
Play or practice an instrument-
Take a bath -
Draw or paint something (it doesn't have to be good, it just has to be yours)
Write a narrative piece -
Watch a movie -
Write a movie review -
Reflect back on the past
Journal-
Read philosophy -
Admire cityscape/nature (wherever you're at)
Read a physical book-
Write poems for compilation-
Watch every single 'Greek Gods as vines' compilations on YouTube and count that as
studying.
STYLE:

The main inspiration for Dark Academic style comes from 1940's prep school uniforms. The
main color scheme is b ​ lack​, g
​ rey,​ b
​ eige,​ ​brown​, c​ ream,​ ​ivory,​ ​ ​dark green​, b
​ urgundy​, a
soft yellow​. Usual fabric choices are more upscale, like ​cashmere​, w ​ ool,​ and ​tweed,​ but
linen and cotton are also very common. Accessories are usually minimal, like bracelets,
rings, pendants, watches, cuff-links, and other dapper add-on pieces.

Tops:
Turtlenecks
Oxford shirts
Fisherman's sweaters
Sweater vests
T-Shirts
Light blouses
Large polo necks
Cable knit jumpers

Bottoms:
Dress pants
Ankle pants
High rise pants
Trousers
Cigarette pants
Linen shorts
Black slacks
Tweed trousers
Plaid skirts
Mid-length/long skirts
Pinafore

Outerwear:
Cardigans
Blazers
Waistcoats
Pea coats
Double-breasted suit jackets
Trench coats
Overcoats
Shoes:
Oxfords/brogues
Loafers
Boat shoes
Dr. Martens

Accessories:
Silver or gold jewelry
Broaches
Simple rings
Wire-frame glasses
Short neat fingernails
Belts that match your shoes
Knee-high socks

VISUAL INSPO: