An edit

Dark academia

Wool and herringbone coats, knits, corduroy, pleated trousers and skirts, derbies and loafers in brown, black and burgundy.

Dark academia pairs classic collegiate tailoring with heavy wool trousers, dark knits and leather boots. Black, brown, and deep green outerwear creates structured lines, while soft knitwear and pleated pants provide warmth and texture. The mood balances scholastic neatness with deliberate wear and disrepair.

Its best known source is Donna Tartt's novel The Secret History, about classics students at a college in Vermont, and the look spread online on Tumblr and later TikTok. Guidi makes horse leather derbies and back zip boots at its Tuscan tannery. Undercover brings punk deconstruction and tailored wool coats that twist academic discipline. Masnada, from near Florence, cuts dark tailoring made in Italy.

Heavy wool overcoats anchor the look when layered above cashmere sweaters and pleated trousers. Sturdy leather derbies or lace boots finish each outfit below the ankle. WDLT117 in Toronto carries the tailoring and Guidi shoes, Due West adds herringbone wool coats from Les Deux and COOR, and Utopia adds Goyard bags and Chrome Hearts loafers.

RUOHAN Cooperi Coat Taupe at WDLT117 on within
RUOHAN
Cooperi Coat Taupe
€1,433.95Last one
WDLT117
INTO THE EAST Tweed Embroidered Crop Jacket Brown, front view, at WDLT117 on within
INTO THE EAST
Tweed Embroidered Crop Jacket Brown
€742.95Last one
WDLT117
RUOHAN Umber Raas Coat in Grey at WDLT117 on within
RUOHAN
Umber Raas Coat
€2,052.95
WDLT117
UJOH Slit 6BW Jacket Black at WDLT117 on within
UJOH
Slit 6BW Jacket Black
€1,169.95Last one
WDLT117
Guidi PL1WZ Stacked Heel Front Zip Dk. Brown, side view, at WDLT117 on within
Guidi
PL1WZ Stacked Heel Front Zip Dk. Brown
€1,300.95
WDLT117
Guidi Slip On 4890P Black, side view, at WDLT117 on within
Guidi
Slip On 4890P Black
€778.95Last one
WDLT117
Coperni Bridge Boot Brown, side view, at WDLT117 on within
Coperni
Bridge Boot Brown
€520.95€866
WDLT117
Dr. Martens "x Stussy Penton Loafer Bordeaux" 2018, side view, at parlor23 on within
Dr. Martens
"x Stussy Penton Loafer Bordeaux" 2018
€260.95Last one
parlor23
MM6 Maison Margiela Pinstripe Wool Wide-leg Trousers Black, front view, at WDLT117 on within
MM6 Maison Margiela
Pinstripe Wool Wide-leg Trousers Black
€648.95
WDLT117
INTO THE EAST Tweed Straight-Leg Trousers Brown at WDLT117 on within
INTO THE EAST
Tweed Straight-Leg Trousers Brown
€452.95
WDLT117
Nina Ricci Bow-detail Flared Trousers Black, front view, at WDLT117 on within
Nina Ricci
Bow-detail Flared Trousers Black
€1,029.95Last one
WDLT117
Issey Miyake LUSTROUS WOOL Wrap Pants Black at WDLT117 on within
Issey Miyake
LUSTROUS WOOL Wrap Pants Black
€1,029.95
WDLT117
Litkovska Shirt With Ribbed-Knit Sleeves Blue/Brown, front view, at WDLT117 on within
Litkovska
Shirt With Ribbed-Knit Sleeves Blue/Brown
€713.95
WDLT117
Undercover Shoulder Straps Pullover Black, front view, at WDLT117 on within
Undercover
Shoulder Straps Pullover Black
€553.95
WDLT117
Nina Ricci Knit Sweater Grey at WDLT117 on within
Nina Ricci
Knit Sweater Grey
€572.95€1,088
WDLT117
UJOH Open Collar Shirt Black, front view, at WDLT117 on within
UJOH
Open Collar Shirt Black
€713.95
WDLT117
MM6 Maison Margiela Tweed Blazer Black at WDLT117 on within
MM6 Maison Margiela
Tweed Blazer Black
€1,495.95Last one
WDLT117
Charles Jeffrey LOVERBOY Late To Work Jacket Beige at WDLT117 on within
Charles Jeffrey LOVERBOY
Late To Work Jacket Beige
€1,055.95Last one
WDLT117
Gucci Princetown Slipper Black Leather, side view, at Utopia on within
Gucci
Princetown Slipper Black Leather
€513
Utopia
Chrome Hearts Dagger Corduroy Loafers Black, side view, at Utopia on within
Chrome Hearts
Dagger Corduroy Loafers Black
€3,209€3,530
Utopia
MM6 Maison Margiela 2-in-1 Knit Cardigan Dark Grey, front view, at WDLT117 on within
MM6 Maison Margiela
2-in-1 Knit Cardigan Dark Grey
€876.95Last one
WDLT117
Les Deux Wool Rib Roundneck Sweater in Ivory, front view, at Due West on within
Les Deux
Wool Rib Roundneck Sweater - Ivory
€179
Due West
Undercover Shadow Curve Trousers Black at WDLT117 on within
Undercover
Shadow Curve Trousers Black
€1,081.95Last one
WDLT117
Y/Project Banana Slim Pants L.Blue, front view, at WDLT117 on within
Y/Project
Banana Slim Pants L.Blue
€260.95€703Last one
WDLT117

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Common questions

What is dark academia style?
Dark academia is a style that combines vintage university tailoring with gothic literary influences. The look is wool suits, pleated trousers, heavy knits and leather boots in dark, earthy colours.
How do you wear dark academia?
Pair a heavy wool overcoat with a cashmere knit sweater, pleated wool pants, and sturdy leather derbies. Black, brown, and dark green shades establish the scholastic mood.
Which designers make dark academia pieces?
Guidi shapes distressed horsehide leather boots, while Undercover designs deconstructed tailored coats. Masnada cuts dark tailoring in Italy that fits the mood.