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.

Les Deux Herringbone Wool Coat in Brown, front view, at Due West on within
Les Deux
Herringbone Wool Coat - Brown
CHF 412
Due West
Homme Plisse Issey Miyake Tailored Pleats Long Jacket Black at WDLT117 on within
Homme Plisse Issey Miyake
Tailored Pleats Long Jacket Black
CHF 899
WDLT117
Undercover Eye-button Felted Wool Blazer Grey at WDLT117 on within
Undercover
Eye-button Felted Wool Blazer Grey
CHF 1,380Last one
WDLT117
Coor Classy Herringbone Coat in Brown at Due West on within
COOR
Classy Herringbone Coat - Brown
CHF 528Last one
Due West
Les Deux Wool Rib Roundneck Sweater in Green, back view, at Due West on within
Les Deux
Wool Rib Roundneck Sweater - Green
CHF 165
Due West
Undercover Zip-Detail Mohair Blend Cardigan Grey at WDLT117 on within
Undercover
Zip-Detail Mohair Blend Cardigan Grey
CHF 590Last one
WDLT117
Sunflower Mohair Polo in Navy at Due West on within
Sunflower
Mohair Polo - Navy
CHF 186CHF 351
Due West
A.P.C. Davis Cardigan Sweater in Black at Due West on within
A.P.C.
Davis Cardigan Sweater - Black
CHF 194CHF 369
Due West
UJOH Tape-Belt 1 Tuck Pants Chocolate at WDLT117 on within
UJOH
Tape-Belt 1 Tuck Pants Chocolate
CHF 614
WDLT117
Song for the Mute Houndstooth Mirror Pleated Pant Blk/Wht in Black and White at WDLT117 on within
Song for the Mute
Houndstooth Mirror Pleated Pant Blk/Wht
CHF 180CHF 590
WDLT117
UJOH Intuck Pants Black, front view, at WDLT117 on within
UJOH
Intuck Pants Black
CHF 568Last one
WDLT117
Sulvam Wide Striped Slim Slit Pants Black at WDLT117 on within
Sulvam
Wide Striped Slim Slit Pants Black
CHF 228CHF 599Last one
WDLT117
Guidi Classic Derby 792V Black, side view, at WDLT117 on within
Guidi
Classic Derby 792V Black
CHF 827Last one
WDLT117
Chrome Hearts Dagger Corduroy Loafers Navy at Utopia on within
Chrome Hearts
Dagger Corduroy Loafers Navy
CHF 2,950CHF 3,540
Utopia
Louis Vuitton Uniform Formal Derby Black, side view, at Utopia on within
Louis Vuitton
Uniform Formal Derby Black
CHF 826
Utopia
Guidi Daddy Lace-up Derby GR02V in Black, side view, at WDLT117 on within
Guidi
Daddy Lace-up Derby GR02V
CHF 1,019
WDLT117
MM6 Maison Margiela Tweed Blazer Black at WDLT117 on within
MM6 Maison Margiela
Tweed Blazer Black
CHF 1,380Last one
WDLT117
Charles Jeffrey LOVERBOY Late To Work Jacket Beige at WDLT117 on within
Charles Jeffrey LOVERBOY
Late To Work Jacket Beige
CHF 974Last one
WDLT117
Dr. Martens "x Stussy Penton Loafer Bordeaux" 2018, side view, at parlor23 on within
Dr. Martens
"x Stussy Penton Loafer Bordeaux" 2018
CHF 241Last one
parlor23
Gucci Princetown Slipper Black Leather, side view, at Utopia on within
Gucci
Princetown Slipper Black Leather
CHF 472
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
CHF 809Last one
WDLT117
Louis Vuitton Black Damier Signature Crewneck Knit Wool Sweater, front view, at Utopia on within
Louis Vuitton
Black Damier Signature Crewneck Knit Wool Sweater
CHF 354Pre-owned
Utopia
Homme Plisse Issey Miyake Edge Pants Black, front view, at WDLT117 on within
Homme Plisse Issey Miyake
Edge Pants Black
CHF 538
WDLT117
Thom Browne Charcoal Compact Waffle 4-Bar Sweatpants at Utopia on within
Thom Browne
Charcoal Compact Waffle 4-Bar Sweatpants
CHF 118Lightly used
Utopia

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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.