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.

Homme Plisse Issey Miyake Tailored Pleats Long Jacket Black at WDLT117 on within
Homme Plisse Issey Miyake
Tailored Pleats Long Jacket Black
₹103,500
WDLT117
Undercover Eye-button Felted Wool Blazer Grey at WDLT117 on within
Undercover
Eye-button Felted Wool Blazer Grey
₹158,900Last one
WDLT117
Undercover Zip-Detail Mohair Blend Cardigan Grey at WDLT117 on within
Undercover
Zip-Detail Mohair Blend Cardigan Grey
₹67,900Last one
WDLT117
UJOH Tape-Belt 1 Tuck Pants Chocolate at WDLT117 on within
UJOH
Tape-Belt 1 Tuck Pants Chocolate
₹70,600
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
₹20,700₹67,900
WDLT117
UJOH Intuck Pants Black, front view, at WDLT117 on within
UJOH
Intuck Pants Black
₹65,500Last one
WDLT117
Sulvam Wide Striped Slim Slit Pants Black at WDLT117 on within
Sulvam
Wide Striped Slim Slit Pants Black
₹26,300₹68,900Last one
WDLT117
Guidi Classic Derby 792V Black, side view, at WDLT117 on within
Guidi
Classic Derby 792V Black
₹95,200Last one
WDLT117
Chrome Hearts Dagger Corduroy Loafers Navy at Utopia on within
Chrome Hearts
Dagger Corduroy Loafers Navy
₹339,900₹407,900
Utopia
Louis Vuitton Uniform Formal Derby Black, side view, at Utopia on within
Louis Vuitton
Uniform Formal Derby Black
₹95,200
Utopia
Guidi Daddy Lace-up Derby GR02V in Black, side view, at WDLT117 on within
Guidi
Daddy Lace-up Derby GR02V
₹117,400
WDLT117
MM6 Maison Margiela Tweed Blazer Black at WDLT117 on within
MM6 Maison Margiela
Tweed Blazer Black
₹158,900Last one
WDLT117
Charles Jeffrey LOVERBOY Late To Work Jacket Beige at WDLT117 on within
Charles Jeffrey LOVERBOY
Late To Work Jacket Beige
₹112,200Last one
WDLT117
Dr. Martens "x Stussy Penton Loafer Bordeaux" 2018, side view, at parlor23 on within
Dr. Martens
"x Stussy Penton Loafer Bordeaux" 2018
₹27,700Last one
parlor23
Gucci Princetown Slipper Black Leather, side view, at Utopia on within
Gucci
Princetown Slipper Black Leather
₹54,400
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
₹93,100Last 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
₹40,800Pre-owned
Utopia
Homme Plisse Issey Miyake Edge Pants Black, front view, at WDLT117 on within
Homme Plisse Issey Miyake
Edge Pants Black
₹62,000
WDLT117
Thom Browne Charcoal Compact Waffle 4-Bar Sweatpants at Utopia on within
Thom Browne
Charcoal Compact Waffle 4-Bar Sweatpants
₹13,600Lightly 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.