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.

MM6 Maison Margiela Tweed Blazer Black at WDLT117 on within
MM6 Maison Margiela
Tweed Blazer Black
NZ$2,982Last one
WDLT117
Charles Jeffrey LOVERBOY Late To Work Jacket Beige at WDLT117 on within
Charles Jeffrey LOVERBOY
Late To Work Jacket Beige
NZ$2,105Last one
WDLT117
Supreme Loro Piana Alpaca Blazer, front view, at Utopia on within
Supreme
Loro Piana Alpaca Blazer
NZ$509Pre-owned
Utopia
Magliano Zamboni Monopetto Blazer Peach in Pink, front view, at WDLT117 on within
Magliano
Zamboni Monopetto Blazer Peach
NZ$2,311NZ$2,982Last one
WDLT117
Guidi Classic Derby 792Z Black, side view, at WDLT117 on within
Guidi
Classic Derby 792Z Black
NZ$1,787
WDLT117
Dr. Martens "x Stussy Penton Loafer Bordeaux" 2018, side view, at parlor23 on within
Dr. Martens
"x Stussy Penton Loafer Bordeaux" 2018
NZ$520Last one
parlor23
Gucci Princetown Slipper Black Leather, side view, at Utopia on within
Gucci
Princetown Slipper Black Leather
NZ$1,017
Utopia
Chrome Hearts Dagger Corduroy Loafers Black, side view, at Utopia on within
Chrome Hearts
Dagger Corduroy Loafers Black
NZ$6,357NZ$6,993
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
NZ$1,748Last one
WDLT117
Les Deux Wool Rib Roundneck Sweater in Ivory, front view, at Due West on within
Les Deux
Wool Rib Roundneck Sweater - Ivory
NZ$355
Due West
Louis Vuitton Black Damier Signature Crewneck Knit Wool Sweater, front view, at Utopia on within
Louis Vuitton
Black Damier Signature Crewneck Knit Wool Sweater
NZ$763Pre-owned
Utopia
Chrome Hearts Cashmere Cross Patch Knit Sweater at Utopia on within
Chrome Hearts
Cashmere Cross Patch Knit Sweater
NZ$9,536
Utopia
Guidi Leather Shoulder Bag Burgundy CV23T, front view, at WDLT117 on within
Guidi
Leather Shoulder Bag Burgundy CV23T
NZ$2,462
WDLT117
Goyard Belvedere PM Grey, front view, at Utopia on within
Goyard
Belvedere PM Grey
NZ$5,467Lightly used
Utopia
Goyard Boston 50 Bag Black at Utopia on within
Goyard
Boston 50 Bag Black
NZ$9,536
Utopia
Louis Vuitton Taurilon Leather Nano Steamer Bag Black at Utopia on within
Louis Vuitton
Taurilon Leather Nano Steamer Bag Black
NZ$2,289Pre-owned
Utopia
Guidi Metal Heel Lace-up Loafer Black 792ZI, side view, at WDLT117 on within
Guidi
Metal Heel Lace-up Loafer Black 792ZI
NZ$2,332Last one
WDLT117
Balenciaga Steroid Boots Black, side view, at Utopia on within
Balenciaga
Steroid Boots Black
NZ$509Lightly used
Utopia
Louis Vuitton Keepall 55 Travel Bag Yellow Epi Leather at Utopia on within
Louis Vuitton
Keepall 55 Travel Bag Yellow Epi Leather
NZ$1,144Pre-owned
Utopia
Goyard Cap-Vert PM Bag Green, front view, at Utopia on within
Goyard
Cap-Vert PM Bag Green
NZ$3,814Lightly used
Utopia
Vintage Chrome Hearts Corduroy Silver Button Jacket Black, front view, at Utopia on within
Chrome Hearts
Vintage Chrome Hearts Corduroy Silver Button Jacket Black
NZ$5,086Lightly used
Utopia
Supreme MM6 Maison Margiela Split Varsity Jacket Multicolor at Utopia on within
Supreme
MM6 Maison Margiela Split Varsity Jacket Multicolor
NZ$1,526Lightly used
Utopia
Chrome Hearts Slo Ride Embroidered Pullover Hoodie Brown, front view, at Utopia on within
Chrome Hearts
Slo Ride Embroidered Pullover Hoodie Brown
NZ$6,357
Utopia
Aime Leon Dore Drake's Hoodie Brown, front view, at Utopia on within
Aime Leon Dore
Drake's Hoodie Brown
NZ$254
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.