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

Cooperi Coat Taupe

INTO THE EAST Tweed Embroidered Crop Jacket Brown, front view, at WDLT117 on within

Tweed Embroidered Crop Jacket Brown

RUOHAN Umber Raas Coat in Grey at WDLT117 on within

Umber Raas Coat

UJOH Slit 6BW Jacket Black at WDLT117 on within

Slit 6BW Jacket Black

Guidi PL1WZ Stacked Heel Front Zip Dk. Brown, side view, at WDLT117 on within

PL1WZ Stacked Heel Front Zip Dk. Brown

Guidi Slip On 4890P Black, side view, at WDLT117 on within

Slip On 4890P Black

Coperni Bridge Boot Brown, side view, at WDLT117 on within

Bridge Boot Brown

Dr. Martens "x Stussy Penton Loafer Bordeaux" 2018, side view, at parlor23 on within

"x Stussy Penton Loafer Bordeaux" 2018

MM6 Maison Margiela Pinstripe Wool Wide-leg Trousers Black, front view, at WDLT117 on within

MM6 Maison Margiela

Pinstripe Wool Wide-leg Trousers Black

INTO THE EAST Tweed Straight-Leg Trousers Brown at WDLT117 on within

Tweed Straight-Leg Trousers Brown

Nina Ricci Bow-detail Flared Trousers Black, front view, at WDLT117 on within

Bow-detail Flared Trousers Black

Issey Miyake LUSTROUS WOOL Wrap Pants Black at WDLT117 on within

LUSTROUS WOOL Wrap Pants Black

Litkovska Shirt With Ribbed-Knit Sleeves Blue/Brown, front view, at WDLT117 on within

Shirt With Ribbed-Knit Sleeves Blue/Brown

Undercover Shoulder Straps Pullover Black, front view, at WDLT117 on within

Shoulder Straps Pullover Black

Nina Ricci Knit Sweater Grey at WDLT117 on within

Knit Sweater Grey

$642~~$1,237~~Last one

UJOH Open Collar Shirt Black, front view, at WDLT117 on within

Open Collar Shirt Black

MM6 Maison Margiela Tweed Blazer Black at WDLT117 on within

MM6 Maison Margiela

Tweed Blazer Black

Charles Jeffrey LOVERBOY Late To Work Jacket Beige at WDLT117 on within

Charles Jeffrey LOVERBOY

Late To Work Jacket Beige

Gucci Princetown Slipper Black Leather, side view, at Utopia on within

Princetown Slipper Black Leather

Chrome Hearts Dagger Corduroy Loafers Black, side view, at Utopia on within

Dagger Corduroy Loafers Black

$3,582~~$3,940~~

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

Les Deux Wool Rib Roundneck Sweater in Ivory, front view, at Due West on within

Wool Rib Roundneck Sweater - Ivory

More in the same spirit

Undercover Shadow Curve Trousers Black at WDLT117 on within

Shadow Curve Trousers Black

Y/Project Banana Slim Pants L.Blue, front view, at WDLT117 on within

Banana Slim Pants L.Blue

$292~~$799~~Last one

Looks in this edit

The pieces of A camel tweed jacket and a long pleated skirt for dark academia

A camel tweed jacket and a long pleated skirt for dark academia

First snow in Yorkville. Flat lay of a dark chocolate RUOHAN coat, a grey Nina Ricci sweater and dark anthracite MM6 trousers.

First snow in Yorkville

The pieces of A beige jacket with a silk tie over a navy shirt and stone cords

A beige jacket with a silk tie over a navy shirt and stone cords

A morning at DIFC. Flat lay of a black Litkovska coat, a cream MM6 top, charcoal trousers and slate grey Guidi derbies.

A morning at DIFC

Silver at the Kuwait Towers. Flat lay of a black UJOH jacket, a silver UJOH shirt, a navy UJOH skirt, black Guidi boots and a grey Goyard bag.

Silver at the Kuwait Towers

A holiday party in Brooklyn. Flat lay of a grey Nina Ricci sweater, a grey skirt, grey MM6 ankle boots and a pink Coperni crossbody bag.

A holiday party in Brooklyn

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.