After Halloween, dark aesthetics come out of the shadows. This is the case of “Dark Academia” which draws its inspiration not only from the Gothic style, but also from the preppy style of British student uniforms, old romantic books, decorative skulls, worn leather satchels…
This look is far from displeasing Internet users since the hashtag #darkacademiaoutfits has no less than 120 million views on TikTok, while #darkacademia has already crossed the 5 billion views mark.
Gothic aesthetics return in 2023
The popularity of these dark trends is certainly linked to the popularity of hit series like Wednesday, or The New Adventures of Sabrina, which well encompass the characteristics of the aesthetic. Born on the social network Tumblr, “Dark Academia” initially evoked a literary genre whose story takes place in academic circles. But the genre takes on a whole new meaning with TikTok, becoming an outlet for students confined due to the pandemic. British student uniforms as well as old novels from the 20th century, and the decoration of university libraries, have experienced a resurgence in popularity with Generation Z. And if today the closure of schools is over, the “Dark” style Academia”, is in full swing.
Adopt the “Dark Academia” look
To embody the “Dark Academia” trend, simply mix gothic-inspired pieces with the famous university style that is all the rage across the Atlantic. Clothes such as long trench coats, plaid skirts, diamond-patterned sweaters, or even oversized white shirts allow you to embrace this obscure trend. As for makeup, it is mainly enough to accentuate the eyes and lips. Brown or black smokey eyes, or pronounced eyeliner, are particularly appropriate. For the lips we mainly opt for a plum and burgundy lipstick.