My Aesthetic - Tumblr Posts
“Bookworms hold the books they love in their hands for only a short time, but in their hearts forever”
Unknown (via aesthetic-bookworm)
staying up too late to prove something to no one, letting black tea steep too long, coffee that’s too cold, water that’s too warm, shoes not yet broken in, cigarettes burnt down completely, desk so crowded you can’t see the wood anymore, hug that’s too tight, hellos and goodbyes that are too empty
A Beginner’s Guide to Dark Academia
tips for the baby aesthete’s out there
academia
actually study! study the things you love, the things you like, the things you know nothing about — the pursuit of knowledge lasts a lifetime, and there is so much to learn
visit your professor’s office hours! it always helps to make yourself known to your teachers (i’ve been given grade bumps and had great conversations with my university lecturers)
avoid and check yourself for the pretension that can often accompany academia — it hurts no one to be kind and mindful
delve into the realm of philosophy (for starters: metaphysics, epistemology, aesthetics) it will broaden your mind
stay late at your university library studying (if you can do so safely, preferably with a friend). university campuses feel magical in the evening
style
wear darker, muted colours
plaid coats, pants, or skirts
button-up shirts (Peter Pan collars are a bonus)
turtlenecks
tie your hair with a bow
accessorise! a vintage watch adds sophistication to any outfit. try wearing it with a ring or three
practice good posture — standing tall creates an air of elegance, confidence, and if paired with the right amount of nonchalance, mystery
media
films
dead poets society
cracks
the dreamers
thoroughbreds
breathless (à bout de souffle)
cléo from 5 to 7 (cléo de 5 à 7)
handsome devil
tv shows
gilmore girls
chilling adventures of sabrina
black mirror
the good place
the politician
books
the secret history
the picture of dorian gray
the goldfinch
the line of beauty
persuasion
the collected poems of oscar wilde
ovid’s metamorphoses
music
listen to classical music as you sleep/read/study
you can check out this dark academia playlist for inspiration
aesthetic activities (think of this as a little checklist to get you underway as a fledgling aesthete)
make yourself tea in pretty teacups (you can find plenty in secondhand stores!)
light candles in your bedroom, and read by candlelight
dry flowers for your room/desk
explore secondhand bookstores for old, pretty editions of novels you may or may not have heard of
give handwritten letters to your lovers/friends/yourself
wake up before the sun rises to watch dawn break
brood during a thunderstorm, and write extravagant, flowery poetry on parchment
join a secret society
exist in the real, with your books and art, and your turtlenecks and plaid coats, as a mystery. social media can give too much of you away
host an unceasing bacchanal for you and your pals
I hope this serves as a nice little guide for some of you wanting to get more into the aesthetic! There’s no real right or wrong way to go about it, these are just my suggestions from my own experience and perception of and within the community.
Enjoy,
Juniper x
dark academia but in 2020 and gen z
- staying up late in the dark reading wikipedia articles on obscure topics on your phone
- researching random things that caught your interest instead of paying attention to your zoom classes/ doing homework
- reading during zoom classes
- checking daily if your local library reopened
- notes app poetry at 4 am
- reading by candlelight at night just because lamps are too bright and you might get caught by your parents
- waking up early to watch the sunrise before online school
- developing a coffee addiction over quarantine
- wearing dramatic coats and button ups etc to just go to the supermarket
dark academia things you can do that don’t require a $400 tweed blazer and a private school
because not everyone lives near a national museum
get a penpal to write letters to and enclose personalised gifts
take advantage of local libraries
thrift old porcelain teacups, wine glasses, engraved silverware
make paper - technically not dark academia but writing cute love letters onto handmade paper and doodling hearts on it is god tier
start a book club with friends and pick a book/short story to read and discuss together
take your time going through the book section at thrift stores to find old, worn copies of classics
find a park and journal at sunset until the light fades
use postcards of your favorite paintings as bookmarks
speaking of bookmarks, use scrap paper to write out lyrics, poems, quotes from authors, words in other languages, and turn them into bookmarks or scrapbook pages
if you drink coffee, make your own cold brew or flavored coffee and drink it from the fanciest glass you own
if you’re a tea drinker, you could thrift a cheap but cute vintage looking teacup and saucer along with a little spoon to keep you company while you study
replace some phone time with a book, e.g. on public transport, waiting rooms, before bed
go to a cafe with a book and spend some alone time reading and annotating
go for a walk and pick flowers and leaves to take home and press between a book
take said pressed flowers and glue them onto a handmade birthday card or wall decoration, complete with a quote
if you have long hair, tie a ribbon around your wrist along with your hair tie and let the ends dangle down
if you’re at a campus or park that has a grassy area, take your notes and study there on a warm day
have a dark academia inspired picnic
This is a long post. Buckle up.
Recently I've been thinking a lot about how the dark academia aesthetic, whilst rich in aspects such as literature, music, and material beauty, is lacking in things such as activities.
So I've compiled a list of activities that I would personally deem as befitting the dark academia aesthetic (please do add to this list, as it's far from complete).
Sports:
Rowing (it's in literally every dark academic approved movie.)
Fencing
Tennis
Cricket
Croquet
Rugby (contrary to popular belief, women, men, and everyone in between can play this sport. It's not just for the boys.)
Polo
Equestrian sports
+ Figure/ice skating
+ Running (sprinting is handy for catching your lover when they fling themselves from a tower or something, and long distance is great for running alongside carriages that you want to rob.)
+ Boxing
+ Javelin, discus, wrestling covered in oil, think ancient Grecian Olympics.
+ Archery (how could I have forgotten.)
Or, if you prefer the Oscar Wilde approach, no sports at all. That's cool too.
Games:
Chess (of course)
Backgammon
Cards (rummy, poker, blackjack, speed, whist, any game really, maybe with the exception of snap.)
Cluedo (I think it's 'Clue' in America. Don't argue with me, it counts as dark academia. It's got murder in it.)
Crafts:
Knitting (I knit socks, scarves, and am attempting a jumper. I find that it's far easier to knit your own jumper, scarf, socks, or whatever than hunting for one suitably 'aesthetically pleasing'.)
Embroidery (monogrammed handkerchiefs and shirts are so in.)
Weaving (sweet mother, I cannot-)
Making lace
Gardening
Cooking (not sure if this counts as a craft, but I'll throw it in just in case.)
Sewing (making clothes for yourself through sewing is a great way to make sure that your clothes fit perfectly, and are styled the way you want them to be. With practise, it becomes easier, and is definitely a useful skill to have.)
+ Calligraphy
+ Painting, of course. (release your inner Basil.
Outings:
Museums
Art galleries
Places of historical interests (in the UK, this might be more easily accessible with things like the National Trust. If you visit often, it might be useful to invest in a membership card with English Heritage (England), Cadw (Wales), or a National Trust card. I have a Cadw card, and I've found that it's accepted all over the UK, in the same way an entrance card specific to whichever country you're in would be too. I hope that makes sense.)
Public executions
Pubs
Parks
Gardens
Churches, mosques, quaker meeting houses, graveyards (sometimes the only places that are quiet are places of worship, and a lot of the time, they will be very welcoming in letting people in just to sit and think. Just remember to be respectful: don't insult people for their faith; don't scorn the place of worship; respect people buried in graveyards; don't take pictures, tempting as it may be, just to be on the safe side.)
The theatre
The opera
Concerts (classical music or otherwise)
Social events (memorial services, tours of your local university, open days, anything. It's an opportunity to learn, and spark intrigue because of your darkly mysterious and alluring demeanour.)
Things to do when you're bored.
Writing essays (it's really nerdy, but I find writing essays really interesting if they're on a topic I'm passionate about. It doesn't have to be an intellectual masterpiece, it could be 'The Top Ten Sexiest Classical Writers' for all I care. Just make it fun. Plus it's always an added bonus to that pile of messy papers that aesthetify your desk.)
Research (as above.)
Daydream about how you could have prevented the burning of the Library of Alexandria
Plan a murder / heist. Thoroughly.
Read something light (Agatha Christie, Sherlock Holmes, Wilkie Collins or Colin Dexter novels are really good for relaxing. Murder mysteries are always good for winding down a little, whilst still keeping an active mind, so I would recommend those, but really, read whatever you want.)
Dress up
Read aloud
Perform a play alone (or to a pet, if you have one)
If you play an instrument, play through all of the pieces in your repertoire
More daydreaming
Take baths
Fake your death (by murder, of course)
Draw or paint something (no, it doesn't have to be good. Just do it to relax. See what kind of things you can create, like designing Frankenstein's monster)
Write a narrative piece
Watch a movie. A whole movie. Just sit down and watch a movie, no getting up and walking around, no flicking back and forth, no checking your phone. Just enjoy a movie without distractions.
Watch every single 'Greek Gods as vines' video on YouTube and count it as studying.
Congratulations! You made it through!
Please, add to this list. I really want this to be expanded on, as I'm interested to see whether or not I've missed things, and if people agree.
dark academia / things to do at home
please note that i am in no way trying to glorify a pandemic that has affected all of us, some in horrible ways. i’m merely trying to offer ways in which we can add a little bit of comfort & beauty into our days spent at home. escapism is by no means always a great idea, but some days it’s what helps us stay sane.
light candles & dim or shut off electric light for a better ambiance
take time off of your phone & computer – read instead!
take walks outside if it’s allowed where you live (& i guess it is in most places!) & especially when it’s raining – enjoy whatever season it is right now, notice how the nature or city around you is changing
drink tea or coffee out of your favourite mug while either sitting on a windowsill and watching the weather, the trees, the people in the streets or enjoying your favourite series, film (make it something dark academia appropriate if you wish!)
either don’t wear makeup at all & let your skin rest & eyebrows grow bushy, or wear a deep red lipstick every day to feel more glamorous & put together
play an instrument just for fun – forget about the pressure of doing it well
find dark academia inspiration on instagram & tumblr or take your own aesthetic photos to post! (please remember to not repost content, especially without credit! moodboards of other people’s art are not cool unless properly credited. it’s way better to reblog & let your whole blog be the moodboard!)
edit the theme of your tumblr to be more dark academia! (again, don’t use other people’s photos as headers or profile pictures!)
wear comfortable but beautiful clothes: a flowy dress, a black turtleneck with woollen trousers, a long shirt with a loose cardigan
learn to write in cursive or improve your handwriting – discover new ways to write different letters
declutter & re-organise your room or apartment! let go of things you don’t need (put them away until you can either sell them or donate them), find inspiration online & get creative!
take a book with you everywhere you go in the house! my boyfriend even likes to read in the shower & while doing the dishes, though i personally wouldn’t take a book near water
wear jewellery even if you’ve decided to spend the day in pyjamas
read a book & annotate it – write your thoughts in the margins, underline new words & beautiful passages – then let a friend or a lover read it & mark their thoughts in it too
write down thoughts & ideas you may get throughout the day in a notebook – preferably one with cream paper!
listen to music as you lie on the floor, focus on what different sounds feel like in your body – bonus dark academia points if you have a record player & a beautiful persian rug, but a spotify playlist & a duvet will do!
take a bath in candlelight & read a book (or a magazine, a newspaper if you’re like me & are afraid to get your books wet!) – even better if you have a bath bomb, bubbles or rose petals to add into the water
cuddle your lover if you’re at home with one & read different books as you’re curled up on the couch together – a pet will do as well & a fireplace crackling in the background will add to the atmosphere
bake a pie & if it turns out well, you can start your own recipe notebook in which you’ll only write by hand!
write a poem or a letter to a friend, a parent, a pet, a lover or yourself! even better if you have (or make!) old-looking paper & use a fountain pen to write in your very best cursive
start paying attention to little things – the way dust seems to almost hang in the air when the sun is shining in through the window, the way your favourite blanket feels on your skin, the way the rain smells & the way the wind howls
wear a big knit & wellies & go spend time in a forest if there is one near you – enjoy the sounds & smells of the nature around you
though i don’t think endless self-improvement is healthy, if you’re feeling a little lost, you can try to list facts about yourself, goals, qualities of the “better you” you want to become, habits that you would like to drop
remember to stay in contact with people – make plans (even crazy ones!) with your friends for another time, be it an afternoon in your favourite library or a trip to scotland
make sure to take care of yourself – moisturise your hands that have gotten dry due to you washing them so often now, stop following people on social media that make you feel jealous or just straight-up bad about yourself, book that online therapy session that you’ve put off for years & remember to eat & drink water
write bad poetry!
learn something new every day, even if you just read the news or an interesting wikipedia article about an unknown composer, an ancient or foreign language, a historical period that you would like to know more about
put on a (deep) red nail polish & enjoy how elegant it feels to do your everyday tasks with painted nails
read poetry or plays out loud (to a pet, to a parents or sibling, to a roommate if you dare!)
if you have a garden or backyard, spend time there: read, knit, draw or just sit & listen to your thoughts – try wearing your best dark academia style clothes just for the aesthetic
stargaze! – or even better, if you live in the very north, observe the aurora borealis
quick studying aesthetic for you:
comfortable sweater with the sleeves pushed up
long hair pulled back in a bun or braid, escaping strands pushed behind your ears impatiently
classical music playing in the background
pages of notes scrawled messily in pen
a mug of coffee or tea growing cold and forgotten on the table
the steady drum of rain against the windows, fading into background noise as you work
ink stains on your fingertips
flipping through textbooks and marking pages with scraps of your favorite stationary
dim, warm lighting
twirling a pen between your fingers as you try to memorize names and dates
the feeling of satisfaction when you finally understand a topic
Cottagecore academia:
Studying and revising outside (when the weather permits it).
Bundles of dried flowers in old bottles.
Cotton handkerchiefs.
Sleeping with curlers in your hair to achieve the perfect vintage look.
Old tea sets.
Birdwatching, pond dipping, going for walks, gardening.
Bursting with excitement when the first daffodils push their heads up through the earth.
Knitting, crocheting, and sewing your own clothes.
Shawls.
Patchwork quilts.
Empty cups of tea everywhere.
Staple clothes that last a lifetime.
At least a few outdoor plants in a garden, in window boxes, or on the balcony of an apartment.
A vast library of old books.
Avid follower of Hestia.
Neat cursive handwriting with a fountain pen.
"I can use this box/tin/wrapping paper later, so I'll keep it."
Loving women (it's a must).
Pressing flowers between the pages of massive encyclopedias.
Keeping everything in little tins and boxes.
Monogrammed clothes and handkerchiefs.
Technologically illiterate.
i am so determined to fall more in love with life. intentionally romanticising the walks i am on, the birds chirping, the blooming nature around me, the water in my cup of tea turning from a light peach tone to a dark pink, the poetry i write, the things i am learning, my handwriting, dozing off while sitting in front of my window, all of it and more. I have to take a closer look at the little things that make my heart beat faster.
first celebrity, outfit, quote, and aesthetic pic on pinterest is your vibe ✨
thanks for the tag @desert-fern!!!
absolutely screeching at the quote that popped up but where’s the lie 💀
no pressure tags: @thyme-in-a-bubble @saintmurd0ck @itwasthereaminuteago @theradioactivespidergwen @farfromstrange @spoodermain @courtforshort15 @pleasurebuttonwrites @sunflowersandsapphires & anyone else that would like to join!
she’s pink 🩷🌸🩷🌸
i made myself as a weirdcore character 👀
this picrew is so good like wth
what do you guys look like in liminal space? 👁
not interested in: • girls putting other girls down to build themselves/others up • “girl games” • competing with other girls
super into: • complimenting girls • close female friendships • girls mentoring girls
Daniel Branwell x dark!Frederick Dennis from The Lie by Helen Dunmore
.
So, I was telling @egogrumps how much better this scene would be if they used britney spears Toxic in the back… and then my hand slipped.
everytime yall see this scene now your gonna think of this song your welcome
I just love sleep so much ……. like u just close ur eyes and ur gone bitch ………… brain logged the fuck off ……… powerful