Dark academia fashion is an aesthetic style combining classic literature and academic inspiration. It is a timeless wardrobe choice for gentlemen who love embracing elegance.
As you are here to take guidance on this vintage-inspired styling, keep reading on till the end.
I have shared the essentials you need for the Dark Academia fashion men, a comprehensive dressing guide, hairstyle, and additional grooming tips. You can also find 5 popular Dark Academia fashion men who currently follow to express their romanticism.
| 🔲 Below are just some essential materials for men to style in dark academia, but this fashion styling has some specific fabrics, colours, and prints to follow. Click here to get in-depth Dark Academia fashion insights. |
Table of Contents
Essentials for Mens Dark Academia Fashion
Let’s start by collecting the most essential styling items, clothes, and suits to dress up in the dark academia style:
- Collared Shirts: A well-tailored collared shirt is a must-have for a dark academia fashion men outfit. You can create both a professional, relaxed, classic, and elegant look.
- Turtle Neck: This is a timeless dark academia fashion piece, perfect for winters and autumn. You can style the trend while keeping the body warm.
- Sweater Vest: This gives a stylish vibe to the aesthetic of dark academia. You can layer shirts while keeping that elegance.
- Knit Sweaters: Knit sweaters are a perfect element for layering. As it is a versatile dark academic clothing, you can wear a crop, long, button-down turtleneck, depending on your preference.
- Trench Coats: This is the perfect outfit for classic and aesthetic dark academia fashion men. Dark, warm, and earthy tones are ideal if you want to go for this wool coat.
- Blazer: If you want to create a professional look, then a structured blazer can be a part of your dark academia men outfit. Layering this can make all the difference.
- Trousers: Depending on your choice of fabric & fit, trousers are mostly preferred for men dark academia fashion.
- Accessories: The vintage-inspired Dark Academia mens fashion requires a few necessary accessories for further touch-up. We suggest you add a classic wristwatch, wool scarf, non-prescription glasses, leather belt, or leather briefcase to your list according to your styling preferences.
Dressing Guide for Dark Academia Fashion Men
So now, gentlemen, it’s time to dress up in the Dark Academia men fashion to look timelessly classic. Let me guide you in this journey:
Get Hands-on Classic Pieces
Men who love dark academia fashion naturally reflect their intellectual, refined style, drawing inspiration from literature and films like “Dead Poets Society”. You can easily create an aesthetic look that speaks to dark academia by incorporating crisp white shirts, tweed blazers, and tailored trousers.
Pair with an Oxford shirt and trousers or a knitwear in earthy tones like olive, greens, browns, and grays. It is a staple for men who prefer classy and comfy looks. Also, they are popularised by students and academics.
Layer Based on Purpose
Layering is the heart of men’s Dark Academia fashion. But you must layer thoughtfully to achieve a sophisticated look without sacrificing your comfort. Top with a cardigan or sweater vest made of cashmere or wool.
I prefer choosing brown, gray, and black or any neutral colours to add warmth and elegance to enhance your handsomeness. Even small details like colour combinations and textures play a big role.
Introduce Thoughtful Accessories
Accessories are also essential to bring the outfit together. Choose accessories thoughtfully that can elevate your look, maintaining that dark academia aesthetics.
You can opt for all-time classics like leather satchels, vintage wristwatches, or round glasses to enhance the scholarly vibe. Even a simple patterned muffler, pocket square, and leather belt can adjust the right amount of personality to a Dark Academia mens fashion.
Focus on the Right footwear
Dark academia fashion for men is incomplete without the right footwear. So, choose the right pair to pull off your dark fashion aesthetics. Look for shows that are made of high-quality leather, as it gives a luxurious feeling.
The classic dark academia shoe options include loafers, brogues, and Chelsea boots. These are ideal for achieving a vintage look for staple dark academia fashion style.
Dark Academia Men’s Hairstyle & Grooming Guide
The Dark Academia men’s fashion goes beyond just aesthetic clothing. You may find most of the groomers guide you to find the most suitable clothes, but I believe hairstyles reflect your admiration for the polished elegance of historical figures.
Here are a few popular hairstyles and grooming tips to get the 19th and early-20th-century dark academia scholars, poets, and intellectuals to follow:
◈ Side Part Hairstyle: The sleek side part is a quintessential hairdo for mens dark academia fashion. Most of the superstars favour this even today for its versatility and classic appeal.
Part your hair from one side, depending on your preferences, and use hair gel or setting spray to get that sleek, immortalized scholarly character.
◈ Textured Waves Hairstyle: The textured waves give a romantic reflection for dark academia men’s hairstyle. Poets and artists from the 19th century often wore this hairstyle with their natural waves.
This look is one of my favourites as it embodies the early time romantic look for younger men. It’s a style that perfectly balances aesthetic hues and dark academia ethos.
◈ Facial Hair Grooming: Many of the philosophers from the 19th century who created the dark academia fashion were distinguished by their mustachios and beards. And of course, well-groomed beards symbolise wisdom and maturity in men.
The dark academia facial style ranges from neatly trimmed beards and mustaches, evoking the elegance of the Victorian era.
5 Popular Dark Academia Men Fashion
- Classic Scholar Aesthetics
Elements:
➜ White Oxford shirt
➜ Dark brown or deep green suede blazer
➜ High waist chocolate brown trousers
➜ Leather satchel bag and tan boots
- Sleek Autumn Vibe
Elements:
➜ Turtle neck pullover
➜ Knit V-neck vest
➜ Herringbone pants
➜ Chelsea boots
➜ Flat cap & black sunglasses
- Modern Library Dark Academia
Elements:
➜ Button-down tan shirt
➜ Wool pants
➜ Dark steel long trench coat
➜ Monstraps
➜ Leather briefcase, black belt, polished brown leather shoes
- Casual Elegance
Elements:
➜ Button-down shirt
➜ Tailored trousers & leather belt
➜ Leather boots
- Poetic Romantic
Elements:
➜ Rolled neck sweater
➜ Pin-striped trousers
➜ Long black overcoat
➜ Black Chelsea boots
Additional Tips for Gentlemen
Dark academia fashion is not just about finding vintage clothes for men; it is about a way of celebrating historical styles followed by men from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Here are some tips that I highly recommend all gentlemen follow:
➤ Tailoring- One of the most important Dark Academia fashion aspects is focusing on fit. Even the finest clothing piece can look sloppy if they do not conform properly. So, tailoring to make subtle adjustments is essential.
➤ Inspirations- If you do not have a specific dark academia fashion mens look in mind, follow social media, as many influencers have posted the best colour combinations and materials based on events and seasons.
➤ Colour Palette- This iconic fashion style thrives on specific colours that evoke a scene of maturity and sophistication. You can consider browns, blacks, tan, forest greens, or other earthy tones.
➤ Art of Layering- Layering is at the heart of dark academia mens fashion. The key to recreating this vintage style is understanding the theory of layering. Focus on combining clothes that create visual interest and depth. Do not overlayer; experiment with the temperature!
➤ Confidence- The best tip is to be confident. You can only embrace the dark academia aesthetics if you are comfortable with your style and confident to wear it.
Enhance the Allure of Darkness!
The dark academia fashion men offer an opportunity for men to express something unique from the modern pop styles. If fine, sleek, and elegant is your type, then you must cultivate this timeless fashion as your inspiration.
By following this guide, you can rearrange your wardrobe with the essence of dark academia and evoke your passion for classic pieces. So, reflect your inner charm and stay true to your exceptional style!
FAQs
Q1. Can I create dark academia fashion in a country with a hot climate?
Ans: Of course you can! You can just skip the idea of multilayering and add neutral earth tone colours for button-down shirts and sleek trousers. Accessorise with a leather belt, black sunglasses, and a classic wristwatch to elevate your dark academia fashion.
Q2. What types of clothes are ideal for dark academia fashion (men’s)?
Ans: I have mentioned the essential clothing and accessory options in the article. However, you can also get inspiration from social media platforms like Pinterest and Instagram.
Q3. Is most of the dark academia fashion for women?
Ans: No. Dark academia fashion is not exclusively for women. By focusing on classy clothing pieces for men and appropriate colours, you can easily recreate dark academia fashion for men.
Q4. Which brands do men shop for dark academia fashion?
Ans: I prefer shopping from H&M, Zara, Burberry, and Spier and Mackay to shopping for men’s dark academia fashion clothes, as they have a huge collection of muted fall colours to choose from.
Q5. What are some ideal dark academia wardrobe tips for big guys?
Ans: Polished suits are the ideal classy options for big guys. You must avoid baggy sweaters. Instead, go for button-down collared shirts and V-neck sweater vests.
