Our guide to Aesthetics | Academia - Style of the City Magazine

Aesthetic is a word you’ve probably heard thrown around a lot on TikTok. A sort of cultural trend, aesthetic is a new form of clique culture, this time taking on a whole new life.

Style is, of course, personal. However, there is still a lot of overlap across different sub-cultures.

TikTok has adapted fashion and created a more regimented style code for each brand of personality found on the app.

Some of these are trends. They’re short-lived fashion pieces that come and go quickly. Others are full-on lifestyles. They require a splash of dedication to fully appreciate.

We’re here to dissect, analyse and explain all the nooks and crannies that make up these styles. We’ll give you the low down on how to dress, act and feel the part.

First up is Academia.

There are a ton of variations of the style, but we’ll be focusing on two of the most commonly seen types; Light and dark.

What is Academia?

Essentially, it’s all about learning. It’s focused on reading, studying, and all things, well, academic.

Things like classic literature, philosophy, and European architecture are necessary interests. The whole idea is to embrace an upper-class idealism of education. It’s similar to older styles like American prep and Parisian chic. Like all the new aesthetics though, it does require a fair amount of leg work.

The whole idea is to be pretentious, romantic, and a little over-the-top.

It isn’t necessarily new. While the exact concept is a product of social media, it’s constructed of pieces from many different fashions from the past. Most notably, its influenced by the 19th-century aristocracy and American elitism.

Pop culture is a big influence on most styles, but more so with Academia. The Harry Potter craze was very significant in its creation. Motifs from the series are especially important in Academia. Tumblr blogs were often seen sharing mood boards of quills, parchment, and Oxford University backdrops.

While Academia seemed to peak in 2017 on apps like Tumblr, it is seeing a new rise through newer socials like TikTok.

Light Academia

Light Academia is a slightly newer concept than its older brother, Dark Academia. First coined in 2019 on Tumblr, Light Academia is made up of light motifs.

Colour palette

White
Tan
Cream
Neutrals
Gold
Ivory
Browns
Rose
Burgundy
Beige
Black
Grey
Rose gold

Motifs

Domesticity

Unmade beds
Food and drink (champagne, fruit, pastries etc.)
Apartment living
Décor and wall art
Candles
Literature
Coffee shops

Art

Marble sculptures
Renaissance
Impressionism
Baroque architecture
Calligraphy and stationery
Museum interiors
Nature
Haussmannian buildings

Light Academia capsule wardrobe

Blazers
Turtlenecks
Button-ups
Sweater vests
Cardigans
Cigarette trousers
Mini skirts
Trench coats
Waistcoats
Mary Janes
Doc Martens
Oxfords
Pearls
Berets
Headbands
Tweed
Plaid
Leather

Home Décor

Books
Sculptures
Vintage stationery
Classical art
Antique pieces
Candles
Vintage papers and photography
Vinyl
Second-hands finds
Flowers

Dark Academia

Originating on Tumblr in 2017, Dark Academia is the original Academia aesthetic. Like Light Academia, Dark Academia is preppy, pretentious fashion that’s influenced by classical education. Dark Academia is, obviously, dark. It is not only visually darker but also embraces darker themes like crime, cult, and danger.

Colour Palette