Dark Academia, Light Academia, & Cottagecore: Breaking Down 3 Popular Internet Aesthetics
If you spend any significant time on the internet, you’re probably well-versed in the current popular “aesthetics”. I may be the exception, but it certainly doesn’t take much browsing on my favorite sites before I start to see the posts, playlists, or YouTube videos tagged with terms like “cottagecore” or “dark academia”.
Aesthetics are a vital part of the online world, and as your resident individual who is possibly too well-versed in the internet’s strange niches, I’m here to break down some of the more prevalent ones for you.
If you aren’t familiar with what an online “aesthetic” is, the easiest way it can be described is a very specific “vibe” ascribed to a wide variety of things. It includes clothing, decor, music, and truly any other thing you could think of.
If the internet can be believed (spoiler alert: it can’t), some people make almost every purchasing decision based on their chosen aesthetic. I’ve listed the 3 most popular aesthetics I can think of below to help you navigate hashtags like #cottagecore and #darkacademia if you are so inclined.
Cottagecore.
Let’s start with one of the more universal aesthetics. Though a version of cottagecore has always existed in certain circles, it skyrocketed in popularity online during the first lockdown of 2020. What can I say? A lot of us needed to daydream about baby goats and a quiet plot of land in the Cotswolds at that time.
From the rise of “napdress” to a revived love of vintage decor, cottagecore pulls inspiration from all things English countryside. Interiors lean on delicate florals, antique furniture, and light textures such as linen and cotton to create a cozy, natural feel.
The fashion inspired by this movement feels like the best possible blast from the past and often includes long, flowing dresses and airy blouses — imagine anything you might want to wear while picnicking on a grassy hill and you’re probably thinking of an outfit that’s at least vaguely cottagecore.
Books like The Tale of Peter Rabbit or Pride and Prejudice fit perfectly in this particular category and provide plenty of inspiration. Cottagecore smells like lavender, trees in the sunshine, and maybe even freshly baked bread.
Dark Academia.
If the cottagecore aesthetic is inspired by the work of Jane Austen, then dark academia belongs entirely in the wheelhouse of the Bontë sisters. Inspired by books like The Secret History by Donna Tartt or Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo, dark academia explores the gloomy side of intellectualism and academia while leaning into the opulence such an education could afford.
Dark academia is all black coffee, leather chairs, blazers paired with high socks, and Doc Martens. It’s somber, sometimes leaning to even macabre, while still managing to be cozy somehow. The tones are always dark — obviously — but typically not to the point of being truly spooky.
If Dead Poets Society was a little less playful and shot exclusively on foggy days, it would be the perfect encapsulation of the dark academia aesthetic. With wardrobe pieces inspired by crisply maintained school uniforms and the deep desire to subside on good literature and philosophical debates, dark academia is the aesthetic for those of us who never did get to make it to Harvard and have an affinity for the smell of mahogany and old parchment paper.
Light Academia.
If dark academia had a younger sibling that was slightly more outgoing and optimistic, it would be the light academia aesthetic. While maintaining its roots in romanticizing bookish tendencies and higher education, light academia approaches its vibe with more warmth and hopefulness than its darker counterpart.
It may seem silly, but it really is different enough to warrant its own classification. Light academia belongs in the bright pictures the Inklings painted of their beloved corners of Oxford and less in moodiness. Its visuals are things like marble statues, warm cups of tea on opulent saucers, and rays of sunshine streaming into marvelous old libraries.
Books like Alice in Wonderland and Peter Pan always come to my mind when I consider this particular aesthetic. Clothing pieces are inspired by vintage looks and incorporate interesting and luxurious textures like silk or velvet. A color palette of gold, cream, and white seem to be a must in both fashion and interiors for the light academia aesthetic.
In short…
I think I speak for all of us when I say I’m curious on what niche “aesthetic” will rise in online popularity next (surely we’ve run out of variations of academia). Here’s to hoping it’s Hobbit-core or another cozy variation that allows for more meals in a day.
