Academia aesthetic fashion

“Oh, no. No, no, no, no, no, no, no! People can't see me like this. My own mother won't recognize me.” Chances are, nearly all of us have felt like this after a horrendous haircut. Whether by the will of a newbie/hungover/angry hairstylist or by your own clumsy hands at home, you've ended up massacring your hairdo. And now you can't leave home out of shame. (Which is kind of alright what with the global pandemic, lockdowns, and all.)

In the past year, you've likely heard the buzz surrounding the Light Academia and Dark Academia aesthetics. What are they, who can wear them, and how can you personalize your own wardrobe to include them? Let's start with the basics ... what is an aesthetic?