How To Copy Chaotic Academia Aesthetics & Outfits | The Fashion Journal

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Hey, pretty people!

We have made it to Chapter 6 of The Fashion Journal, and it’s time to explore one more fashion aesthetic.

We have already talked about a few Academia aesthetics; mostly popular ones. This time around, however, we are going to dive deep into one of its subgenres: Chaotic Academia.

Chaotic Academia certainly is one of Academia’s lesser known subgenres; because of that, it hasn’t really exploded as a proper aesthetic just yet. It is more personal and customizable compared to the previous styles we analyzed. However, it fits a much more ‘rebelious’ audience.

This aesthetic leaves you much more room to play around with accessories and items in general, wearing things incorrectly or in unusual ways in general. It allows you to fully express yourself in whichever way you feel most comfortable with. It has a much more relaxed vibe to it as well.

Chaotic Academia reminds me quite a bit of a character from the movie ‘Dead Poets Society’ (which is a masterpiece you should definitely watch), being Charlie ‘Nuwanda’ Dalton.

What I want to focus on is the fashion and general attitude of Nuwanda. That’s the perfect embodiment of the whole Chaotic Academia style.

He used to wear his school uniform loosely or incorrectly, from top to bottom; opened up blazer, unbuttoned shirt, loose tie. Moreover, everything about Nuwanda’s attitude and fashion screamed Chaotic Academia; that’s why I would encourage you to take some inspiration from him.

So, after this long premise, are you finally ready to learn how to copy Chaotic Academia Aesthetics and Outfits?

Let’s get started!

THE ITEMS

Like we briefly mentioned before, this style is a much more relaxed and comfortable one compared to the previous Academia subgenres we talked about before. Not just because of the accessories and customization aspect, but because of the actual size of the clothes.

A RUN-DOWN OF THE ITEMS

Blazer, coats and any over-top that looks oversized or, at least, comfortable on you is almost always the perfect addition to an outfit. Also, over-tops should be open. This is done not only to show off the entirety of the outfit, but also to create an even more authentic feeling of comfort and mobility.

OLD-LOOK

Another aspect to keep in consideration when assembling your Chaotic Academia outfit is the ‘old look’ the clothes should have.

As a general rule, anything that looks vintage and worn-out is a big yes. I am not only talking about items that remind you of older days, I am actually talking about clothes that look and feel old.

Patches and torns are a great addition to them, because they add that bit of ‘rebel’ element this aesthetic requires. Moreover, they are the best indicators of over-worn items. Ripped items are quite characteristic of this style as well.

MISMATCHED ITEMS

One of the most interesting and ‘silly’ aspects, is the fact that mismatched socks are a pretty popular part of a Chaotic Academia outfit.

This is because of two reasons. Mismatched socks wouldn’t look too good on a perfectly thought-out and paired outfit; however, they certainly complement the Chaotic Academia aesthetic. In fact, they even end up looking great in that context!

THE OUTFITS

Like we said just now, comfort plays a big role in Chaotic Academia. This doesn’t automatically translate to ‘oversize’, though; in fact, just a size bigger or something that vaguely fits loosely is the perfect addition to the outfit.

COMFORT

Comfort is such a key here that it overpowers the elegant theme. It manipulates and twists it into something that looks and feels the complete opposite. This contrast is what makes Chaotic Academia so recognizable among other aesthetics. That is also something to keep in mind when creating your own outfits!

ACCESSORIES

Chaotic Academia is a willingly messy style, which creates a powerful contrast with the general idea of the Academia trend. No matter which one you pick, you will find that elegance has some sort of place in it; in fact, the outfits generally look put together.

Accessories are meant to be worn incorrectly or loosely, at most. Needless to say, they constitute another key part of a Chaotic Academia outfit. For instance, let’s say you were going to wear a tie. The best way to wear would be in the wrong place (like tied to your arm), or not to tie it at all.

CUSTOMIZATION

Lastly, consider the fact that every item of your outfit should be customized. Tie the ends of your T-shirt, apply brooches or anything you like to your clothes.

Your personal expression is the icing on the cake here; you should never underestimate it. Feel free to alter any items as you like, and you’ll certainly see how much better your outfit will turn out!

THE COLORS

One of the best things about Chaotic Academia is that there really isn’t a color palette to follow; in fact, any color you like is good enough.

TAKING INSPIRATION FROM PREVIOUS STYLES

Using the colors from the previous Academia aesthetics is a good place to start. You don’t have to abide by those rules, of course. They’re more of an inspiration for you to use.

Earthy tones are always a good option for basically any outfit; together with the classic black and white, of course.

Being a more relaxed aesthetic, Chaotic Academia is all about expressing your individuality. That’s exactly why I encourage you to pick whichever colors you feel most comfortable wearing.

Don’t feel obligated to stick to black, white and brown; experiment and have fun!

10 KEY ITEMS

Lastly, let’s talk about the ten items you should consider investing in to create your Chaotic Academia aesthetic.

Of course, none of these principles are holy grails. You should apply your own personal sense of fashion into your outfits; also, feel free to accessorize as much or as little as you prefer.