Light academia

The term light academia was coined on Tumblr in 2019 by the user 'plantaires,' who wrote:[2]"You've heard of 'dark academia', now its time for 'light' academia… wearing light linen sundresses in foreign countries, eating picnics and pastries in the afternoon sun while reading poetry and laughing with your friends, the burning passion and excitement when you finally make a breakthrough in your research, falling asleep in your lovers arms sunkissed and happy… everything is beautiful and hopeful and no one dies".

Comparing it to dark academia, Tumblr trend analyzer Amanda Brennan has stated that light academia "still embodies the love of learning, but with an airier, less doom-focused feel that shows that knowledge brings light and happiness in the outdoors rather than a gothic darkness seen curled up in a corner".

[5] Light academia utilizes a neutral and earthy color palette consisting of white, beige, and brown.

[2] Clothing items associated with light academia include pleated skirts, dress shirts, sweater vests, cardigans, turtlenecks, and hair ribbons.

[5][7][8] Light academia clothing has been described as "cottagecore with some more cosmopolitan elements",[3] and as taking inspiration from school uniforms and early to mid-20th-century college wear.