Dark Academia is a popular aesthetic known for emphasizing higher education, the arts, and gothic literature. It embraces dark clothing, rainy landscapes, and a hunger for knowledge that goes beyond what we see into the world of the unknown.

Personally, I love the clothing and the overall vibe of the aesthetic, however, my favorite part has got to be the books. They’re mysterious and melancholy with deeply flawed characters who aren’t trying to be fixed. And even though I love following these twisted stories, they can often weigh heavily on me even after I set them down.

So whether you’ve already read these books or are looking to get into Dark Academia literature, I have compiled my definitive ranking for how badly these books fucked me up emotionally (ordered from least to most).

Of course, please read at your own risk and check out trigger warnings before starting 🙂

Ranking: 1 - Happy to read this on a rainy day in the library

Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke

While this book is not in the traditional cohort of DA book suggestions, I read this during my peak dark academia phase, and therefore in my heart, it feels like it belongs on this list. 

It isn’t a novel, but rather a collection of letters between Rilke and a young poet named Franz Kappus.

Letters to a Young Poets has some of the most beautiful lines of prose I have ever read and the letters overall give me the same vibe as the happy scenes from Dead Poets Society.

The letters contain advice on writing, love, and life. Overall, I think it's a great read for anyone in this uncertain period of life.

Ranking: 2 - Read by candlelight for extra spookiness

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

To be honest, classics scare me. However, this one is not only highly accessible but also really good! 

We follow a young Victorian socialite as he turns from sweet and caring to twisted and reckless. There’s also a spooky magical realism aspect of this book, so if you’re looking for something to read around Halloween I highly recommend this one!

Ranking: 3 - Some of the scenes freaked me out (if you hate ghosts, stay away), but in a fun way

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

If you’re more of a fantasy reader (like myself), but looking to give a Dark Academia book a try, I suggest Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo. It surrounds a murder that takes place at Yale University and a girl with the ability to talk to ghosts.

I’ll admit that I didn’t really get into this book until the second half. There is a lot of information thrown at you in the beginning—one of Leigh Bardugo’s specialties— and it can be hard to keep it all straight. However, the atmosphere this book creates is spectacular, and by the end, I had difficulty letting go of the characters.

Ranking: 4 - touch some grass after this one

Bunny by Mona Awad

If you like a book where you don’t know what the hell is going on the entire time, Bunny is for you! 

We follow a group of deranged grad students as they perform interesting rituals in the name of writing.

Reading this book is what I imagine the world would be like if I were on my sixth day of drinking only coffee. But at the same time, it's fun and for the girls! It has in fact been deemed a “hot girl” book, so do you really need another reason to read it?

Ranking: 5 - sat in the dark sobbing for a good 45 mins after 

 Dead Poets Society by N. H. Kleinbaum

I will accept zero slander against this movie, and since I am such a big fan of the movie; I knew I had to read the book. 

The main focus of the book is a teacher with a passion for poetry trying to teach a class of young boys how to properly experience life.

Spoiler Alert: it’s pretty much the exact same thing as the movie.

Now, this book would be much higher up on the list if it wasn’t for the ending. 

The ending literally knocks all the air from my body and leaves me in tears every single time I experience it.

Ranking: 6 - Probably took a few years off my life

These Violent Delights by Micah Nemerever

These Violent Delights is a Dark Academia book that takes place in Pittsburgh!

It’s about two boys who fall in love, but as their lives entangle, their morals and decisions become grayer and grayer until they’re covering up a murder they never planned to commit.

As a native Pittsburgher, the location was really the main reason I wanted to read this book. However, it also ended up being super creepy and disturbing (but in a thrilling, i-can’t-put-this-book-down kind of way) so if you’re into that, have at it!

Ranking: 7 - haha I'm totally not emotionally scared from this book

If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio

If I could give this book ten stars, I would. And if you’re still unsure about this genre, this is the book to start with. 

We’re introduced to the main character, Oliver Marks, on the day he’s released from jail after serving a ten-year sentence for a crime he may or may not have committed. The story unfolds as Oliver recounts his days as a student when he and six other young actors studied and performed exclusively Shakespearean plays. One member of the group is murdered, but the murderer and motive are a complete mystery. 

If you’ve been unfortunate enough to ask me for a book recommendation since October 2021, I’ve probably babbled on to you about this book. But seriously, so worth the read. 

Ranking: 8 - have support on hand cause this will f*ck you up

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

There’s a reason this book is the classic Dark Academia book recommendation.

It’s incredible.

We follow a group of six Classics students at a private New England college as they discover a new way of thinking—and perhaps take it too far. Their love of learning quickly turns dark when one of the students is murdered, and the others are left to pick up the pieces.

Now, I obviously love this book, but it does get really dark and definitely sent me spiraling.

Written by Kate Castello

Abby is in eighth grade, she is fifteen years old, and just like any other teenager. She has smooth, blemish free skin that everyone envies, along with a healthy lifestyle of working out regularly and eating well. But privately, Abby felt something was wrong. She could relate with her peers on everything relating to music, sports, and academics, but whenever her friends would talk about their periods—Abby would go silent, nervously waiting for her own to finally arrive.

When Abby decided to go to the doctor about her absent menstrual cycle, the doctors insisted that she go on birth control. She went on the pill on January 1, 2021, and for the first two to three months everything was perfect. Her period had finally arrived, and she was beginning to feeling like a “normal” girl. Her reproductive processes were working efficiently and properly, making her feel like birth control was truly the answer to all of her problems.

She then started breaking out, bad. To her dismay, acne began to cover her cheeks: an issue she never had to deal with prior. She also noticed a weight gain—her face and midsection seemed to become fluffier and fuller. Nothing had changed in Abby’s lifestyle…except her prescription to birth control.

Then the heart palpitations began.

Lily is at work. It is the summer of 2019, she is eighteen and serves in a banquet hall. While standing off to the side of the event space waiting for a task, she feels a strange twitch in her right leg. Uncomfortable, she sits down, which makes the pain pulsate and shoot up to her thigh. She has never known a pain like this before, and struggles to find words to explain the feeling to her mother later that night. She does not go to the doctor, assuming it was just a fluke and a one time thing, so she continues on in her daily routine.

Then, it struck again. She was sitting in class and she felt the paralyzing pain shooting up her leg. She knows something is wrong and goes to the emergency room in an attempt to get some answers. After waiting for hours in the hospital, she gets taken back to the doctor only to be told she is having period cramps and will feel better with some water and Ibuprofen. Lily knows what period cramps feel like: this was not a period cramp.

It’s August 2016, Samantha starts high school tomorrow, she's fourteen and excited and anxious about the first day. She wakes up in the middle of the night to intense stomach pains. She goes to tell her mother and her mom tells her to try and go back to sleep with the promise that they will go to the doctors in the morning at 8 am.

They arrive at the doctor the next morning to which Samantha is told by the doctors she is experiencing period cramps. Samantha has only had her period for one month at this time, so she figured maybe this was what period cramps felt like. The doctors suggest birth control, to help with the intense period cramps she seemed to have.

Her mother knew this was an incorrect diagnosis and that something truly was wrong with her daughter. She continued to advocate for Samantha and push the doctor to do more research into her condition.

Three hours later Samantha went into emergency surgery.

Each of these women have unique stories and conditions, but there is one constant in all of them. All three of them were told that they were experiencing period cramps by doctors and encouraged to go on birth control, when in reality there was a much more serious diagnosis waiting to be uncovered. Why is it that periods are the automatic scapegoat when it comes to women’s health? This is not new in the healthcare industry, women have been and continue to be underrepresented in research, resulting in misdiagnosis and the prescription of birth control working as a bandaid on a bullet wound (Mitchell).

In a research article by Kate Young from the Feminism and Psychology Journals she states, “The institution of medicine is predominantly the product of privileged men who have thus produced androcentric knowledge and practice”. For the vast history of medical research men were used as the standard, specifically, white straight men. This leaves people of color and women largely under represented, and by effect largely misdiagnosed as well. “Any aspect of the female body that differs from the male or that cannot be given a male comparative (exemplified by the uterus) is viewed as evidence of deviation or ‘fault.’” (Young). Male and female bodies have different anatomy and different symptoms for certain disorders and diseases. Therefore, when men’s research is applied to women’s bodies the answers are askew and inaccurate which could lead to possibly fatal circumstances.

For example, heart attacks are commonly assumed to be the number one killer of men, with the main symptom being the intense and dramatic chest pains. Breast cancer is then the disease that is assumed to be the number one killer of women. In reality, 1 in 3 women die of heart diseases each year, while only 1 in 30 die of breast cancer (Sadick). Women’s symptoms for heart disease include shortness of breath, cramps, tightness in chest, and lightheadedness. These symptoms are very similar to period symptoms, so women are either taught to ignore them, or get ignored by health care professionals.

The heart palpitations were the last straw for Abby. Though there was no way to determine if they really were caused by the birth control pill or if they were caused by extraneous circumstances, such as stress or anxiety, but Abby knew she needed to get off of it. Once done with the pill she went to a professional physician as a last resort, and in her senior year of high school she was diagnosed with PCOS, poly cystic ovarian syndrome.

“PCOS isn’t very understood, because there isn’t much research about it. Birth control is a very lazy way to address it.” Abby describes. She knew she needed to go off of birth control and after doing more research found that by addressing the problem at the root cause, she could overcome this diagnosis. Doing low intensity workouts such as walking and Pilates and eating more greens she found were the best holistic and successful ways to live with this syndrome. However her doctor still continued to push birth control, suggesting different brands and doses, ignoring Abby’s pleas to stay away from it, “Birth control is a bandaid, it does not address the root cause.”

“Birth control is a bandaid, it does not address the root cause“

Lily goes to an OBGYN in an attempt to get more answers, they recommend a trans-vaginal ultrasound to get a closer look at her ovaries. She sits on the chair and stares at the large metal prongs that she will place her feet on to expose herself. The doctor puts a large ultrasound probe in her vagina in a way that any young woman at the time would consider the thief of her virginity. Uncomfortably, as her mom sat across from her in the small beige examination room and she choked back tears, Lily worried she knew what diagnosis was to come from this.

Lily did some research of her own after the unhelpful trip to the emergency room. She explored studies and other forums of women’s personal experiences with similar symptoms to her own. In the end she found endometriosis, and she knew that was what she was battling against. When brought to her doctors attention, they quickly denied the possibility of it ever happening.

“They told me, ‘You can’t have endometriosis, you are too young, this usually only affects women in their twenties.’” Lily explains about the doctors reaction to her hypothesis that she was in fact struggling with this disorder. In an attempt to prove to Lily that she did not have endo, the doctors gave her the ultrasound. Lily loves to be right, but in this situation she did not boast when she found out that she was in fact diagnosed with endometriosis.

For treatment plans, she was very limited. Lily explains, “Endo is so under researched, the only main ways for ‘treatment’ are to either go on birth control and cross your fingers, or go under an extremely invasive surgery in an attempt to get it out of your ovaries”. She decided to go on the birth control route, she recalls with a disappointing sigh. While on birth control she gained weight in her stomach and chest area, began breaking out with acne, and found her emotions and hormones completely out of control. The leg pains didn’t stop, and she knew in her gut that birth control was what was making her situation worse. She gave it the benefit of the doubt, but after six months she got herself off of the pill, and once she did she found that all of her symptoms had silenced.

Samantha is in emergency surgery. After her mother continued to fight for her to get further examination, the doctors were able to find her appendix moments away from exploding acid all throughout her body. The doctors were convinced that she only was experiencing period cramps, and if their attempts at dismissing her were successful, Samantha’s story would be much different.

“If my mom didn’t advocate for me and tell the doctors that there really was something wrong, I would’ve died.” Samantha, even at a young age experienced the effects of women’s health being under researched, and the quick blame of period cramps anytime a young woman expresses concern for her own health.

When women approach a doctor with pains similar to those that come with having a period, doctors tend to point the finger at the uterus before discussing other options. Nowadays, simply having a period is all it takes to either get doctors approval for birth control, or order yourself birth control in the mail. Many women are encouraged to take it or influenced to take it by peers or partners, “However, in recent years continuous oral contraceptives have been marketed to women as a way to avoid menstruation altogether” (Johnston-Robledo I). Periods have the stigma of something that hold women back and limits them in the workforce, and big pharmaceutical companies target and take advantage of this assumption to sway more young women into taking birth control. There are even online dispensers of birth control that only require you to fill out a survey, put in your address, and credit card number to have the pill sent to your front door monthly. This does not take into account prior health issues or concerns such as breast cancer or heart problems that could be activated if birth control is ingested. When the communication between patient and professional is cut off for the sake of “convenience” to get the pill, it could result in many women prescribing themselves an unsafe brand or dosage of birth control.

Birth control started as a contraceptive, a method in which women could take the pill and lower their chances of becoming pregnant. It now is used as a multipurpose medicine for an assortment of disorders in women, but it does not solve the core issue. Birth control is used as a bandaid due to the insufficient research in women’s health and the negative stigma that is attached to menstrual cycles. The only way to prevent further misdiagnosis and unnecessary birth control prescriptions is to continue to educate and push for research in women’s health in the same expectation research is carried out for men.

Works Cited

Johnston-Robledo I, Chrisler JC. The Menstrual Mark: Menstruation as Social Stigma. 2020 Jul 25. In: Bobel C, Winkler IT, Fahs B, et al., editors. The Palgrave Handbook of Critical Menstruation Studies [Internet]. Singapore: Palgrave Macmillan; 2020. Chapter 17. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK565611/ doi: 10.1007/978-981-15-0614-7_17

Mitchell, Madeline, et al. “Opposition to Pharmacist Contraception Services: Evidence for Rebuttal.” Pharmacy, vol. 8, no. 4, 2020, p. 176., https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmacy8040176.

Sadick, Barbara. “Women Die from Heart Attacks More Often than Men. Here's Why.” Time, Time, 1 Apr. 2019, https://time.com/5499872/women-heart-disease/.

Young, Kate, et al. “‘Do Mad People Get Endo or Does Endo Make You Mad?’: Clinicians’ Discursive Constructions of Medicine and Women with Endometriosis.” Feminism & Psychology, vol. 29, no. 3, 2018, pp. 337–356., https://doi.org/10.1177/0959353518815704.

Written by Belle O'Hara

Since coming to college I can safely say that the anticipation building up to October has been daunting. The question looming on everyone’s minds of what or who you are dressing up as does not only become a conversation topic but an integral part of every conversation in the month of October. However, it's not only deciding what you want to be, but how you want to be it. In the infamous words of Regina George, "In girl world, Halloween is the one night a year when a girl can dress like a total slut and no other girls can say anything about it." Although I would never refer to anyone’s costume as slutty, this sentiment still rings true. Not only is it socially acceptable, but it almost feels encouraged. Nevertheless, many girls still chose to go the funny route. For example, I saw two versions of a parrot, one “sexy” and the other more literal to its term, adorned with a whole lot more feathers and an ample amount of facepaint. Both costumes were absolutely phenomenal, just different.

A lot of the misconception about dressing “sexy” for Halloween has to do with the idea of “dressing for the patriarchy” when in reality, I genuinely believe that a lot of girls choose to dress sexy for themselves. Not entirely sweeping the idea under the carpet but providing another insight into it. This concept in specific is what got me thinking about what I like to call the “ever-looming October dilemma”.

When I came to college, I knew that Halloween would be a central part to my freshman experience. I would look back on that first year and remember it for the rest of my life as my first Halloween where I could dress however I pleased without the shackles of any adult judgment. The world was my oyster and I was bound to make the best out of my newfound freedom. In the debate between the two ideas of either dressing “sexy” or “funny,” I quickly realized that for the first time, I was very reliant on the opinions of people around me about my costume. To give some background: In the past I was a farmer, a packet of fun dip, and Jeffrey Bezos. Safe to say I usually went the more humorous route.

This year, however, it felt different.

I found that in college there seems to be an unspoken agreement with other girls about dressing however you please and that to me was also really exciting. I wondered if this shared camaraderie between everyone was also a factor when going the funny route for Halloween costume ideas. Although no one would outwardly object, the pressure to dress as a more socially acceptable “sexy” version of whatever you want to be for Halloween seemed to be looming. I knew that if I was going to be in a dirty frat basement wearing a bald cap or a foam suit It may make me look a bit out of place. I wanted to dress in something that I was comfortable in but also shared insight to myself. However, for some strange reason dressing funny in college equates to not caring about what you look like—which I don’t think could be more wrong. In my humble opinion, dressing as something out of the ordinary is really admirable and genuinely takes a lot of work and a whole lot of confidence.

When dressed as something someone might not deem “sexy” you get a fair amount of laughs, but also an equal amount of glares. Which may subsequently result in a deep self reflection, bald cap in hand. Something I really realized coming to college was that what you wear can very much influence how you feel, and on Halloweekend, there is no other way to feel than confident.

What I say however in response to the ever looming October dilemma is that funny IS sexy.

It genuinely doesn’t matter what you wear or even how you wear it. All that matters at the end of the day is that you're dressed for yourself. My personal decision this year resulted in an amalgamation of costumes involving Steve Irwin, John Lennon, Harry Potter, and a baseball player of some kind. I dressed in whatever I felt comfortable wearing (accepting the idea that it may or may not have been 40 degrees) and I admittedly felt like I was not only staying true to myself but feeling good too. In conclusion, life is too short to not be dressing exactly how YOU want on Halloween.

So to the queens I saw dressed as Colonel Sanders and a chicken, you guys killed it.

Written by Ayla Saeed

Do you ever find yourself taking Buzzfeed quizzes or watching TikToks that will assign you an object, person, or idea based on how you answer the following questions, your Zodiac sign, or birth month? Do you ever feel personally offended when you don’t get what you wanted or expected? I am guilty of both. To someone who does neither of those things, it may seem silly to get offended or upset about something that will ultimately have no effect on your life. I will admit, it is stupid to get upset after finding out that you got Ian Somerhalder as your soulmate instead of Timothee Chalamet simply because you were born in September and not October. I believe; however, that an individual’s disappointment surfaces as a result of an underlying desire to feel wanted and reassured. In other words, people are drawn to do things in hopes of receiving affirmation.

Watching videos and taking quizzes made by strangers online can fill one with joy when they get the results they wanted. They may think, “Oh my god! I got exactly what I wanted! It’s meant to be.” That person is most likely pleased because someone else has unknowingly given them the information they desired. Receiving affirmations can make people feel like they are enough. It can also make people feel they are on the path to success. However, “affirmations” from a stranger on the internet aren’t genuine because the person did not make the media specifically for you. In fact, they may have curated the quiz or video to be in their favor.

You may feel joy, but it only lasts for a few seconds until you move on to the next video or quiz. Yet, because that affirmation felt good, you continue to watch videos and take quizzes in hopes of feeling that joy again. Humans are interesting because of the way we find joy or disappointment in the most simple things. In no way am I saying that you are not allowed to feel joy after being told that Harry Styles is your husband because you are an Aquarius. I’m simply asking you to remember what you are doing. Maybe you need to touch some grass or talk to an actual person instead of sitting in your room watching TikToks for hours.

To the people like me, who are distraught after finding out from a stranger on the internet that you got Liam Payne as your One Direction boyfriend instead of Niall Horan on that Buzzfeed quiz, you are seen, and I feel for you. Just remember that the quiz you took, or the video you watched was created by a stranger on the internet. They don’t know you, and their opinion doesn’t matter. If you want Bella Hadid to be your celebrity best friend, then make her your celebrity best friend in your own video or quiz. If you feel joy, revel in it. If you

are disappointed, just move on. I guarantee you won’t even think about the results in five minutes.

Keep this in mind when you read to find out “Who Your 90s Celebrity It Girl is Based on Your Zodiac Sign” by me.

Who Your 90s Celebrity It Girl is Based on Your Zodiac Sign

ARIES

Julia Roberts

If you’re an Aries, then I think you hit the jackpot. Julia Roberts is honestly one of the most beautiful women on Earth. While Roberts is technically a Scorpio (and she does give MAJOR Scorpio energy), I didn’t feel it was the right decision. 

ARIES are passionate, motivated leaders with a good sense of what they expect. I feel like Julia Roberts’ fit this description throughout her acting and in her own personality. She is also fun, loveable, and has one of the most iconic smiles.

TAURUS

Cameron Diaz

Tauruses should be honored. Cameron Diaz is beautiful and iconic. She also literally does not age. Cameron Diaz screams mothering and nurturing to me. I have always seen Taurus as a motherly figure (mom of the friend group) because my mom is a Taurus. 

A TAURUS is dependable, hard-working, and intelligent. They can also be stubborn and dependent. Cameron Diaz was hard-working in her career as an actor. She has since quit acting to focus on her mental health, but that furthermore proves that she is a dependable and level-headed person. 

GEMINI

Naomi Campbell

I don’t know much about Naomi Campbell, but I do know that she was THE runway model of the 90s. She has an incredible walk, and she is actually a Gemini. Campbell was born May 22, 1970. I find her being a Gemini to be perfectly fitting.

GEMINIS are social butterflies with playful and curious tendencies. They are charming and clever. Naomi’s ability to switch from her runway persona to her off-duty pace is incredible. She has certainly found control over the Gemini twins.

CANCER

Liv Tyler

Liv Tyler is a Cancer. She was born on July 1, 1977. Cancers are known for being emotional, nurturing, and intuitive. The only Liv Tyler movie I have ever seen is The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, and since seeing that movie, I have been obsessed with young Liv Tyler.

In the movie, she plays a character named Arwen. Tyler’s character was very nurturing and intuitive towards her lover, Aragorn. None of this has anything to do with astrology, but this is the extent of my knowledge on this particular subject.

LEO

Halle Berry

Halle Berry is THE It Girl. Her acting range is impressive, and she just so happens to be a Leo Sun and a Leo Moon. She is 56 years old, and she looks the same as she did in this photo taken about 30 years ago. 

LEOS are fiery, confident, and dramatic. They are also very generous and big-hearted. Halle Berry started her career as a model, and she competed in beauty pageants. She is now a critically acclaimed actor known for her roles in Catwoman and X-Men.

VIRGO

Gwyneth Paltrow

I am a Virgo, so I get to make Gwyneth Paltrow my 90s It Girl. I know this may be an unpopular opinion, but I love Gwyneth Paltrow. She’s literally the biggest wildcard on the planet, and it’s hilarious. Her presence in the 90s was perfection. She is one of my biggest fashion influences.

There is no further explanation. Gwyneth Paltrow is mine (I stole her from Libra).

LIBRA

Alicia Silverstone

Alicia Silverstone is known for her role as Cher in Clueless. Out of all of the It Girls, she gave me the biggest Libra energy. Both her and Gwyneth Paltrow are Libras, but because I was stealing Gwyneth for myself, I left this icon for the Libras.

LIBRAS are friendly, extroverted, and charming. I do not have the biggest appreciation for Libras, but apparently other people tend to like you guys. 

SCORPIO

Winona Ryder

I love Scorpios. Whenever I think of Scorpios, I think of fall and of Halloween. When I think of Halloween, two iconic women come to mind. One of those women is Helena Bonham Carter, and the other is Winona Ryder. Winona Ryder is the 90s It Girl for Scorpios because I believe she embodies the Zodiac in all aspects of her life.

SCORPIOS are mysterious and emotional. They are an intense and misunderstood Zodiac. I find many of Ryder’s characters to be mysterious, misunderstood, and emotional. I have had the pleasure of blessing Scorpios with the Queen on fall aesthetic movies.

SAGITTARIUS

Christina Aguilera

Christina Aguilera is also a Scorpio, but today she is representing the Sagittarius Zodiac. Christina is most famously known for her song “Genie in a Bottle” and her four-octave vocal range that landed her the title, “Voice of a Generation”. She has also been credited for the revival of teen pop in the 90s and early 2000s.

SAGITTARIUS is an optimistic and level-headed Zodiac. I chose Christina Aguilera for this sign because I feel like if she wasn’t a Scorpio, she would definitely be a Sagittarius. She gives “born in December” vibes.

CAPRICORN

Kate Moss

Okay, I know I said Halle Berry was THE It Girl, but I was wrong. Kate Moss still is the THE It Girl. She was one of the most famous supermodels of the 90s and 2000s. Moss still has a hold over our generation today, not just by herself, but through her daughter Lila Moss too. 

CAPRICORNS are strong, ambitious, and hardworking. Kate Moss is actually a Capricorn. She was born on January 16, 1974. Kate continues to work as a model and as the owner of the Kate Moss Talent Agency.

AQUARIUS

Jennifer Aniston

My Aquarius 90s It Girl for you is Jennifer Aniston. Jennifer was born on February 11, 1969, so she is a true February Aquarius. Jennifer Aniston was the ultimate cool girl in the 90s. She was dating/married to Brad Pitt, and she was on Friends. 

The AQUARIUS is a highly intellectual and creative sign. Jennifer is a conversationalist who is loyal and independent. She is the perfect 90s It Girl to represent the Aquarians.

PISCES

Drew Barrymore

Drew Barrymore being a Pisces makes so much sense to me. Maybe it’s because Pisces are known to be more emotional and she has gone through so much trauma throughout her life. She’s been iconic since the day she started acting. 

PISCES are sensitive, gracious, and emotionally aware. I see all of those things in Drew Barrymore. I’m so proud of her, and I love to watch her inner child come out. She’s amazing, and so are you Pisces signs.

Written by Maggie Knox

“Where did you learn to sew?”

I’ve heard this question so many times since I moved in. Starting with my roommate and expanding across Sutherland West, I’ve been sewing up tears and reattaching buttons left and right—but I’ve never been able to fully answer this question.

Until today. (Dramatic music).

If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to sew, strap in for a whirlwind tour of everything you need to know to get started on your sewing journey. I hope you emerge inspired and ready to accidentally stab your fingers with a needle multiple times.

Step One: Get Supplies

As a Pitt student, you’re in luck. The Center for Creativity, located under the University Bookstore, is a one-stop shop for everything you need to start sewing—including a sewing machine, fabric, thread and needles. Two more sewing machines are in the Understory, the C4C’s new location in Cathy’s sub-basement, but the last time I checked they didn’t have thread. Stay tuned on that.

If you decide to invest in your own supplies, a sewing kit is the best way to start. I love this one from Joann’s. Much like a Russian doll, it comes with a miniature version of itself nestled inside.

Joann is, in fact, your new best friend. Hit her up for any sewing item, basic fabrics, amazing coupons, and aggressive seasonal sales.For cuter, more unique fabric, Fabricworm is another great option.

Step Two: Get Started

• Attach a Button

Every prospective sewer needs to learn minor clothing fixes like this one. If you want, you can stop right here and be set for life. Save your clothes, save money, and save time spent searching for someone to sew this for you.

• Make a lil’ pumpkin

Add a touch of fall to your room! This was my very first sewing project, and I still think it’s adorable. If you want a softer texture, use fabric instead of felt.

• Pillowcase

You can hand-sew this one, or try it out on a machine. Pillowcases are super simple and a great way to change up the look of your room with one amazing fabric.

Step Three: Get Focused

Once you feel comfortable with a thread and needle, you can follow whichever sewing path calls to you.

If you love giving quirky gifts to friends or room decor, embroidery is for you! Start off learning some basic stitches and then try embroidering some quotes or cute doodles. The best thing about embroidery is that it can go anywhere! Try out an embroidery hoop, add some flair to your favorite jeans, or (for all you STEM majors) personalize your lab coat. Your TA will be super into it!

If you’re a mom friend, love patterns, and spend all your time on Pinterest, try quilting! In my opinion, quilting is the underrated star of the sewing world—quilters get to use all kinds of cute and crazy fabrics and fudge results without worrying about how it fits. You can try small projects, like bookmarks and pouches, before tackling a full-size blanket.

If you’re looking to update your wardrobe, hate fast fashion, and have infinite patience, have a go at sewing your own clothes! Skirts or tank tops are great beginner projects, but before you start them, spend some time turning your clothes inside out and thinking about how they were put together. Your first pieces won’t be perfect, so use cheap fabric until you’ve had enough practice.

Step Four: Get Inspired

MADE Everyday

Whenever I’m about to sew a zipper, I stop everything and watch this channel’s tutorial. Learn this and other basic skills here, including how to use a sewing machine, make your first quilt, or read pdf patterns.

Missouri Star Quilt Company

Missouri Star’s Jenny is the Midwestern aunt and quilting whiz we all need in our lives. Watch her essential quilting skills playlist and your sewing confidence will soar.

Bernadette Banner

Let’s get this straight: Bernadette is pure goals. We can all aspire to her level of sewing perfection, but few will ever ascend to the pinnacle she perches upon. Check out her Mary Poppins or 1890s ballgown series, and bow before her genius.

Rachel Maksy

Intimidated by Bernadette’s raw talent? Check out her more chill counterpart, Rachel. While Bernadette is stitching period-accurate clothes by hand, Rachel is more likely to be making a vintage version of Britney’s denim dress. Grab a pumpkin spice latte, curl up with her many fall-themed videos, and immediately feel yourself reach Peak Coziness.

Micarah Tewers

Allow me to convert you to the Micarah cult. As a seamstress, she’s as likely to hot-glue clothes together, draw patterns on her kitchen floor, or make a wedding dress out of diapers as to create a rococo dress in a single day. Come for the recreated celebrity styles and stay for the out-of-this-world editing. And her pink Barbie car.

Good luck on your sewing journey!

Written by Lizzie Dickerson

I was recently scrolling through a Lorde fan account on Instagram when a picture from her most recent music video for her album Solar Power popped up. I jumped over to Youtube to watch the music videos from all three of her albums, and it got me thinking about how controversial her latest album drop was; people I’ve talked to have either really loved it or really hated it: I was in the former group. Solar Power was really eye-opening and therapeutic for me, and I think people don’t give it enough credit. So, here is why I think you should consider giving the album of summer synths and calming cricket noises a second chance.

Melodrama was a revolutionary pop album. It completely redefined the genre, and it still holds up five years later. Even its predecessor, Pure Heroine broke boundaries, a feat that is incredible for a 16-year-old. I think people often compare the new, more grounded album with its production-heavy counterparts, but I simply don’t think the two are comparable. They are in completely different ballparks, conceptually and contextually. I think if people focused less on the fact that Solar Power is not what they expected from the grunge pop princess and more on the album as its own entity and storytelling device, the opinions would lean a lot more positively.

Lorde went through so much in between her sophomore album and her latest: a trip to Antarctica and a social media wipe, all while growing up as an artist and a person. The difference between 20 and 24 is vast. Your view on life and what’s important completely morphs. This is exactly what happened with Lorde on her four-year sabbatical. When reading about her influences and themes for the album, she discusses taking a step back from stardom and not making “hits.” She’s no longer making music for fame and glory. Like she says in her song “California,” “Goodbye to all the bottles, all the models/Back to the clouds in the skies in a whole new way/Don’t want that California love.”

And even though I believe all of those reasons to be enough for you to want to kick back and give the album a relisten, this is the most important part to me: this album is for all the people who are no longer grieving what they had when they were younger, the material possessions and obsession with perfection, and instead embracing the beauty of what life has to offer and opening their minds, souls, and hearts. In many songs, Lorde references her old, younger self (especially in “Secrets from a Girl”). Lorde wrote this album for people who are healing or want to start. This album means so much to me because it came at a point in my life where I really needed to hear that I am more complex, interesting, and real than I ever thought I was at 15.

Just because it seemed like I had everything figured out in high school, doesn’t mean revelations aren’t yet to come. She was the older, wiser sister I never had, and she was telling me everything was going to be ok.

This album is so meaningful to me, and I want to share that hope and tranquility with others still stuck in their Melodrama “artificial happiness” phase. To get you started with listening, here are my favorite lines from each of the songs:

The Path: “Now if you’re looking for a savior, well, that’s not me”

Solar Power: “I’m kinda like a prettier Jesus”

California: “I stood up, the room exploded, and I/Knew that’s it, I’ll never be the same”

Stoned at the Nail Salon: “We’d go dancing all over the landmines under our town”

Fallen Fruit: “We’ll disappear in the cover of the rain”

Secrets from a Girl (Who’s Seen it All): “‘Member all the hurt you would feel when you weren’t desired? (Doing anything for more touch)”

The Man with the Axe: “I’ve got hundreds of gowns, I’ve got paintings in frames/And a throat that fills with panic every festival day”

Dominoes: “Just another phase, you’re shooting on through/The whole world changes right around you”

Big Star: “I used to love the party, now I’m not alright”

Leader of a New Regime: “Lust and paranoia reign supreme”

Mood Ring: “I’m tryna get well from the inside/Plants and celebrity news/All the

vitamins I consume”Oceanic Feeling: “Baby boy, you’re super cool/I know you’re scared, so was I” and “Now the cherry-black lipstick’s gathering dust in a drawer/I don’t need her anymore”

Sources

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/12/arts/music/lorde-solar-power.html

Written by Leighton Curless

Have you ever woken up at 5 am drenched in sweat and sick to your stomach because your life isn’t going as you planned?

Yep, me too.

For some inexplicable reason halfway through my sophomore year, I woke up in the early hours of the morning with a dreadful thought already forming: I don’t think I’m gonna graduate on time.

Once I had recovered enough to retrieve my glasses, I hurriedly tried to plan out my classes for the next few years. I knew I was a little behind on math (damn you calculus) but I didn’t realize it would completely throw off the rest of my college trajectory. Unfortunately, it set me back farther than I planned, and unless I crammed in 18 credits of tough classes every semester for the next two years, I wouldn’t graduate on time.

While I’m sure some people wouldn’t have any issues with that workload, as someone who doesn’t do well under pressure, I knew I couldn’t do it. So, I accepted the fact that I needed more time.

I thought I was a failure. Every time I told one of my friends, I felt a cold coil of shame settle in my stomach. I waited for them to reject me for being the idiot I felt like I was. I even broke down in tears outside Langley Hall as I called my mom—bracing myself for my parent's disappointment.

Looking back, perhaps I was being a bit dramatic, but as someone who was raised as a “gifted kid” and put in advanced classes, I’d never imagined such a horrible fate as *gasp* not graduating on time. Thankfully, those terrible fantasies I had of disappointing the people in my life were just that: fantasies.

My friends didn’t spurn me and my parents didn’t disown me. In fact, they were proud of me for prioritizing myself and not pushing myself to the point of complete burnout. My advisor told me there was no such thing as “being behind” and that I would finish my degree exactly when I was meant to. I began to feel better about my decision and eventually learned that many people, even many of my friends, also wouldn’t graduate in four years.

And that’s life. These things happen.

You switch majors or transfer schools, and all of a sudden you feel like you’re behind, but in reality—it was never a race to begin with.

One of my favorite examples of a non-linear timeline is from my old supervisor. She was from New York but chose to go to Florida for college, where she realized she didn’t actually want to go to school all that much. So, she dropped out. For 7 years after, she was a bartender and while she loved her job, she found herself missing school. She decided to reenroll and graduated a few years later with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. Now she manages a team of chemists and is highly respected in her position. (And was also an excellent boss and amazing to work with).

I had another coworker who transferred schools, almost failed all of his classes, had to retake Calculus 2 three times (big theme here), and even so, persevered and graduated.

Even my best friend has transferred schools twice and is graduating a year late and another friend has changed her major 5 times.

Stories like these are always comforting because they remind me that we are all on a different path. I mean really, if we all stuck with the major we chose freshman year, more than half of us would be absolutely miserable. If we all tried to graduate in 4 years some of us would be highly unqualified and not ready to work in our fields. These choices, while they may be hard and uncomfortable (going against the norm is scary!) are necessary.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re a freshman or a senior or in graduate school, plans change and you can’t beat yourself up when they do. I wish I could go back to myself a year ago and comfort them with these stories and remind them that the world isn’t going to end because I have to take an extra semester of classes.

Written by Kate Castello