This discussion is now closed.

Check out other Related discussions

Dinner Jackets?

Scroll to see replies

I got my dinner suit from Matalan, and bow tie from Marks & Spencer
DJ £45
Trousers £20
Shirt £15
Bow tie £10

Total £90, so it needn't be too expensive.

Reply 21

mfb3000

As far as I know the option is between a normal collar and a detachable wing collar. From what I've seen, and I'm only expressing my own opinion here, is what I said earlier - that wing collars look tacky with black tie. Dress shirts with a normal collars look much better. Also, this is from personal experience with wearing detachable, starched wing collars day in, day out, they are really uncomfortable.

Reply 22

apd35

thefish_uk

Hmmm...

So do you just wear an ordinary suit (ie. a business suit) for formal hall then?

I usually do, I only get the dinner suit out for special occassions, boat club dinners last yea, matric and may ball and other major things, like maybe my birthday, this year (didn't last year, too soon after matric and my shirt was ruined).

Reply 23

JohnStuartMill

apd35

DJ £45
Trousers £20
Shirt £15
Bow tie £10

Your mate throwing up on it after a May Ball: Priceless.

Reply 24

musicbloke

JohnStuartMill

Your mate throwing up on it after a May Ball: Priceless.

I can organise it for a reasonable price if you're interested.

MB

Reply 25

gstamant

"No, nonono... Wing collars with a DJ look tacky. It looks like you're really trying hard to dress up to look good, whereas you want to look as if the DJ feels natural on you."

I'm afraid I have to disagree on this point, the stand up, detachable wing collar is the traditional choice for black tie and considered to be the proper one. It is only in very recent times that it has become acceptable to wear an attached collar of any kind not to mention a standard turn down collar. I would hardly consider it tacky.

Reply 26

minimo

Just don't wear a white tux.

Reply 27

minimo

JohnStuartMill

Your mate throwing up on it after a May Ball: Priceless.

Rep tomorrow :biggrin:

Reply 28

PaddyMac

apd35

Wait, it's OK to wear black tie to matriculation? Wouldn't you look slightly out of place with everyone else in daysuits? (get me trying to sound like I know what I'm talking about).

I only ask cos I dont know what to wear for matriculation

Reply 29

apd35

PaddyMac

I'm on about our matriculation dinner, I also wore it for the matric photo, thought my parents would prefer it then, seeing as they were the ones getting the photo.

Trinity has a freshers' formal on the Sunday, where you first experience formal and, if you wish, sit opposite the chplain, get hideously drunk then (not despite but because of this performance) get invited to help with the Christmas carol service. The next morning you have your matric photo, then about 3 weeks later you have matriculation dinner, which I think most people turned up to in black tie, which is really good and you finish off with 20+ year old port, it's all good.

Reply 30

N9ne

If 'they' are going to make a fuss on the tiny details of your dinner jacket, existence of a cummerbund, the particular type of your collar and other little things, they really have their priorities wrong.

I also hate the fact I'm spending hundreds on these 'formal' clothes. It's nice that we have formal events, yes, but when they get too specific on what you can or cannot wear, they're going too far. Shame really.

Reply 31

apd35

N9ne

No, they (by which I assume you mean college authorities) aren't bothered, a suit will do for matric and jeans and ajacket will for formal, one or two cheap suits (try tesco or matalan) and a cheap dinner suit will suffice.

Reply 32

tctc

ok youve all really confused me now...
what type of footwear are you supposed to wear... (im guessing converse is off the list...)

Reply 33

N9ne

apd35

Don't get me wrong, I'll be wearing all the formal stuff (since I've needed it for the odd occassion in the past and so already have it all), it's just that for those who don't, or those who aren't particularly excited by all the specification, it's not something they should really enforce a great deal.

Reply 34

rec53

The general discussion here is on people's preferences, I can't think of anywhere here where I noticed or someone looked down upon someone for being off the dress code on a minor point.

Generally, all you need for Cambridge is a lounge suit, although Black Tie/Dinner Jacket can be useful, almost all if not all black tie events people attend out of choice, and no-one is usually too specific. That isn't really being terribly fussy now.

(edit: I'm slow at typing today!)

Reply 35

Britomart

Rik_Rock

Like with most things, it varies between colleges. St. John's actually don't even require a suit, but the vast majority of colleges do in my experience.

Similarly Emmanuel don't require smart dress (except at very important events like matriculation dinners). You just need to a wear a gown to formal. No one there has yet tried *just* wearing a gown to formal though...

Reply 36

sarahliz12345

Can I just add a slightly off point question here as it's 'the clothes' thread please? Just checking whether I need to buy a labcoat or whether they're provided. Any soon-to-be 2nd yr natscis about? Thanks. :smile:

Good luck with the suits guys - I got completely lost reading through this thread! :p:

Reply 37

tctc

i have one... and my own pair of goggles but thats cause my science technians at my school loved me.

Reply 38

toto8462

N9ne

Personally i think its all part of the cambridge experience. They dont have to be expensive, i know its ANOTHER thing to go on my student loan, but personally i think its well worth it and im looking forward to the few occassions i get to use it.