Oxford 2011 Freshers Chat Thread

Original post by dbmag9

Mwahaha, Merton has it every evening but Saturday, we win. Also we get to wear subfusc/gown/cap at the Time Ceremony. :awesome:

I read that a few minutes ago actually. It was a painful defeat to accept. Even so, Magdalen's three nights per week is pretty good. Still, when it comes to events, what other college can beat May Morning?

Reply 2922

Original post by deFossard

I read that a few minutes ago actually. It was a painful defeat to accept. Even so, Magdalen's three nights per week is pretty good. Still, when it comes to events, what other college can beat May Morning?

May Morning? Have you not heard of the Time Ceremony?

Reply 2923

Original post by dbmag9

May Morning? Have you not heard of the Time Ceremony?

Do explain. From what I know it involves port at 2am. It just can't compare to the Hymnus Eucharisticus at sunrise. Surely not.

Reply 2924

RupertTheBear

9

Is white tie more posh than black tie? (Can't bring myself to ring up and ask)

Reply 2925

Original post by Elrobi

As far as I can tell, it's meant to be posher than black tie or at least you wear it less than you would black tie.

If anyone knows, offhand, what the difference between black tie and white tie for women? I was sort of hoping it was the difference between cocktail dress and an evening dress but a posh friend of mine assures me there are many variations and that it's nowhere near as simple as that :rolleyes:

.

They always say women wear ball gowns to white tie evenings, so I think you've got the definition right enough. So really, full length dresses, silk gloves and shawls. Probably the main thing to remember is a full length dress.

Photos of different college Commemoration Balls are quite useful guides actually.

Reply 2926

Original post by deFossard

Do explain. From what I know it involves port at 2am. It just can't compare to the Hymnus Eucharisticus at sunrise. Surely not.

You sing a silly hymn, probably wearing fairly normal clothes, in daylight for no special reason. We walk backwards around a quad, in full academic dress (drinking port obviously), at 2am when the clocks go back in order to preserve the integrity of the spacetime continuum. We win.

Original post by RupertTheBear

Is white tie more posh than black tie? (Can't bring myself to ring up and ask)

Technically speaking black tie is evening semiformal and white tie is evening formal, but nowadays practically the only places you see white tie are at functions involving the Queen, the Nobel Prize ceremony, classical orchestras and Oxbridge. :p:

It's much stricter (there are options for black tie, there are basically no options for white tie), but the basic gist is a black evening tailcoat, white waistcoat, white bow tie, white shirt with wing collar. See here for a good guide since I can't be bothered to write out all the nonsense about trouser stripes and shirt studs.

Original post by Elrobi

As far as I can tell, it's meant to be posher than black tie or at least you wear it less than you would black tie.

If anyone knows, offhand, what the difference between black tie and white tie for women? I was sort of hoping it was the difference between cocktail dress and an evening dress but a posh friend of mine assures me there are many variations and that it's nowhere near as simple as that :rolleyes:

.

Women's dress has never been as strict as men's (either men need more help with what to wear, or more charitably men's dress is designed to be unobtrusive and to allow the women to shine), but this suggests that white tie means full-length dresses and gloves if you're feeling old-fashioned.

Reply 2927

Original post by dbmag9

You sing a silly hymn, probably wearing fairly normal clothes, in daylight for no special reason. We walk backwards around a quad, in full academic dress (drinking port obviously), at 2am when the clocks go back in order to preserve the integrity of the spacetime continuum. We win.

Ok, I think you may have a point. But that's just WEIRD. Mertonians fully deserve their abuse. In defence of May Morning, Magdalen does usually hold a white tie ball the night before.

I love the silliness of white tie rules, I've got a pretty decent set, though I still need to buy some pearl waistcoat buttons and the collar.

Reply 2928

Thanks to whoever repped me, no thanks to whoever negged this page.

Original post by deFossard

Ok, I think you may have a point. But that's just WEIRD. Mertonians fully deserve their abuse. In defence of May Morning, Magdalen does usually hold a white tie ball the night before.

I love the silliness of white tie rules, I've got a pretty decent set, though I still need to buy some pearl waistcoat buttons and the collar.

I have no white tie; my dinner suit I got for free from a teacher at school. :biggrin:

No pressing need to buy a set yet; I might wait until I see something affordable in a charity shop/eBay.

Reply 2929

Original post by dbmag9

Thanks to whoever repped me, no thanks to whoever negged this page.

I have no white tie; my dinner suit I got for free from a teacher at school. :biggrin:

No pressing need to buy a set yet; I might wait until I see something affordable in a charity shop/eBay.

I think a dinner jacket seems more in demand, really. I'm going to join the Union, and I've heard that the debates are black tie nights. Second hand is the way to go, I've pieced mine together from markets, good quality bargains. Bit foolish to get it new, really, unless it's being made for you (oh I wish).

Reply 2930

micky022

I'm hoping to get away with my utility black suit and a fancy shirt/bow tie/cummberbund...

Reply 2931

Original post by deFossard

I think a dinner jacket seems more in demand, really. I'm going to join the Union, and I've heard that the debates are black tie nights. Second hand is the way to go, I've pieced mine together from markets, good quality bargains. Bit foolish to get it new, really, unless it's being made for you (oh I wish).

The speakers debate in black tie (with the President/officers in white tie :awesome:

), but I'm pretty sure members just attend in whatever.

Original post by micky022

I'm hoping to get away with my utility black suit and a fancy shirt/bow tie/cummberbund...

Ooh, you fiend. :p:

Tbh in dimly-lit rooms the difference isn't obvious except to jerks like me who spent far too much time reading about this stuff. And I recall seeing a shop in Oxford advertising really cheap dinner suits if you have a change of heart.

Reply 2932

micky022

Original post by dbmag9

The speakers debate in black tie (with the President/officers in white tie :awesome:

), but I'm pretty sure members just attend in whatever.

Ooh, you fiend. :p:

Tbh in dimly-lit rooms the difference isn't obvious except to jerks like me who spent far too much time reading about this stuff. And I recall seeing a shop in Oxford advertising really cheap dinner suits if you have a change of heart.

Considering my dad's financial expected contribution was incredibly higher than mine, I might plump for one. We spent the afternoon talking about slush funds, I felt like the FSB...

Reply 2933

Fang_RedDragon

Original post by RupertTheBear

Is white tie more posh than black tie? (Can't bring myself to ring up and ask)

Yeah, White tie is tails for blokes and an evening gown for girls. Black tie is a suit for blokes and a cocktail dress for females.

Reply 2934

Babs12123

6

Original post by dbmag9

Women's dress has never been as strict as men's (either men need more help with what to wear, or more charitably men's dress is designed to be unobtrusive and to allow the women to shine), but this suggests that white tie means full-length dresses and gloves if you're feeling old-fashioned.

I feel pretty uncouth for not even realising there was something more formal than black tie. How often are white tie events??

Reply 2935

Original post by Babs12123

I feel pretty uncouth for not even realising there was something more formal than black tie. How often are white tie events??

Don't worry, it's not exactly something that comes up often in the real world - they made a big deal of it when George Bush had to wear white tie for his state visit. If you don't want to wear it, you never need to: at Oxford it's limited to the fancier (not sure how many are white tie rather than black) college balls, and the officers of the Union wear it to debates. Can't think of any other cases where it's worn.

Reply 2936

BJack

19

Original post by deFossard

In defence of May Morning, Magdalen does usually hold a white tie ball the night before.

Are you sure? :s-smilie:

Reply 2937

micky022

Co-op offers a pretty nice overdraft. I'm just going to go Lloyds for the NUS card and that other thing they offer. The free speaker. AW YEAH

Reply 2938

Original post by BJack

Are you sure? :s-smilie:

That's what I read online, I can't be absolutely certain though. Suppose we'll just have to wait and see, they do have a morning event in college - in the Oscar Wilde room - to listen to the choir, at least.

Reply 2939

qwertyuiop1993