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Black Tie

But the main thing with real bow ties is to tie them with a twist so everyone knows that they're real...

I'm yet to see a pre-tied bow tied that can't be identified at a distance.

Reply 21

RawJoh1

14

super_qi2

I'm presuming the shops that you mentioned sells them are in Cambridge? Don't think there's any of them shops by where I live (Liverpool). Any idea of where I can get them?

Also, what about buying online?

Depends on your price range. Shops such as Ede and Ravenscroft (Oxford) are pretty expensive. For cheaper (sub £200) you might want to try Moss Bros (there's one in Southport, pretty sure there's one in Liverpool).

Duck and Cover

What type of stuff would you have to wear for geneal college formals??

Depends on college. Some simply require your gown over whatever else you have on (eg. t-shirt). We wear suits and ties (not dinner jackets) at Corpus.

Reply 22

FadeToBlackout

15

phawkins1988

Depends on your price range. Shops such as Ede and Ravenscroft (Oxford) are pretty expensive. For cheaper (sub £200) you might want to try Moss Bros (there's one in Southport, pretty sure there's one in Liverpool).

Depends on college. Some simply require your gown over whatever else you have on (eg. t-shirt). We wear suits and ties (not dinner jackets) at Corpus.

E&R do have sales on come May Ball time, though. They were selling suits for £150 plus. OK you can pick one up for £70-80 from Moss or wherever, but I think something you'll get a reasonable amount of use out of can be a bit higher quality.

I suppose I spent about £290-£300 for the May Ball- £200 for suit, £40 for shoes, £20 for shirt, £15 for bow tie etc.

Reply 23

heliotrope

1

Chiron

But the main thing with real bow ties is to tie them with a twist so everyone knows that they're real...

I'm yet to see a pre-tied bow tied that can't be identified at a distance.

do people honestly care? in my experience, i dont think better of people for wearing proper bow ties, and most people who do are basically idiots. its more that some people have had lots of occasion to wear them. i havent. i intend to learn, but tbh, im really not fussed. black tie is pretty lame anyway.

Reply 24

thomasjtl

9

no one's gonna look down on you for wearing a clip on bow tie. Many, probably most people do, it's just that they can be seen as a bit tacky, in a light hearted way by people who have real ones- most people would wear a proper necktie over the elasticated ones you used to get in primary school. They're really not that difficult to tie once you get the hang of it, and do look better once you've practised it a bit.

Apparently, the OU navy unit requires an actual bow tie for some of it's functions, according to my next door neighbour, who spent many hours knocking on people's doors trying to get hold of one at the last minute.

Reply 25

Huw Davies

11

The ones that are adjustable\detachable at the back (rather than being a single piece) are much easier as you can do them on your leg and get them looking good before transferring to the beck. You still get the knot kudos but with less faff.

The main reason of course is so that you can set them to undone and louche after dinner. I've known people use a clip-on and switch in the loos, but this is perhaps taking things a little far.

Reply 26

right88

Athena

Proper ones are sexier - attractive girls can undo them for you at the end of the evening, drape them round your neck, and then use them in kinky bondage sessions (the last bit is optional...)

seeing as ur on this thread...how many formals do wadham have roughly every year?
I'm in the same boat as the OP and will be at wadham next year. I know wadham doesnt have the reputation for being a very formal college, but would it be useful buying black tie stuff? Obv i'll bring regular suits with me, but im wandering if that'll be enough

thank you

Reply 27

Spunky

14

Athena

Proper ones are sexier - attractive girls can undo them for you at the end of the evening, drape them round your neck, and then use them in kinky bondage sessions (the last bit is optional...)

I have to emphasise this, even if you can't tie it there will be a girl somewhere that can :wink:

.

Reply 28

super_qi2

OP

7

Spunky

I have to emphasise this, even if you can't tie it there will be a girl somewhere that can :wink:

.

In that case, I shall definitely be getting a proper one, hehe. Although the plan could potentially backfire horribly if I don't find a girl willing to do my tie for me :s-smilie:

Reply 29

Helenia

20

Athena

Proper ones are sexier - attractive girls can undo them for you at the end of the evening, drape them round your neck, and then use them in kinky bondage sessions (the last bit is optional...)

Or less attractive drunk boaties can attack you and steal them as a status symbol. I think my record is 8 after one BCD. Proper ones are a)easier to steal and b)look better hanging round your neck - though lining up fake ones along the top of my dress is quite fun too.

So I'm all for proper bow ties. I can't tie them, but I'm very good at removing them :redface:

Reply 30

thomasjtl

9

oh for goodness sake- you just tie them like shoe laces. Practise doing it three times and you'll be a pro.

Reply 31

FadeToBlackout

15

Helenia

Or less attractive drunk boaties can attack you and steal them as a status symbol. I think my record is 8 after one BCD. Proper ones are a)easier to steal and b)look better hanging round your neck - though lining up fake ones along the top of my dress is quite fun too.

So I'm all for proper bow ties. I can't tie them, but I'm very good at removing them :redface:

Yes, I know. One of the 8 was mine, and it had taken me half-an-hour to get looking semi-decent :p:

Reply 32

tinypony

A brief question, will we ever need a full evening dress (a.k.a. white tie) at Oxford?

Reply 33

Helenia

20

chrisjorg

A brief question, will we ever need a full evening dress (a.k.a. white tie) at Oxford?

Only a couple of balls are still white tie, and you can hire the kit for them. I wouldn't imagine it would be necessary to buy that on top of a dinner suit (tux is an American term)

Reply 34

RawJoh1

14

chrisjorg

A brief question, will we ever need a full evening dress (a.k.a. white tie) at Oxford?

Not worth buying. They get used occasionally by Union types and OUCA types etc, but given they're quite pricey, and you probably won't use one, I'd just rent.

So yeah ... buy a suit, buy black tie, don't buy white tie.

Reply 35

--

3

So, has anyone here ever been tempted to penny Stephen Hawking?

Reply 36

thomasjtl

9

afaik, that's specifically outlawed in the rules of pennying (or at least the college statutes!)

Reply 37

Helenia

20

3232

So, has anyone here ever been tempted to penny Stephen Hawking?

Legend has it that two Robinson students were sent down/banned from Caius forever (depending on who you believe) for doing that. I'd say it wasn't worth the risk :p:

Reply 38

Posh Portia Kabine

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennying :eek:

I'm sorry! But if someone pennied me, there's absolutely no chance I'd drink it. I'd have to be inebriated to the point of black-out before agreeing to it!

Reply 39

Helenia

20

Visiting_Babylon

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennying :eek:

I'm sorry! But if someone pennied me, there's absolutely no chance I'd drink it. I'd have to be inebriated to the point of black-out before agreeing to it!

Unless you're a hardcore teetotaller, I'd predict you'll change your tune...The point of pennying is to GET you inebriated to the point of blackout!

Black Tie

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