Freshers: We're in, now for the practicalities...

Reply 80

OP

3

lingolicious

Wait the gowns are specific to colleges? Because I was just intending on bringing my dad's old one, cheaper that way especially if Sidney's is expensive. So would a 40 year old Oxford gown not do then?!

There seem to be several different designs which the colleges use, your Dad's old gown may either not be allowed or it could presumably stand out like a sore thumb. That said, gowns are still fairly cheap though aren't they? I thought they were only around £40?

Reply 81

jason_88

yeah the ones for downing are like £44

Reply 82

mwiko

I wiki'd it the other day..
Ended up looking at this..Gown guide

Reply 83

Willa

11

yup it's one of the (many) ways Cambridge is better than Oxford :p:

- our distinct gowns are way cooler than everyone having the same one.

Reply 84

Demoskratos7

8

Should we buy our gowns from one of the shops in Cambridge before start term? Or are we 'kitted out' after we arrive?

Reply 85

D-503

1

Lol when someone said the gowns were different I thought they were gonna be different colours or something, rather than "this one is 0.2 millimetres shorter on the right sleeve" etc. Haha I feel so ignorant. Can anyone tell the difference in real life?

Reply 86

FadeToBlackout

15

Athena

The Dark Side are debating this as well. Here's our guide.

*Feels a desire to write a guide that's superior* :p:

Wait the gowns are specific to colleges? Because I was just intending on bringing my dad's old one, cheaper that way especially if Sidney's is expensive. So would a 40 year old Oxford gown not do then?!

Yes, gowns are specific to colleges- unless you're at Kings :wink:

Your college union will probably sell them second hand for about £20 when you arrive, or you can go to Ryder and Amies or Ede and Ravenscroft and pay a lot more than that for the same product!

Lol when someone said the gowns were different I thought they were gonna be different colours or something, rather than "this one is 0.2 millimetres shorter on the right sleeve" etc. Haha I feel so ignorant. Can anyone tell the difference in real life?

Yes, for several colleges the sleeves differ- for example, Clare's gown has three velvet chevrons on the arms as part of the crest. Some you can tell apart instantly- like Trinity's gowns, which are a dark blue rather than black.

Reply 87

--

OP

3

Athena

The Dark Side are debating this as well. Here's our guide.

Aww, can't we be the Dark Side? The Jedi are just so....naff.

Oh and does anyone have pictures of people wearing the gowns, at formal hall maybe? I just want to gauge how they look...

Reply 88

Willa

11

3232

Aww, can't we be the Dark Side? The Jedi are just so....naff.

Oh and does anyone have pictures of people wearing the gowns, at formal hall maybe? I just want to gauge how they look...

just google image for cambridge formal halls (or just cambridge gowns). That will do.

It's not suprising how they look....they're just black cloth things that go down to about your knees. Just keep in mind they're not like the Oxford cloth things though (subfusc of whatever they call it), they're more like the Oxford scholars gowns.

Reply 89

FadeToBlackout

15

AHA! Knew I had it somewhere.

http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=27023&d=1154125541

Reply 90

--

OP

3

Bloody hell, i have a lot to buy! I have a feeling i'm going to be running around Cambridge on the 29th like a headless chicken looking for lube and Parma Ham, so much hassle...

Reply 91

FadeToBlackout

15

3232

Bloody hell, i have a lot to buy! I have a feeling i'm going to be running around Cambridge on the 29th like a headless chicken looking for lube and Parma Ham, so much hassle...

If you mean lube in the sexual sense, you'll probably get some free in your fresher's pack from CUSU- otherwise, try Boots, Superdrug, or your college nurse. Halfords should fulfil all the rest of your lubrication requirements- or all, if you'd rather have WD40 than Durex "Play"... Parma ham, hmm... you can probably buy it in Sainsbury's, else try the market or the Waitrose in teh west of town.

</tongue in cheek>

Reply 92

*Joanna*

12

'The University specifies only that undergraduates' gowns reach to the knees' From http://www.societies.cam.ac.uk/cuhags/gowns/gowns.htm

Mine reaches halfway down my shins at least. Sidney's have soup sleeves (ie holes in the sides of the sleeves which are very useful when eating), and chevrons. I think I paid £57 for mine, two years ago.

Reply 93

Eye

FadeToBlackout

. you can probably buy it in Sainsbury's, else try the market or the Waitrose in teh west of town.

There's a Waitrose?

Reply 94

Lidka

13

Eye

There's a Waitrose?

Seconded! I love Waitrose, and was seriously depressed when my mum said there wasn't one in Cam. Does this mean I can get my monthly copy of Waitrose Good Food magazine after all?

Reply 95

Chewwy

17

FadeToBlackout

AHA! Knew I had it somewhere.

http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=27023&d=1154125541

the repeat mispelling of 'of' infuriates me.

Reply 96

Demoskratos7

8

Also, I wondered; is it considered a bit sad to wear the Cambridge/College t-shirts and jumpers and stuff...I was thinking about buying one, but I wasn't sure how it would go down when actually walking around the town!

Reply 97

generalebriety

16

Demoskratos7

Also, I wondered; is it considered a bit sad to wear the Cambridge/College t-shirts and jumpers and stuff...I was thinking about buying one, but I wasn't sure how it would go down when actually walking around the town!

Well, I think it is, and I've only ever been to Cambridge twice. But then I think most branded stuff is about as fashionable as vomit. I'm fussy. :p:

Reply 98

Apagg

13

Cambridge stuff is for tourists really. College stuff is the way to go, and no one seems to care if you wear it. Anyone who does is, well, a bit common. Flat caps and all

Reply 99

Chewwy

17

Demoskratos7

Also, I wondered; is it considered a bit sad to wear the Cambridge/College t-shirts and jumpers and stuff...I was thinking about buying one, but I wasn't sure how it would go down when actually walking around the town!

why would you WANT to wear that?

Freshers: We're in, now for the practicalities...

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