Formal wear...

Reply 20

11

Athena

Not necessarily. Sub fusc is, strictly speaking, a dark suit (I've seen brown, navy and charcoal) which may actually be a dinner jacket, with a white bow tie and gown.

I think you have me confused. I was saying that
a) The subfusc is different to a dinner jacket and
b) A dinner jacket is easily obtained at any major department store, or failing that, brooks brothers.

Reply 21

Athena

6

SolInvictus

I think you have me confused. I was saying that
a) The subfusc is different to a dinner jacket and
b) A dinner jacket is easily obtained at any major department store, or failing that, brooks brothers.

I thought that bit of it was you implying that you'd need two suits - a dinner jacket one, and another dark oen for sub fusc. My mistake :smile:

The Oxfam shop on Cowley Rd has quite a good selection of used DJs and dress shirts...

Reply 22

SolInvictus

11

Athena

I thought that bit of it was you implying that you'd need two suits - a dinner jacket one, and another dark oen for sub fusc. My mistake :smile:

The Oxfam shop on Cowley Rd has quite a good selection of used DJs and dress shirts...

Unless they come in hobbit sizes, I usually have to get a new one. However, both my suit and DJ are in good order.

About the white bow tie, are there any regulations on that? Could I just buy one in the states if I will be price gouged for them in fresher's week?

Reply 23

F1 fanatic

16

SolInvictus

Unless they come in hobbit sizes, I usually have to get a new one. However, both my suit and DJ are in good order.

About the white bow tie, are there any regulations on that? Could I just buy one in the states if I will be price gouged for them in fresher's week?

any white bow tie will do, so long as it's white and of the bow variety :biggrin:

Reply 24

Athena

6

SolInvictus

Unless they come in hobbit sizes, I usually have to get a new one. However, both my suit and DJ are in good order.

About the white bow tie, are there any regulations on that? Could I just buy one in the states if I will be price gouged for them in fresher's week?

It's meant to be plain white silk, but most people have polyester-y ones. Doesn't even have to be a proper one (clip ons are fine), although girls (and most of your fellow men) will be in awe if you can tie a real one.

Reply 25

Sinuhe

8

Athena

I thought that bit of it was you implying that you'd need two suits - a dinner jacket one, and another dark oen for sub fusc. My mistake :smile:

The Oxfam shop on Cowley Rd has quite a good selection of used DJs and dress shirts...

While I suppose it wouldn't be 'wrong' to wear a dinner jacket as sub fusc, does anyone actually do it?

Besides, you're going to need a lounge suit anyway - there are lots of informal events requiring you to wear a lounge suit (various dinners, going to the theatre etc.), not the semi-formal black tie. And any event happening before 6pm would require a suit (or, you know, a stroller (daytime black tie equivalent) or morning dress (white tie equivalent), not that anyone's got those).

@ SolInvictus: You can wear any white bow tie you want. It can be clip-on or self-tied; I'd recommend a clip-on, as it's much easier to put on when your hands are shaking in the morning before your exam ... :biggrin:

Reply 26

cjgbr

1

Always good to have one, if you have the room.

Reply 27

SolInvictus

11

Athena

It's meant to be plain white silk, but most people have polyester-y ones. Doesn't even have to be a proper one (clip ons are fine), although girls (and most of your fellow men) will be in awe if you can tie a real one.

My father has one from his old days. Its really nice and its silk, but looks..... well..... as old as my father.

I can tie a bowtie, but with winds up looking a bit..... ugly to put it bluntly.

Reply 28

RawJoh1

14

Sinuhe

While I suppose it wouldn't be 'wrong' to wear a dinner jacket as sub fusc, does anyone actually do it?

A friend of mine did it for his prelims last year, since he grew out of his suit.

Reply 29

SolInvictus

11

F1 fanatic

any white bow tie will do, so long as it's white and of the bow variety :biggrin:

I mean, what if it is a bit off white? I mean since the 1960s off white?

Reply 30

thomasjtl

9

It wouldn't be against regulations, but it's be a bit weird. If you've got quite a plain DJ you might get away with it, but satin stripes and lapels will probably make you look a bit weird.

Navy, black, charcoal, inc. pinstripe is all fine, so long as it's dark. As others have said, you will need a suit for many occasions, so buy one. Dinner jackets are definitely worth buying, but don't feel you absolutely have to, or feel you have to get one straight away.

You don't save yourself much by not buying a bow tie. You'd pay the same for the package as you would for the cap and gown separately, probably.

Reply 31

sciencefan

OK how about formal wear for girls? Any general principles?

Reply 32

Elles

17

Hmm, general principles:

- Follow dress codes if one is given. Ok, so they're much less rigid than for males but there should be an inkling that 'smart casual' (when they say trousers and shirt +- tie for men) is not equivalent to denim mini skirt in females, or that a 'white tie preferred' ball isn't really the place for that thigh skimming party dress?

- Buy things than suit you & your budget (bearing in mind for balls the risk of damage to a dress can be quite high - think grass, outside weather, lots of buffet foods, fairground rides, busy dance floors with heels... ) when you see them! Rather than joining a pre-event scramble & getting an identikit generic dress from one of the high street shops here.

I'm sure I've posted extensively on here before about the range of formal wear I typically got through in an Oxford-year. :wink:

Bit different now because I basically live in Oxford, so it's my wardrobe + ballgowns collected from more spacious parental home when needed! :p:

Reply 33

thomasjtl

9

Going by what i've seen girls wear:
jacket + tie = smart top +trousers/ skirt, or low-key dress. Smart, but pretty relaxed. Think dinner in nice restaurant or similar.

black tie (college/subject dinner or similar)- cocktail dress, or fancy top+skirt/trousers.

Black tie (balls)- longer cocktail dress or not too over the top ball gown (dunno if that's a good description- a pretty dress, but sleeker rather than pluffy).

White tie/white tie preferred- as OTT as you like, definitely ankle/floor length.

Some photos as well.
(I might be completely wrong, you should probably get a girl to advise you, but i'm procrastinating so will post anyway.)

blacktie.jpg2.6KB

blacktie2.jpg29.7KB

lessformalBT.jpg48.1KB

cocktailOrLessFormalBalldress.jpg118.5KB

defWhitetie.jpg44.8KB

Reply 34

thomasjtl

9

Realistically, you'll probably go to several jacket/tie events, one or two less formal black tie dinners and probably a black tie ball in a year. Buy accordingly, i guess.

Reply 35

Rubberband

thomasjtl

White tie/white tie preferred- as OTT as you like, definitely ankle/floor length.

Some photos as well.
(I might be completely wrong, you should probably get a girl to advise you, but i'm procrastinating so will post anyway.)

As a certified girl, those look about right to me. But I'm just curious - are there any white tie events at Oxford? I've always wanted to wear a big OTT-Gone-With-the-Wind-dealy dress and not be sectioned *daydreams*