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Formal wear...
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Reply 40
Just a quick point: bear in mind that whatever you wear for sub fusc is likely to be messed up either at the end of finals (I know it's a while away...) or possibly at the end of your exams in the first year (it's not likely to be serious but I got sprayed with fizzy wine), so don't buy some incredibly expensive suit etc.
Also it's not unknown for people to go out clubbing in black tie if they've been to some fancy dinner first so that can get a bit manky too.
Most people don't ruin stuff, but like I say, don't spend a fortune on something that's meant to last you several decades!
Also it's not unknown for people to go out clubbing in black tie if they've been to some fancy dinner first so that can get a bit manky too.
Most people don't ruin stuff, but like I say, don't spend a fortune on something that's meant to last you several decades!
Reply 41
Rubberband
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*
Yes, at least one ball a year will be white tie - I've always wanted a ridiculous, puffy, gorgeous dress, so I'm going to a white tie ball (St. John's) this term. TBH, I'll probably never be able to wear so puffy a dress again - I'm doing further studies at a London university and can imagine I'd have the piss almightily ripped from me if I wore it to a ball there! My sister is at a redbrick and has a ball this Friday, and most girls are just wearing below-the-knee cocktail dresses. To other Oxford balls (my college ball and a Union ball) I wore a three-quarter-length cocktail dress which I got from Monsoon (on sale - should have been £130, got it for £40!). Sleek full length dresses or below-the-knee cocktail dresses are what pretty much everyone wears to black tie balls.
Reply 42
There is nothing to stop you overdressing for the black tie events if you really want to wear white tie.
Wearing nice clothes tends to correlate with getting drunk and spillages, so be prepared for your dinner jacket and certainly your shirts to get a bit ming over the course of things. I've buying a cheap "lash suit" for my last day of finals and the rest of term.
Wearing nice clothes tends to correlate with getting drunk and spillages, so be prepared for your dinner jacket and certainly your shirts to get a bit ming over the course of things. I've buying a cheap "lash suit" for my last day of finals and the rest of term.
Reply 43
http://www.blacktieguide.com/
This is pretty useful. I can't wait to go to some formal dinners and balls!
As a rule of thumb, most people I know have a dinner suit but no-one has tails/white tie and I reckon it's only Commemoration Balls and state banquets that require it, so there's really no point in buying it yourself (and TBH you'd probably be hard pushed finding somewhere that sells it anyway).
This is pretty useful. I can't wait to go to some formal dinners and balls!
As a rule of thumb, most people I know have a dinner suit but no-one has tails/white tie and I reckon it's only Commemoration Balls and state banquets that require it, so there's really no point in buying it yourself (and TBH you'd probably be hard pushed finding somewhere that sells it anyway).
Reply 44
I really want to go to a ball in a wig, stockings and kneebreeches. Why can't Oxford formal dress be more conducive to partying like its 1799.
Reply 45
Floored Genius
http://www.blacktieguide.com/
This is pretty useful. I can't wait to go to some formal dinners and balls!
As a rule of thumb, most people I know have a dinner suit but no-one has tails/white tie and I reckon it's only Commemoration Balls and state banquets that require it, so there's really no point in buying it yourself (and TBH you'd probably be hard pushed finding somewhere that sells it anyway).
This is pretty useful. I can't wait to go to some formal dinners and balls!
As a rule of thumb, most people I know have a dinner suit but no-one has tails/white tie and I reckon it's only Commemoration Balls and state banquets that require it, so there's really no point in buying it yourself (and TBH you'd probably be hard pushed finding somewhere that sells it anyway).
In Oxford? I definitely think Walter's or one of the other gents' outfitters would have it.
Reply 46
no shortage of formalwear retailers in oxford; walters, shepard and woodward, ede and ravenscroft...There's quite a few tailcoats in the back of uncle sams as well.
President, treasurer and librarian of the union are required to wear white tie. OUCA dinners are white tie preferred, as are some summer balls. Realistically, unless you're a union hack wearing it several times a term, you'd rent it if and when you needed it. Never seen an event that was specifically white tie, rather than white tie preferred.
President, treasurer and librarian of the union are required to wear white tie. OUCA dinners are white tie preferred, as are some summer balls. Realistically, unless you're a union hack wearing it several times a term, you'd rent it if and when you needed it. Never seen an event that was specifically white tie, rather than white tie preferred.
Reply 47
Fair play.
As an aside, I love Walter's!
As an aside, I love Walter's!
Reply 48
^as do i, shame it's so expensive for most things. Duckers has to be the most ridiculously priced shop, though.
Reply 49
thomasjtl
Never seen an event that was specifically white tie, rather than white tie preferred.
Worcester Ball was supposed to be, but they had to relax it because not enough of the publicity said so. Or so I heard.
Reply 50
I just don't get why balls have gotten so ridiculous; £150 ticket plus white tie hire, plus no doubt vac res and stuff- you're looking at £250+ for a bloody ball. How can anyone think that that much is worth it?
Reply 51
thomasjtl
I just don't get why balls have gotten so ridiculous; £150 ticket plus white tie hire, plus no doubt vac res and stuff- you're looking at £250+ for a bloody ball. How can anyone think that that much is worth it?
that's if you go on your own, what fun is a ball without an other half to go with? That would double the price!
Reply 52
F1 fanatic
that's if you go on your own, what fun is a ball without an other half to go with? That would double the price!
Maybe more, as a proper white tie ball gown will probably exceed the cost of the ticket.
Reply 53
9
thomasjtl
£150 ticket plus white tie hire, plus no doubt vac res and stuff- you're looking at £250+ for a bloody ball. How can anyone think that that much is worth it?
£150? £150 . . .Reply 54
Mook £150? £150 . . .
£150? £150 . . .They aren't all £150, it varies, some are as cheap as £20, the middle ones are £60-80 and then the really fancy ones are £100+. To an extent though you get what you pay for.
Reply 55
Ill probably go to our quincentery ball, but not any more in my time at Oxford.
Incendtily, see http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/the_way_we_live/article3940496.ece
For a Lazy article on Oxford politics in this topic.
Incendtily, see http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/the_way_we_live/article3940496.ece
For a Lazy article on Oxford politics in this topic.
Reply 56
is this 'gown', a special gown thats designed different for Oxford, or is it just any gown?
Reply 57
Turdburger
Ill probably go to our quincentery ball, but not any more in my time at Oxford.
I will have just left when Wadham has it's quadcentenary (400 year?), and I'm hoping to get tickets the students' and alumni balls
hanh01
is this 'gown', a special gown thats designed different for Oxford, or is it just any gown?
In Oxford terms, gown means:
1. Academic gown, what you wear to matriculate, sit exams in, possibly wear to formal hall and a few other things - bought off the peg from one of the academic gown suppliers, or from OUSU. If it's a scholars gown, can look vaguely Harry Potterish/like some Cambridge commoners gowns.
2. Ball gown - ankle/floor length dress. Very few people could afford to have theirs specially made.
Reply 58
I had a ballgown specially made for £90. The lady has put her prices up a little, but you could still get a made-to-measure full-length white tie silk dress for about £120. That's cheaper than a lot of store-bought white tie gowns. Does anyone want me to PM you her number or link to her website?
Reply 59
PM me the link please
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