Fashion
Listen up boys! It's time to stop writing off fashion as being an institution left to metrosexuals. Now I'm not saying that you should start to sport a "man bag", or wear designer scarves, but a snub to that which is "fashionable" is no excuse to abandon style. Style is a fundamentally different ballgame and is as much about wearing what you feel good in, as buying your clothes from the "right shops". There's no need to look like a Topman mannequin as you walk down Cornmarket Street in fact, here's a tip: you'll look sexier if you don't.
Perhaps this is a slight generalisation, but it seems to me that while girls will happily spend hours in the shops, guys would prefer to run into FCUK, grab the first T-shirt they see, and then rush through the till in order to get out into the open air as soon as possible. Slow down and ask yourself: "Which clothes will make me look stylish, smart, attractive?" It is so easy to fall into the trap of adhering to high street recommendations for what is cool to wear, rather than giving an outfit a personal twist. Doing something a little different with what you are wearing is an easy way to show off your own tastes and catch the eye of that girl you like - women love originality.
Clothes can display a side of our personality that might not otherwise be recognised. Some may think it's safe to say that if a guy is anywhere near the Science faculty he will be wearing 'ankle swingers', a checked shirt buttoned up to the neck and a pair of glasses so thick it's a wonder he can see through them at all. Enough with the merciless stereotyping! Two of my best mates study Physics and they have not succumbed to the typecast; they wear cool clothes and know exactly how to tailor their outfit to look good.
My girlfriends and I often agree that original style is the sexiest thing a guy can have. There is no need for hours spent in the gym building up those abs, just wear something unusual and you'll have girls falling at your feet. Guys who have the confidence to wear something unusual that perhaps their dad wore in the sixties or a random coat that they've found in a charity shop are, in my opinion, by far the most attractive. Anything that makes you stand out in a crowd is a definite 'yes please!'
The aim is to look sexy without looking as though you have tried. Girls go weak at the knees for guys who give off an "I couldn't give a s**t" attitude, so just do whatever you want, just make sure to keep it clean. I once went on a date with a guy who turned up wearing the oldest, dirtiest jogging pants and a manky T-shirt complete with holes and ketchup stains down the front - first impressions are not overrated and there is a fine line between projecting "I'm too cool to stay within the limits of socio-fashion conventions" and looking like "I really didn't care about this date at all."
Forget about what jealous mates will say and wear your alternative style with your head held high. As long as you are comfortable in your chosen outfit then it will look good; whether it's a pair of coloured cords or a leather jacket.
Boots are not inextricably linked to fashion - it is because of practicality, not fashion, that we wear boots in the rain, snow, cold, etc... However, while strolling down Cornmarket on a perfectly sunny, mild day, it is clear to me that boots are not just worn to keep out various forms of precipitation, but rather, because they look damn good. Many girls make their boots the most central accessory to their outfits, drawing attention to their feet by cuffing their trousers, or wearing miniskirts in the cold weather. There are so many looks to choose from: slouchy suede, cowboy, motorcycle, or the always sexy, pointy toed, stiletto heeled boot, there are so many to choose from, its probably best you invest in a few pairs...
Best Buy
These gorgeous boots come in chocolate brown or emerald green. They are incredibly sexy, and cost £75 from Faith.
Sophie Dodds
St Hugh's College
Boots from Fornarina
Rose Prevezer
St Hugh's College
Boots are vintage from London
Tatiania Taylor
Wolfson
Boots from Steve Madden in California
27th Jan 2005