Fashion
Fashion. What a beautiful beast. Ephemeral, ever changing, fi ckle, glamourous. There is something so pretentious about an art form which follows no rules, constantly references itself, its position in society, and then the repercussions of what its position in society means to society. Pretentious? Or just fashion? In Oxford, there is a dichotomy at work in some circumstances; the irony of clothing that simply does not fi ]t the situation.
I am hesitant to slap the label pretentious on anyone in Oxford for fear of having to tag myself, so I’ve decided to examine some common Oxford situations where one is tempted to ask “Pretentious? Or merely Oxford?”
The College Hoodie I can’t really delve into the horrifi c fashion sense behind the college hoodie or I might simply explode. But does the college hoodie function as a delicate reminder of where you sit within the College Hierarchy? To be perfectly honest I think the hoodie is quite a practical sorting device when it comes to chatting up people in the Radcliffe Camera; who wants to rendez- vous for a study date at a north of Carfax college? It is worth noting that the hoodie is a double edged sword; even as you proudly tout your descent from the House, you need to remind yourself that you are wearing an article of clothng known as a ‘sweatshirt’. Pretentious verdict: Just lame. When is it acceptable? In the dark.
The Popped Collar In Oxford, turning your collar up is tantamount to making some kind of social statement; I must admit I am not quite sure what that statement is. I might be a bit of a geek? Or, I might be a bit insecure about my ‘minor public school’ education? Either way, the popped collar is an Oxford institution which does not seem pretentious as much as a gesture devoid of imagination. Pretentious verdict: I think the popped collar is pretentious at a lecture. It is more excusable outside as it then references its roots as a functional fashion conceit. When is it acceptable? On a grassy moor when the wind has gently lifted your collar to frame your face.
Wellies There are two schools of wellies: serious and fun. Serious wellies are the type that proper country people wear while doing proper country things that blatantly involve land and pedigree hens. Proper wellies have no place in the Sackler, as the ground doesn’t seem particularly boggy. Fun wellies involve hearts and dots and are generally acceptable everywhere when it is raining out. Pretentious verdict: Some people make them pretentious. When are they acceptable? It depends on the dewpoint.
2nd Feb 2006