(See what we did there? Like the love child of ‘Got milk’ and ‘You’ve been tangoed’)
Laura Reynolds looks at the hype surrounding the collaboration.
Just a week to go until the man in red arrives...
Christmas or Summer, Society or Sports team, university balls all have one thing in common; no matter how meticulous you are and however many hours you spend creating the perfect outfit, you will return dishevelled and bedraggled, with unkempt hair, painful feet and a wine/dirt/sweat stained dress to boot. Thus spending whatever paltry remains of a student loan you have left on an extortionately priced dress, seems frankly ludicrous.
The shrewdest option is to leave it late. It’s risky but the rewards are worth it. I bought last year’s dress from Zara two days before the ball and managed to get it for £18 plus an additional 15% discount, thanks to a teeny tiny tear which four quick stitches put to rights. Fortunately it seems that we’re all in with a chance of repeating such success as I nipped into Zara yesterday to find what looked suspiciously like the beginnings of sale preparations. Summer dresses have been moved to the front of the store and all that remains is for prices to be lowered.
It’s not only Zara, the Oasis sale is well underway, which means that dresses are now selling at not only less than the original price but less than the initial sale price! And no, there isn’t only rubbish left, the bow bandeau taffeta dress is funky and modern with just a hint of an eighties prom dress thrown in for good measure. The fact that it’s available in either Pinko, Tutti Frutti or Hot Pink should be enough to tempt you, but if you’re still sitting on the sidelines then perhaps you’ll reconsider when you learn that it has been reduced from £65 to a mere £20!
But you’re outfit doesn’t have to be completely new. It’s a harsh truth but chances are only your closest friends are going to notice (and probably because you tell them) that the dress you’re wearing at the summer ball in the third year, is the same one you wore to the Christmas ball in the first year. Students are renowned for their appalling memory, exploit it. If a wardrobe raid produces negative results however, then consider combining two relatively plain outfits into one stylish whole; a black skirt from one and a white corset from another is a stress free route to monochrome merriment. Similarly, if you already own a great skirt then why spend potential beer money on another? If one half of the outfit is striking then draw attention to it by wearing a plainer (and most likely cheaper) counterpart and minimal jewellery.
If all else fails then divert eyes away from the clothes and towards the accessories. Check out vintage shops such as the Blue Ballroom (to be found on Gillygate, a stonesthrow from Kings Manor) where you’re more likely to find a bargain. Try thinking outside the box and head to stores such as M&S who generally have a wider range of costume jewellery and lower prices than shops who target a younger customer. Bear in mind that although it’s an evening event casual daytime jewellery can often be the most effective choice. A wooden necklace for example sets up a clear distinction between floaty summer dress and solid structured accessory. Inexpensive yet interesting accessories are by far the best choice, family heirlooms are not a good idea. Always remember you are not attending a ball, you're attending a student ball!
