Laid-Back Looks

Time to get dresssed

Once you had declared an allegiance there was no going back. Getting dressed in the morning involved a painstakingly time-consuming attempt to transform a depressingly square green and red uniform into something which not only revealed common room loyalty in the knot of a tie, but was also vaguely fashionable.

But cut to three years later and it seems that ‘style’ has become an almost alien concept as I while away my mornings watching Phil and Fern in pyjamas before making a hasty change into loungewear prior to the start of Loose Women.

So severe has the situation become in my own house that we have even began to categorise loungewear (roomy jogging bottoms and loose-fitting tops for those of you still deluded by the comfort of jeans) into that which is acceptable to wear onto campus and that which must be revealed only to the residents of Ramsey Street. The phrase ‘good lounge-wear’ now passes for a compliment and I have found myself purchasing items from maternity ranges on more than one occasion.

The situation may seem dire, but for me it perfectly sums up the unique opportunity that University affords. This may be the only time in our lives when we can truly get away with wearing whatever our heart desires and not have the results publicly ridiculed.

Unlike at college or sixth-form there is no pressure to conform to a certain style and free from the confines of a school uniform or office dress code, students can express themselves without having to fear that their choice of bejewelled leopard print chemise is destined to end in mockery.

The pressure lies, if anywhere, in who can demonstrate the most laid-back, nonchalant approach to dressing. If you consider yourself up to the challenge then I feel it my duty to advise caution; competition is fierce. Jumpers worn inside-out are by far the most common sight, however the appearance of shorts and in particular flip-flops in deepest, darkest January is also to be expected.

I should have spotted the signs way back on the open day, when it soon became clear that my abiding memory was not going to be of the accommodation or the department, but of the sheer number of people apparently oblivious to the arctic conditions and wandering around in t-shirts. Who needs a jumper when you can wear a vest-top?

Why? I hear you ask. The answer, I suspect, is simply that it’s liberating. There’s no rule that states; ‘shoes which expose the toe must not be worn beyond September.’ However it’s something we all seem to abide by. The practicality of leaving something so prone to frost-bite exposed to the elements may play a part, but that’s the beauty of it. For three years, practicality can be relegated down the ranks of importance and the boundaries of fashion explored.

Who cares if I spend more than half my day in clothes with elasticised waistlines? I’m always fully dressed by the time Doctors has finished.

Add Comment

You must log in to submit a comment.