Because Oxford has such a diverse & shifting population - Town & Gown + Tourists & Students, it's possibly more than usually interesting from the sartorial perspective. It's also very stratified in terms of income, reflected in where exactly you live. There are some extremely wealthy people, particularly in North Oxford. On the other hand some areas are really quite deprived. It's also very cosmopolitan with a very ethnically mixed population.
One tries not to gawp, but you can see everything from bag ladies to very expensively turned out mothers of children who attend one or other of the independent schools. It's a reflection of the UK now - the "haves" have so much they can buy anything, the "have not's" struggle to make ends meet. In the middle are people like me.
There is a "bag lady" I see in Summertown, who apparently phones for a taxi when she has had her coffee & a fag in one of the pavement cafes. I have never seen her in any different clothes at any time of year. There are students who climb up to the top deck of the bus in skirts so short they leave nothing to the imagination. (Fortunately now it's winter they wear tights). It is weird when exams are on to see the university students flocking round town in their white bow ties & black gowns just like crows.
The tourists tend to wear gore tex & walking gear, except perhaps the ones staying in the Randolph or the Old Jail. They tend to be very smartly turned out & the women are beautifully made up. "Old money" and older academics really don't give a damn what they wear.
In the summer ball season the university students really go to town - literally. There is a hire shop on the Plain for those who can't afford to buy. Also in Summertown we have very posh charity shops which always have very special evening clothes for a fraction of the cost.
The myriad cyclists are a tribe of their own. They wear everything from cool & trendy lycra to "normal" clothes with high viz jackets. Everyone wears a helmet, but not everyone has lights on their bike, which strikes me as rather irrational. Being quite flat Oxford is best navigated on foot or by bike, so there are thousands of them.
It's often the shoes that identify which tribe you belong to. Trainers & basketball boots for the students. High heels for the fashionistas, (shiny polished brogues for the men), Walking boots & sensible shoes for the tourists.
I really think you could walk round the centre of Oxford wearing anything at all & not excite any attention. I am tempted, but haven't yet done it.
No comments:
Post a Comment