What on earth do I wear?
Black Tie Balls
It's all in the title...lots of the Oxford Balls are black-tie and admittance is based on this strict dress code.
Although you can hire a dinner suit, there are various college events interspersed throughout the term which have a black-tie dress code, from Freshers dinners, to cocktail nights, to special formal halls, subject dinners and Christmas Parties.
Your black-tie will no doubt be a staple part of your wardrobe during your time at Oxford.
For the black-tie balls, dresses tend to vary, some students choose to wear shorter cocktail dresses whereas others where long dresses.
Wear: Dinner Suit/ Cocktail Dress/Long Dress/ Smart Jumpsuit.
White Tie Balls
White Tie Balls are the most extravagant of the Oxford Balls.
They really are the most amazing experience, within the ticket price is unlimited food and drink, musical acts, fair-ground rides and entertainment stretching from comedy to laser quest tents and even better...they usually go on all night, meaning you'll head back to college as the sun rises!
Most people hire their white-tie for an evening, as realistically, it's unlikely you'll be attending white-tie affairs on a weekly basis!
There are several shops in Oxford where you can hire your suit.
Students tend to wear long dresses to white-tie balls, making them the fairy-tale experience.
Wear: White Tie /Long Dresses.
Top Tips
Lots of students dress-swap for balls, rather than buying new each time.
Charity shops are a must!