Menswear update: Less Brideshead, more Fresh Prince

Male students have gradually been rearranging their wardrobes, turning on the Fresh Prince while once trusty brogues gather dust.

Back to the future

Although this vibe might have been infiltrating the high street for the best part of a year, it seems as though we’ve finally taken our heads out of the colourful corduroy and glimpsed at the light that is, essentially, our birth years. Progress!

Queuing up for the Carbon on Thursday night was a sumptuous sight for all things “princey” (well done boiz).

An overdone and tired look

There remained, however, a gang of those insisting on crewneck jumpers/shirts/blazers/ties who entered the basement seemingly oblivious to the heat of the place, which is enough to leave you crawling out of the club on all fours, gasping for air and a sweat-free environment, even without the extra insulation from your favourite “Made in England” cable-knit.

OUT

The ultimate sartorial solution for all to whom the above applies: go ’90s! Maintaining that “hanging around the dumpster some twenty years ago” chic even if your hair does look like a bit of a turd after some frantic electro-house dance moves seems to be a thing these days. Choosing a light shoe (i.e. not thick-soled brogues) always helps with the jerky foot shuffles after all, killing two birds with one stone.

And the pulled-up white socks? Well, a combination of alternative and high-vis cycling wear and, more importantly, an innocent distraction for the girl/boy you’re chatting up in the smoking area from noticing your messy top half.

Yet the Fresh Prince does not solely hold his own on a Thursday night. There have been numerous sightings on the day-to-day lecture scene of this more contemporary vintage style. It comes down to practicality once again. Stayed up late working and got a 9am lecture? Roll out of bed at 8:50am straight into your bomber jacket and sports socks and you’re good to go. The bed-head look has never been so effortless…

IN

Let’s continue to embrace the return of the 90s because brogues and chinos of all colours of the rainbow have long been dominating the wardrobes of Oxford boys. We’re on the verge of a fashion revolution, so let’s see it through, chaps.