Sub-fusc/Wing collar - academic clothing enthusiasts

[TheEdwardian]

Alright, I'm due to take my Oxford MA in a couple of months. This involves wearing sub fusc For those not otherwise aware, or too lazy to clicky, this is essentialy, dark suit (sub fusc means 'darker than brown' in ancient, so navy or charcoal to us) white shirt with collar (undefined), white bow tie, and appropriate academic bits in terms of gown, hood and cap. Now I'm tempted by the Ede and Ravenscroft MTM shirt offer (4 for £375, I think, or something of that order). And I want some more tunic shirts, and I know they make them well as legal suppliers. My question is this: should I (could I) wear a wing collar? This was clearly not common practice when I was an undergrad, but then we didn't have tunic shirts coming out of our ears. I can't see claims of anachronism come in, since I'll be wearing what is essentially a medieval gown with a suit that became a standard pattern in latish victorian times, and I would assume it must once have been common for what was essentially formal daywear. Not sure i've seen in in the wild except from those with higher degrees (or called to the bar) who were also wearing bands. And one quite mad undergraduate. Acceptable? to be encouraged? at least mildly amusing?

 

[BlackShoes]

Strictly evening wear as far as I'm concerned, unless you are called to the bar. Are you matriculating on Thursday or is this for your exams?

I'll be wearing a white shirt with a soft white collar. A stiff collar (turn down) would also be fine but I lack such a shirt.

If you are curious, just ask in E&R, they will have the most "official" line on the subject.

 

[TheEdwardian]

I'm not matriculating, I'm graduating, though it makes no difference.

My point was rather that the dress code moves very slowly, is a mishmash anyway, and I assume stiff collars of all forms must once have been common, as I would imagine was wearing the gown over stroller, morning coat and frock coat. I figured wing collar was as far rolled back as I could get away with. I would be tempted to try stroller, but I won't get the rig sorted in time (I still kick myself for not grabbing relevant coat in E&R when I saw it very cheap a few years ago, but was on breadline and couldn't justify starving for it, I can do the rest).

 

[BlackShoes]

I wouldn't go for the wing collar, I think it would look affected, part of the point of the uniform is to blend in, doing something like this will inevitably make you stand out. How many students have you seen wearing a wing collar? My guess would be naught.

While distinguishing yourself sartorially in life is certainly to be commended, the strictly prescribed uniform of the convocation is not really the appropriate medium with which to express yourself. If you want something different, wear scarlet pants.

My main fear would be looking like someone who got Sub-fusc and evening wear confused, and ended up wearing a botched fusion. The fact you are basing it on historical precedence will not be of interest to most people.

 

[TheEdwardian]

I have seen one or two. Depends how you treat it. It isn't uniform, it's a set of guidelines with some constraints: wear appropriate gown and cap, with white bowtie (nothing more specified, so style and fabric presumably up to wearer) with dark suit (again, no more details specified) and white whirt and white collar (an important warning for those of us with white shirt without a white collar, but style not specified) I was just checking if what I was thinking was truly beyond the pale, not just unusual. Oddly, I've had more receptive responses on AAAC, which should never happen, and I hadn't posted at for for years apart from to ask this question.