SPPH: Let’s Talk About It
The society puffer is a St. Andrews staple, and whether you are in the fashion club, sports club, charity club, or anything else you can possibly think of, there is probably a puffer that exists. A few notable ones are St. Andrews Polo, VS, and FS – staying warm while representing? Sounds like a win to me. In St. Andrews, getting your first society puffer is nearly equivalent to being knighted.
Lumsden Club
The Lumsden Club is the only all-female charity club at St. Andrews and is most recognized by its iconic red logo that can be found on various forms of puffers. When not busy hosting the iconic Pimm’s Garden Party or donating to charities such as Fife Women’s Aid or Families First, these girls can be found representing the club around town, whether going to grab a coffee with some friends or heading to the library for a serious work session.
Spotted outside Pret, this Lumsden member opted for a more relaxed look with the puffer. Sporting a green hoodie, navy sweats, and some Onitsuka Tigers, she is ready for a day full of work at the library. Caffeine is definitely needed. With her sweats and sneakers matching the navy of the Lumsden coat, the green hoodie became the stand-out of this outfit, with the Lumsden puffer just being a subtle shout-out to the club.
With some societies having their logos on the back of their puffers as well as on the front, this version of the Lumsden puffer opted out of having one on the back. Providing a more subtle and subdued approach to the society puffer is representative of the energy of the Lumsden Club. Even though one may see more society puffers at coffee shops such as Taste or Spoiled, spotting this puffer at Pret is a homage to the popularity of these jackets around St. Andrews – you are bound to see at least one when you step into town.
Clay Pigeon Shooting Club
Providing a bit of a different approach to the puffer jacket, sports clubs are not out of the equation when it comes to representing on a puffer. Having the St. Andrew’s logo and committee position on the front provides a similar yet different approach to other society puffers, such as Lumsden’s. You can’t miss a Clay Pigeon or Polo member when they’re sporting their jackets on the streets – the tweed, whether oversized or fitted, is a staple of these club members.
One of the most optimal aspects of these society or club jackets is their versatility. Whether you want to dress it down with some sweats, or wear it with jeans, a sweater, and some funky shoes, these jackets are functional and versatile. The simple and subdued woven pattern of the tweed is perfect for sporting with a Schöffel and some Wellies for a day on the range, or a patterned sweater and some jeans for a day at the library. Even though these jackets and puffers may seem pretty basic, that is the beauty of them – you are allowed free range of how you want to wear them, while still being able to rep.
Concrete Catwalk
And, of course, the best for last – the Concrete Catwalk puffer. Sported by the one and only, spectacularly fabulous EIC, Jacqueline, running blog and repping CC comes naturally to her. In the more ‘classic’ style of St. Andrews puffers, the CC puffer took a more neutral approach by choosing the base color as black, allowing the logos on the front and back to really pop.
The pops of red in the hoodie underneath and burgundy nails provide a nice contrast with the puffer's white and black, highlighting once again the versatility of these puffers. The sleek and chic design of Concrete Catwalk’s logo is on show on this puffer, spotlighting the overall coolness of Concrete Catwalk. The fashionable logo makes it known to everyone that this puffer belongs to a fashion club.
The boldness of the logo on the back of the jacket makes it clear to anyone who passes by that this person is in Concrete Catwalk - which, who wouldn’t everyone know? The logo, with the all capitalization and eye-grabbing font, takes a more modern and simple approach to the St. Andrews puffers, with a ‘less is more’ attitude. The fun aspect of these puffers is that they all embody the vibes of the society on the jacket, demonstrating the diversity of clubs and societies in this quaint, coastal town.
As the weather starts to warm up, the spph in St. Andrews may start to dwindle – no need for a puffer jacket when the sun is out, and the temperature rises. St. Andrews students and puffer jackets go together like two peas in a pod. Acting as a functional piece of clothing and as a badge of honor, these puffers have become a St. Andrews staple. Some students have university hoodies; we have club puffers. At this point, these puffers have become more than a jacket – they act as a way of forming community and creating tradition. Whenever you see someone walk down the street in whatever puffer or jacket it may be, you know that they’re a part of some sort of community, such as fashion or sports. Or, if you see someone walking down the street with a puffer that you own, it's a way to create conversation and bonding. More than a winter necessity, and a symbol of pride, these puffers have become a St. Andrews classic that are not going anywhere.