‘Pub-fessional’: A Guide to St Andrews Dress
St Andrews is unlike the typical college town in a plethora of ways. One could reference its network of secret societies, chilly coastal locale, or royal alums to prove this point, but there is a much simpler, every-day way St Andrews separates itself from its collegiate peers: the clothing. While most uni students (particularly those at American universities) sit in comfort in lectures, wearing sweatpants or flare leggings paired with a White Fox hoodie or Lululemon define jacket, the St Andrews student seems to be totally adverse to athleisure. Athletic clothing is almost entirely reserved for the journey to or from the Saints Sport centre. Instead, the St Andrews student dresses for somewhere in-between work and pleasure; they could be going to a tutorial, an interview, or the Central for a pint and they would still manage to never look over or under dressed. So, how do they strike the balance between professional and pub? How do they tow the line between maturity and youthfulness so effectively? I think the key lies in layering and accessorizing.
A jacket is necessary to fight the St Andrews chill, but a puffer, abundant on other college campuses, here usually only appears branded with a fashion show or ball committee logo…rarely is there a puffer just for puffer’s sake. Instead, many students opt for the more traditional overcoat, falling a little below the knee. In St Andrews, these will naturally range from a £15 charity shop steal to a £3,000 Max Mara cashmere and beaver wool blend. While the jackets could easily feel too mature for the average uni student, a bright scarf wraps around the wearer's neck, bringing a joyful warmth with it. When the wearer sheds their jacket, they may be wearing a cardigan or sweater, another somewhat conservative piece that can be made to feel youthful with some slight modification. This can be accomplished in any number of ways, perhaps the sweater has an interesting knit or design, something akin to the iconic red Rowing Blazers sheep sweater, or maybe the cardigan is styled with only the top button fastened, exposing a little bit of skin. Any fun top can be worn underneath. Depending on the day and the person it may be a simple flattering tank or a GANNI blouse. While these tops may stand on their own at the pub, in class some of its features (whether the collar, sleeve, or neckline) pop out from beneath the sweater to add more dimension among the layers. Pretty much any bottom (low-rise boyfriend jeans, corduroys, bootcut jeans, or a mini skirt and tights) can accompany the ensemble and it can still effortlessly transition from the lecture hall to the pub.
Shoes are also key to crafting an elevated yet fun outfit. Trainers dominate the streets, but they serve a stylistic purpose as well as a comfortable one. Mexico 66s, PUMA Palermos, and of course Adidas Gazelles are popular picks to energize an outfit with a pop of bright color. Another staple in the St Andrews student closet is the ballet flat. However while a simple ballet flat can easily teeter on prim, most seem to be drawn to flats that are studded or fiery red, leaning more rocker than Rockefeller.
Other accessories are also essential to balancing an outfit. Jewelry is a particularly powerful tool and, similar to clothing, the more layers the better. Stacking necklaces and rings adds dimension to an outfit. If the silhouette or color of an outfit is approaching boring, adding layers of mixed metal necklaces, rings, earrings, and bracelets will give it a chic edge with some much needed contrast. Trendy chunky gold jewelry can also help a more mature outfit feel less stuffy. On the other hand, if the outfit is overly bright and youthful, daintier silver jewelry or pearls can bring the professionalism back up.
St Andrews style is all about finding the right balance. While the exact scale will differ from individual to individual and personal style to personal style, the middle ground between pub and professional is often accomplished by enlivening classic, conservative pieces with bright colors, unique details, or trendy styling.
Photography by Petra Orloff