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<title>Szentek’s Moving Castle – Reviewed</title>
<link>https://thestand-online.com/2024/04/25/szenteks-moving-castle-reviewed/</link>
<comments>https://thestand-online.com/2024/04/25/szenteks-moving-castle-reviewed/#comments</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Natasha Currie]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 25 Apr 2024 10:42:32 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[ByStander]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[dundee]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Mains Castle]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Music]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Music Collective]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Review]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[St Andrews]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Szentek]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Szentek's Moving Castle]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[The Stand]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[UK]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[university]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thestand-online.com/?p=16721</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Natasha reviews Szentek's Moving Castle at Mains Castle in Dundee.
The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thestand-online.com/2024/04/25/szenteks-moving-castle-reviewed/">Szentek’s Moving Castle – Reviewed</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thestand-online.com">THE STAND</a>.
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="fb-root"></div>
Whoever had the idea to start hosting daytime student events, I give you all of my love. The pace is different, the excitement is different, and the entire situation deviates you from your schedule in exactly the way you need. Szentek’s Moving Castle on April 6th fell at the perfect time this year. With classes officially wrapping up for the academic year the day before, I was craving an outlet to pour a semester’s worth of worries, tensions, and general anxieties into.
The venue’s grounds of Mains Castle in Dundee were well utilised and the event spilled neatly through the space. The entrance to the castle gave way to a small chill out area, then a corner with people offering face painting and tooth gems looking onto a small DJ set under quilted tarpaulin where student regulars played. The courtyard area was transformed through the usual Szentek art installations; painted sheets in bright colour, CD strings reflecting the light and dreamcatchers hooked on trees. Szentek always put the utmost effort into the design element of their events, whether Mains Castle, The Rule, or The Vic – the same artistic stamp is sealed firmly on each venue.
<figure id="attachment_16724" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-16724" style="width: 225px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-16724" src="https://i0.wp.com/thestand-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Szentek-3.jpg?resize=225%2C300&ssl=1" alt="" width="225" height="300" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/thestand-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Szentek-3.jpg?resize=225%2C300&ssl=1 225w, https://i0.wp.com/thestand-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Szentek-3.jpg?w=451&ssl=1 451w" sizes="(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px" data-recalc-dims="1" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-16724" class="wp-caption-text">Photo courtesy of Natasha Currie.</figcaption></figure>
The sun peeked its head out at us for a brief moment. In Scotland, a rare occurrence and during April, it becomes a sign of change. You could feel the hinges of spring starting to oil up with the heat in the air. Whether it was intentional or not, I also loved the Szentek petting zoo… Outside there was a little fenced off garden with a Wendy house, and at one point four little dogs popped out to say hello – hopefully not too disturbed by the goings on around them! I spent quite some time by the fence, awwing love at them like the basic girl I unashamedly am.
 
<figure id="attachment_16725" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-16725" style="width: 451px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" class="wp-image-16725 size-full" src="https://i2.wp.com/thestand-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Szentek-4.jpg?resize=451%2C359&ssl=1" alt="" width="451" height="359" srcset="https://i2.wp.com/thestand-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Szentek-4.jpg?w=451&ssl=1 451w, https://i2.wp.com/thestand-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Szentek-4.jpg?resize=300%2C239&ssl=1 300w" sizes="(max-width: 451px) 100vw, 451px" data-recalc-dims="1" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-16725" class="wp-caption-text">Photo courtesy of Natasha Currie.</figcaption></figure>
The line up this year, as in Szentek’s past events, had a mix of styles within the world of funky fusion and rhythmic beats. One of my personal favourite sets came from The Prosecco Boys, a subset of Wax Rooms Collective. When asked about the creative process, Van Lambie stated that ‘After a 2-week IV drip Prosecco blackout we emerged with the most miraculously perfectly crafted set for that precise moment.’ And that they did. On a more serious note, Lambie followed up by saying that for himself and The Prosecco Boys, “it’s about finding a midpoint between what I want to hear and what I know will give people the most euphoric enjoyable experience. We try to build peaks of celebration that collapse back down and then do that again and again and again.”
Breaking tradition with other UK festivals and their heteronormative, male heavy line-ups, Szentek had a queer female headlining act. Taahliah brought smooth professionalism into the main tent, showcasing the strong grounding she has within the Glasgow music scene. Hailing from Kilmarnock (also my Mum’s hometown, only the best!) and spending time in Glasgow studying art and creating music, Taahliah’s style and influence in Scotland is always growing. In an 2022 interview with NOTION magazine, Taahliah comments on her own goals, saying “I want to be able to push boundaries and I want to offer something new and I think that’s done correctly through not intentionally doing it. I’m just here to make music and to have people respond to the music.” Having won an award at the Scottish Alternative Music Awards and received a nomination for the BBC Scottish Artist of the Year award, it is clear she is indeed pushing boundaries and heading somewhere big. I am glad she stopped off at Szentek on her way!
<figure id="attachment_16726" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-16726" style="width: 451px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" class="wp-image-16726 size-full" src="https://i0.wp.com/thestand-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Szentek-5.jpg?resize=451%2C602&ssl=1" alt="" width="451" height="602" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/thestand-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Szentek-5.jpg?w=451&ssl=1 451w, https://i0.wp.com/thestand-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Szentek-5.jpg?resize=225%2C300&ssl=1 225w" sizes="(max-width: 451px) 100vw, 451px" data-recalc-dims="1" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-16726" class="wp-caption-text">Photo courtesy of Natasha Currie</figcaption></figure>
The work that goes into an event of this scale is very intricate. Ben Sanders, Head of Music, states ‘The venues Szentek typically work with are very bare bones – like with the Silo, all we had was electricity.’ It was very clear that a lot of effort had gone into the logistics; however, the lack of free water and later on in the evening, lack of water itself, was a bit of a downside. At previous events, having a water station was very successful and it would have been nice to have this replicated at the Castle.
<figure id="attachment_16723" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-16723" style="width: 451px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-16723 size-full" src="https://i0.wp.com/thestand-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Szentek-2.jpg?resize=451%2C602&ssl=1" alt="" width="451" height="602" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/thestand-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Szentek-2.jpg?w=451&ssl=1 451w, https://i0.wp.com/thestand-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Szentek-2.jpg?resize=225%2C300&ssl=1 225w" sizes="(max-width: 451px) 100vw, 451px" data-recalc-dims="1" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-16723" class="wp-caption-text">Photo courtesy of Natasha Currie</figcaption></figure>
Ben (whilst other people are doing the not so fun jobs like ordering portaloos) is dealing with the artist’s experience as well as the audience’s, aiming to bridge the gap between the two and run a successful event for both parties. This year’s Szentek was potentially one of the best line-up wise for me, and it was great to see Scottish artists from different backgrounds represented on stage. I came away with some new Spotify rabbit-holes to fall down and a distinct sense that my friends and I had had a fun loving time. We should all escape to the Castle with Szentek next year – it’s worth it, I promise!
The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thestand-online.com/2024/04/25/szenteks-moving-castle-reviewed/">Szentek’s Moving Castle – Reviewed</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thestand-online.com">THE STAND</a>.
]]></content:encoded>
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<slash:comments>29</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>End of Semester Burn-Out</title>
<link>https://thestand-online.com/2024/04/13/end-of-semester-burn-out/</link>
<comments>https://thestand-online.com/2024/04/13/end-of-semester-burn-out/#comments</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Features Editor]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Sat, 13 Apr 2024 14:38:46 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[ByStander]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[UnderStand]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[burn out]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[deadlines]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[End of Year]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[exams]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[relax]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Revision]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[semester]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[stress]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[studying]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[tired]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[university]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thestand-online.com/?p=16679</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Sarah gives tips on how to avoid burn out, with exams quickly approaching.
The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thestand-online.com/2024/04/13/end-of-semester-burn-out/">End of Semester Burn-Out</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thestand-online.com">THE STAND</a>.
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="fb-root"></div>
Now that week 11 has come to an end, we have officially finished classes for the semester! After countless coursework submissions of essays and quizzes, there are only exams holding us back from our four-month-long summer. Despite knowing that we are so close to the finish line, the consensus felt in lectures and the library is that people are tired and have dropped the ball when revising, if revising this week. 
Now that all we have left to do is revise for our exams I can’t help but just feel burnt out. Therefore, in this article I aim to acknowledge the feeling of being burnt out at university, giving it space to be felt while also trying to advise some ways to combat this to ensure a successful and fitting end to the semester.
 
<figure id="attachment_16706" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-16706" style="width: 1000px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-16706" src="https://i0.wp.com/thestand-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/shutterstock_2293091999.jpg?resize=640%2C427&ssl=1" alt="" width="640" height="427" data-recalc-dims="1" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-16706" class="wp-caption-text">Credit: Shutterstock/ Halfpoint.</figcaption></figure>
Every semester begins with such hope and aspirations of achieving our best grades yet, and we begin every week with dedicated study plans and goals for our revision. However, as the weeks go on and on and more deadlines are approached and passed, these aspirations are often lost in the brain fog created by confusing lectures, labs and tutorials alongside the constant obsession with submission dates which can never quite be remembered correctly.
The reading week always appears to land at the right point in the semester when we all need a break to catch up on our work or rather take a small city break to ‘de-stress’ ourselves. But this semester, it feels like reading week only put us back, no one seemed to get back into their routines, the library didn’t become busier after reading week and has been more and more deserted since fourth-years have begun to submit their dissertations. The motivation for studying seems to have been lost on us – but why is this?Our university has always had high standards when it comes to our coursework, this semester being no different. However, when we are so busy working on our coursework submissions, it becomes hard to see feel a sense of urgency regarding revision for our exams. They might feel like they are months away when, in reality, as I write this I have an exam in fifteen days. The urgency to study just feels difficult to measure when there is so much going on all of the time. Additionally, the second semester is notoriously busier in all aspects of uni life than the first semester, again creating more distractions from studying.
 
<figure id="attachment_16707" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-16707" style="width: 1000px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-16707" src="https://i2.wp.com/thestand-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/shutterstock_704245198.jpg?resize=640%2C427&ssl=1" alt="" width="640" height="427" data-recalc-dims="1" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-16707" class="wp-caption-text">Credit: Shutterstock/ LStockStudio.</figcaption></figure>
Now, while it is difficult to feel motivated and not feel extremely burnt out, we don’t have long until we are all officially finished for summer, and we may as well focus so that your summer isn’t filled with resit exams. While it has been lovely that the library is not filled to the brim at 9am every morning, I suggest creating your unique study plan that fits around those dates that you now must remember (this can include time to relax or scroll through TikTok, if that’s what you find to be a good distraction to exam stress). Additionally, now that we don’t have lectures, we can enjoy a slighter slower morning instead of rushing out the door, and can fit our studying around what suits our natural routine more.
We are all at this university for a reason and we are all intelligent enough to do well in our courses and exams. We all have a place here and deserve to believe in ourselves. Therefore, when you find yourself struggling for motivation or begin to have anxiety surrounding your exams, remember we are all in the same position but we can all succeed.
The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thestand-online.com/2024/04/13/end-of-semester-burn-out/">End of Semester Burn-Out</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thestand-online.com">THE STAND</a>.
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://thestand-online.com/2024/04/13/end-of-semester-burn-out/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>163</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>Fashion Favourites – Why We Look to the Past for Fashion Inspiration</title>
<link>https://thestand-online.com/2024/04/13/fashion-favourites-why-we-look-to-the-past-for-fashion-inspiration/</link>
<comments>https://thestand-online.com/2024/04/13/fashion-favourites-why-we-look-to-the-past-for-fashion-inspiration/#comments</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Fashion]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Sat, 13 Apr 2024 14:32:28 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[StandOut]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Fashion]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Hemline Index]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Lipstick Index]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Retro]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[secondhand]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Stranger Things]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Style]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Vintage]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thestand-online.com/?p=16687</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Rachel reflects on the long-held tendency to look to the past for fashion inspiration
The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thestand-online.com/2024/04/13/fashion-favourites-why-we-look-to-the-past-for-fashion-inspiration/">Fashion Favourites – Why We Look to the Past for Fashion Inspiration</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thestand-online.com">THE STAND</a>.
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="fb-root"></div>
Today more than ever, it is becoming increasingly difficult to define what epitomises the current styles and fashion trends. In the past, this easily done; the 20s had drop-waist flapper glamour, the 50s had poodle skirts, and flannels and mom jeans dominated the 90s. What images will the 2020s conjure up in the cultural memory? Is the 2020s fashionista dressed in baggy jeans and a Skims top with a slick back bun? Has she paired Sambas with flare leggings and a football jersey? One thing’s for sure: fashion is cyclical. All of the hot pieces and styles we see today have their roots in another time.
<figure id="attachment_16688" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-16688" style="width: 674px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-16688" src="https://i0.wp.com/thestand-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Picture-1.jpg-stand-1.jpg?resize=640%2C375&ssl=1" alt="Volta" width="640" height="375" data-recalc-dims="1" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-16688" class="wp-caption-text">Source: Volta.</figcaption></figure>
Some have suggested that our tendency to emulate past looks is a nostalgic impulse. Clothing, like songs and films can be associated with good memories and a romanticised bygone era. Designers are able capitalise on habit-dependent consumers in going back to old classics, and generally do so in a 20-year cycle. The reason for this may lie in the nostalgia factor, as fashionable 20-somethings seek to emulate the looks they admired growing up and the cozy feelings associated with their childhood. In this way, a look deemed ‘retro lame’ might suddenly be deemed cool and fashionable- as long as enough time has passed.
There can also be a lot of comfort in the familiarity of items that were once worn and this can tap into our sense of belonging. It can be a great way to reignite the connection with our past selves and the clothes we used to love when we were younger- certain trends have a strong impact over us when, as if out of nowhere, they return to our lives. It has been claimed that modern clothing has turned into a “slideshow of sentimentality” linking the past to the present.
Popular culture of the moment can have a huge influence over fashion trends and can bring back styles from decades gone by. The small 80s revival seen after the release of Stranger Things is a prime example, prompting a revival of loud shirts and baggy trousers. Whilst some picked up 80s culture for Halloween, others integrated the looks directly into their everyday wardrobes. Of course, this isn’t a direct emulation of 80s fashion, reflecting a rose-tinted version of the past. Friends is another key source of retro fashion inspo, with consumers turning again and again to the classic Rachel haircut or Phoebe’s boho style. There is something nice about taking vintage fashion inspiration from the media that surrounds us and modernising the looks in a modern context.
<figure id="attachment_16690" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-16690" style="width: 705px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-16690" src="https://i2.wp.com/thestand-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Picture-1.jpg-stand-3.jpg?resize=640%2C427&ssl=1" alt="" width="640" height="427" data-recalc-dims="1" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-16690" class="wp-caption-text">Source: Getty Images.</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_16691" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-16691" style="width: 711px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-16691" src="https://i1.wp.com/thestand-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Picture-1.png-stand-4.png?resize=640%2C321&ssl=1" alt="" width="640" height="321" data-recalc-dims="1" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-16691" class="wp-caption-text">Source: Everett Collection.</figcaption></figure>
 
There might be more pragmatic concerns at play, too, as consumers push for more sustainable fashion choices. People are more than happy to scour vintage and charity shops to find a retro designer jumper or a pair of Levi’s 501 jeans in good condition. This is not to say that the way people wear items from the past is a case of mere duplication; for example, vintage shoppers continue to lean on the much-loved combination of low waisted jeans and UGG boots, but lose some of the loud colour and pattern choices of the 2000s. There is a culture developing around trying to preserve your clothes- if they have suffered from a little wear and tear, is there anything that can be done to repair them? With this fast-fashion consciousness in mind, it has also become increasingly important for fashion designers both high-end and high-street to try and create timeless and versatile items that people will continue to want to come back to time and time again. These items are designed to last and if the shopper is happy with their purchase, they are more likely to trust the brand in the future and return their service. However, as it’s the simple truth that most consumers and fast fashion brands don’t have the best interest of the planet at heart. Even as past styles become popular, the irony is that most people won’t repair their worn clothes, or put in the effort to trawl through rails and rails of old junk to find that one iconic piece. Fashion retailers, keeping this in mind, create identical items to the ones that were popular twenty years ago.
<figure id="attachment_16689" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-16689" style="width: 681px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-16689" src="https://i2.wp.com/thestand-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Picture-1.jpg-stand-2.jpg?resize=640%2C357&ssl=1" alt="" width="640" height="357" data-recalc-dims="1" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-16689" class="wp-caption-text">Source: Centre for Sustainable Fashion.</figcaption></figure>
Another key influence on what is considered fashionable is the state of the economy! Economist George Taylor theorised the ‘Hemline Index’, noting that in a period of economic downturn, hemlines drop, as consumers opt for more mature, conservative clothing choices. Meanwhile, Leonard Lauder’s ‘Lipstick Index’ sees a rise in the sales of affordable luxuries in periods of economic downturns. This may be evidenced by the glitzy rhinestone and velour styles seen in and around the 2008 economic crisis- people were able to splash cash on tracksuits, slippers, and wallets, but waited for the market to stabilise before splurging on fine jewellery or designer handbags.
I’ve shown that people enjoy taking inspiration from the past when deciding what to wear and how they want to present themselves to the world. There have been an array of reasons for this, one being the nostalgic feeling it can give a person. People associate certain items of clothing with good memories of the past and this can end up connecting the past to the present. Popular culture can also have an impact on why people choose to look to the past for inspiration as they may want to emulate their icons. People also look to reuse past styles in attempts to move away from toxic fast-fashion industries, or to reflect a certain economic cultural mindset shift. I wonder if in twenty, thirty, forty years time, younger generations will look back at the fashion trends of the 2020s and take inspiration from them?
 
The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thestand-online.com/2024/04/13/fashion-favourites-why-we-look-to-the-past-for-fashion-inspiration/">Fashion Favourites – Why We Look to the Past for Fashion Inspiration</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thestand-online.com">THE STAND</a>.
]]></content:encoded>
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<slash:comments>48</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>The Timeless Power Held By A Blazer And A Pair Of Jeans</title>
<link>https://thestand-online.com/2024/04/13/the-timeless-power-held-by-a-blazer-and-a-pair-of-jeans/</link>
<comments>https://thestand-online.com/2024/04/13/the-timeless-power-held-by-a-blazer-and-a-pair-of-jeans/#comments</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Fashion]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Sat, 13 Apr 2024 14:22:42 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[ByStander]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thestand-online.com/?p=16671</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Rachel discusses the immortal tendency to look to the past for fashion inspiration, and explains why certain styles will always remain timeless.
The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thestand-online.com/2024/04/13/the-timeless-power-held-by-a-blazer-and-a-pair-of-jeans/">The Timeless Power Held By A Blazer And A Pair Of Jeans</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thestand-online.com">THE STAND</a>.
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Following persistent advice from friends, one evening I decided to watch the first episode of the new Netflix series One Day, only to find that by the end of the week I had made my way through the whole series, with a serious temptation to start all over again. Whilst most notably famous for its gut-wrenching romance plot (I promise there are no spoilers pending), the series also allows for an interesting rewind to London life in the 1990s and the early 2000s in its storytelling over 20 years, accompanied by a soundtrack of tunes faintly reminiscent of those heard pumping from my parent’s car radio. Whilst watching the series, I couldn’t help but notice the fashion and the distinct parallels between the trends of the 1990s and those that have crept back into stores today.
There is no mistaking, there are some things that should be left in the 90s, never to be seen again – aka the low waisted, ¾ trousers that can be seen in many photographs from red carpets of the 90s… and photos is truly where they should stay. However, the fashion of the 90s can arguably be viewed in two halves, the era of garish patterns, colours, and spiky hairdos as well as the fashion of minimalist, low effort chic. Now whilst the rather out there harem pants haven’t made much of a comeback, the 90s blazer, jeans and tee combo is arguably stronger than ever.
 
<figure id="attachment_16699" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-16699" style="width: 573px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-16699 size-full" src="https://i2.wp.com/thestand-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screenshot-2024-04-13-162205.png?resize=573%2C461&ssl=1" alt="" width="573" height="461" data-recalc-dims="1" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-16699" class="wp-caption-text">Credit: Instagram/ @mollymae.</figcaption></figure>
Despite style influencers like Matilda Djerf and Molly Mae, currently claiming the blazer and jeans as their unique staple look, their looks are clear quotes of those previously worn by the likes of Princess Diana and Julia Roberts in the 90s. Many of Diana’s most famous looks in the late 90s consisted of slim-cut blue jeans, a boxy blazer and maybe a pair of Tod’s Gommino loafers or a baseball cap. This practical approach to styling, balanced with a strong silhouette, was a far cry from the midi-skirt with a blouse underneath a V-neck jumper combination, previously worn by the Princess in her first years in the public eye. In dressing for both official photocalls or ‘off-duty’ activities, Diana established the oversized blazer as an essential piece of 90s style. Meanwhile, on the red carpets of Hollywood, Julia Roberts made the oversized suit a staple alternative to the dresses worn by other female stars at the time. One particularly iconic oversized Giorgio Armani trouser suit worn by Roberts to the Golden Globes is the key example of her staple look, which often consisted of a black blazer, denim trousers and a white t-shirt. In a conversation with Vogue, Roberts explained “I wore jeans and a white T-shirt all the time… Back in those days there were no fashion rules. You just wore what you wanted to wear.” [ see Roberts’s article with Laura Hawkings for further information].
 
<figure id="attachment_16695" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-16695" style="width: 2500px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-16695" src="https://i0.wp.com/thestand-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/shutterstock_99424505.jpg?resize=640%2C482&ssl=1" alt="" width="640" height="482" data-recalc-dims="1" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-16695" class="wp-caption-text">Credit: Shutterstock/ FeatureFlash Photo Agency.</figcaption></figure>
Roberts’ reflection on the radically casual appearance of her style, contrary to the expectations of female fashion in the 90s, raises an interesting point as to how this style has now become a key component in the carefully curated ‘clean-girl aesthetic’. The boots, blue jeans, black belt, white tee, black blazer, and gold earrings combo has become an almost permanent feature in my Instagram feed, and I am not complaining about it. Whether it’s the ability to appear put together with minimal effort or the chance to feel comfortable whilst wearing something smart (an opportunity rarely afforded to women), the 90s blazer and jeans combo has come back with vengeance and appears to be staying for some time yet.
Hence, as contemporary dramas increasingly jump back to the eras of the 1970s, 80s and 90s, it allows for generations of viewers to revisit a previous decade and for some of us it exposes a collection of music and fashion trends that we might not have known. In the case of the 90s, it appears to have made quite the influence on contemporary trends. Thus, with summer looming ever closer, I know it won’t be long till I will literally have to be prised from my favourite blazers, jeans, and boots but at least I can be certain that my favourite outfit combination isn’t going out of style too soon.
 
<figure id="attachment_16698" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-16698" style="width: 622px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-16698" src="https://i2.wp.com/thestand-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screenshot-2024-04-13-160854.png?resize=622%2C520&ssl=1" alt="" width="622" height="520" data-recalc-dims="1" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-16698" class="wp-caption-text">Credit: Instagram/ @matildadjerf.</figcaption></figure>
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<title>‘Boarders’: Is It Black British Brilliance?</title>
<link>https://thestand-online.com/2024/03/25/boarders-is-it-black-british-brilliance/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[Features Editor]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 25 Mar 2024 15:59:06 +0000</pubDate>
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<description><![CDATA[Abbie reviews the BBC drama-comedy 'Boarders'.
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‘Boarders’ is a new BBC drama created by Daniel Lawrence Taylor, creator of ITV’s ‘Timewasters’. And while short of perfect, it is an entertaining watch that does well to allow the plot’s wider political implications to sit alongside the fun and follies of a private school teen drama.
The show follows five gifted black teenagers, who are moved from London to prestigious boarding school, St. Gilberts, because its reputation needs improving after a video goes public of students bullying a homeless man. While the concept may seem unlikely, Taylor was inspired by the real-life story of four boys from East London given admission to Rugby School in 2008, and the main ensemble feel as if they could be real life kids too.
Josh Tedeku as the main character, Jaheim, effortlessly slides between portraying his character’s loyalty to his family and friends, and his desire to rise in the ranks of St. Gilbert’s. He is a character caught between two worlds, trying his best to meld the two and make sense of his own identity. While his introduction is him kicking someone in the head, he surprisingly lets himself be lulled into a false sense of security many times by classmates and even the head teacher, Bernard. Taylor does something interesting with Jaheim’s story; the realisation he comes to is not that he needs to break free from his “deprived background”, but that he needs to appreciate his existing community, because they (his friends from home, the fellow scholarship kids) are the ones who support him regardless, and not only when it is expedient.
 
 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-16660 aligncenter" src="https://i2.wp.com/thestand-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/josh-tedeku-boarders-65d32db75b3d3.jpg?resize=640%2C479&ssl=1" alt="" width="640" height="479" data-recalc-dims="1" />
 
Toby, a jack-the-lad polyglot (played by Sekou Diaby) is a fresh breeze in the heavy fog of teenage drama. He is the most enjoyable source of comic relief; the viewer is always laughing with him as he conducts his schemes. He is razor-sharp and uses the way he is perceived at St. Gilbert’s to his advantage in clever ways. Toby’s dialogue is probably the most slang-heavy of them all, exaggerated slightly in the first few episodes as the writers were clearly finding their feet. Overall, the teenage dialogue in this show feels accurate — pulling no punches with vulgarity or indelicacy alongside the heavy use of London slang.
Omar’s story is perhaps the most endearing — a sweet little caper about finding friendship and love, under the backdrop of him trying to be accepted into a secret cartoonist’s society. His sexuality is played for laughs in a slightly odd way – ‘Boarders’ sometimes struggles to wield its dramedy status, so some of the jokes about him ogling other guys can come off as slightly juvenile. That being said, his introverted nature, portrayed sensitively by Myles Kamwendo, is a well-needed balance to counteract all the explosive interpersonal drama of the other four stories.
Femi, played by Aruna Jalloh, is a first-generation son of Nigerian parents, who is desperate to fit in and use this opportunity for his personal gain. He quickly ingratiates himself with some posh laddish types who dub themselves “the Rahscals”, and is eager to shed his association with the other scholarship students. He is by far the least complex of the five. His story is one told many times before, and felt almost rote. ‘Boarders’ seemingly doesn’t know how to write African characters: his father’s horrendous Nigerian accent and the cringeworthy inclusion of him speaking Yoruba when stressed only adds to the sense that the writers were uninspired when writing his character. However, the idea of respectability politics trumping community is one that feels more common amongst African immigrant communities, and it would have been interesting for this to have been explicitly addressed in the show. The most interesting aspect of Femi’s character is how his storyline resolves — the lack of self-respect that his mindset induces is brought to the forefront as he confronts his position in his friendship group.
 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-16662 size-full" src="https://i0.wp.com/thestand-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/MV5BZTQ2MzZmNGQtZWNjYy00NjdlLWE0NGUtMjc3YTM0NGJkZWNhXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTc0MTQ4OTM4._V1_-scaled.jpg?resize=640%2C409&ssl=1" alt="" width="640" height="409" data-recalc-dims="1" />
 
The character of Leah, a fervent activist determined to use her opportunity foremostly to make waves, is an interesting exploration of the fact that racialised minorities often must put in so much effort to gain equality that they can’t do normal human things like have friends. Mabel, who is earnest and well-meaning, tries to befriend Leah, but she is more interested in befriending the other black students already at St Gilbert’s (Abby, the mixed daughter of Bernard, and archery star Koku). Neither of the two treat Leah kindly, but she is so determined to use her time at St Gilbert’s to foster a sense of black community. Jodie Campbell does excellently with the script she is given, which felt unsubtle at times. Although Leah is a teenager, and teenagers easily get consumed by their political causes, her general lack of interest in anything other than politics did a disservice to her character’s personhood. The stereotype of dark-skinned black girls only caring about racism and being “bitter” about it is unfortunately still seen in black-centric media and this show is not an exception.
The supporting cast of characters like Abby and Bernard, alongside Rupert (one of the perpetrators captured on video), Beatrix (Jaheim’s love interest), and Preeya and Chelsea (the hilariously ineffectual DEI team) do well to touch on other issues such as wealth, performativity, and the politics of desire. The show’s pacing is good, but the tangible details — logistics of the scholarship, time scale of their time at St. Gilbert’s, etc. — are completely elided. It makes the show feel impatient with itself and a little bit ungrounded.
It would have been nice for the show also to expand on the backgrounds of the characters. We know that Jaheim lives with his Caribbean grandmother and his little brother, and that Femi’s brother was sent to Nigeria as punishment for unspecified antisocial behaviour, but another thing that makes the show feel ungrounded is the lack of information about the other characters. Knowing a character’s desires for the future makes them compelling, and every single person in this cast apparently has none.
Despite how frustrating the frayed edges of this show can be, the strength in ‘Borders’ is that it isn’t trying to say one certain thing: it lets itself breathe, exists at its own pace, and isn’t in a rush to make a grand thesis on what it is like to be black and British. In this way it is not revolutionary, but in that it sort of is — the show exists as a fun watch without grand fanfare.
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<title>Spectacular Singing and Gorgeous Lighting Make up for a Baffling Plot in ‘Jekyll and Hyde’</title>
<link>https://thestand-online.com/2024/03/20/spectacular-singing-and-gorgeous-lighting-make-up-for-a-baffling-plot-in-jekyll-and-hyde/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[Events Editor]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Wed, 20 Mar 2024 14:14:43 +0000</pubDate>
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<description><![CDATA[Callisto reviews the Musical Theatre Society's production of 'Jekyll and Hyde'.
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Every year, the eternally-weary Musical Theatre Society committee must sift through potential productions, desperate to find the diamond in the rough: a show that has the name recognition to fill the Byre Theatre, but is still obscure enough to be cheap. This year, the committee opted for Jekyll and Hyde, a little-known musical adaptation of the much more famous novella. As every first-year English student at St Andrews is assigned Jekyll and Hyde (and, since they’re still bright-eyed and enthusiastic at that stage, they might actually read it), this seems like a practical choice at first glance. Unfortunately, since every English student at St Andrews – including yours truly – also knows the plot of Jekyll and Hyde, it strips very bare the oddities of the script presented. Thankfully, strong performances from the actors and impeccable lighting design help make up for what might be one of the weakest musical theatre books to ever grace the Byre stage, at least in the past few months.
To be fair to the writers, Jekyll and Hyde is a difficult story to adapt in this day and age, simply because everyone knows the final plot twist: that Jekyll and Hyde are the same person. Unfortunately, the avenue they’ve chosen to get around this obstacle — adding women for romantic intrigue — is as ham-fisted into the narrative as it can possibly be. On one side is a strange rip-off of The Phantom of the Opera starring a prostitute with a heart of gold (clap if you’ve seen this one before), and the other has a Nice Young Girl who’s just rebellious enough for the audience to like her, who, with one line, unleashes The Power of Love and redeems Jekyll. These plotlines make no more sense when you’re actually seeing the show. The scenes based on material actually covered in the novel, while not astronomically better, are more tolerable: much like a certain fantasy programme based on a permanently unfinished series of books, things go off the rails as soon as they run out of material to adapt.
 
<figure id="attachment_16650" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-16650" style="width: 588px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-16650 size-full" src="https://i2.wp.com/thestand-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-19-at-8.21.32-pm.png?resize=588%2C428&ssl=1" alt="" width="588" height="428" data-recalc-dims="1" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-16650" class="wp-caption-text">Source: Louise Anderbjörk (Atlas Camera) for Jekyll and Hyde.</figcaption></figure>
Thankfully, the music is nowhere as bad as the plot, and the actors handle a mostly sung-through script with ease. Jasmine Williams and Amy Dunn (Lucy and Emma, respectively) make up for playing the world’s most contrived characters by wowing with every one of their songs — there’s a wonderful duet between the two where their voices melt into each other’s, and even the Phantom rip-off sounds amazing (though admittedly, it’s hard to ruin Phantom). The rest of the ensemble have strong voices: the opening of act two sounds especially good. And of course, James McNinch’s performance as Jekyll and Hyde is made even better thanks to his fluctuation in mannerisms as he switches between characters. McNinch is truly believable as both (though the removal of glasses and the addition of a trench coat do wonders to assist him), and the final confrontation scene has him switching between the two characters at a nail-biting pace. Anyone who has used TikTok within the past few years will likely recognise Hyde’s theme, and McNinch sings it well, even if his voice never quite reaches the complete desperation the character should be spiralling towards. There are several other moments across the show when the acting doesn’t quite hit the mark — one key takeaway is that St Andrews theatre kids are quite bad at playing prostitutes.
 
<figure id="attachment_16648" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-16648" style="width: 583px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-16648 size-full" src="https://i1.wp.com/thestand-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-19-at-8.20.58-pm.png?resize=583%2C423&ssl=1" alt="" width="583" height="423" data-recalc-dims="1" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-16648" class="wp-caption-text">Source: Louise Anderbjörk (Atlas Camera) for Jekyll and Hyde.</figcaption></figure>
Such dramatic scenes are enhanced by spectacular lighting, helped by copious use of the smoke machine (even if it threatens to choke both the actors and the audience). Shona M’Gadzah has created a lighting design nothing short of spectacular; one dynamic enough to feel like a character of its own. Even the minor songs have a beautiful and complicated system of spotlights, while the transformation scenes made me feel like I was watching the drag show at Glitterball. The murder scenes were another standout, helped by the light’s perfect adherence to the music. The crispness and beauty of this aspect of production design elevate the show to another level, making it one of the most memorable pieces of stagecraft this academic year.
 
<figure id="attachment_16649" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-16649" style="width: 565px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-16649 size-full" src="https://i0.wp.com/thestand-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-19-at-8.21.14-pm.png?resize=565%2C426&ssl=1" alt="" width="565" height="426" data-recalc-dims="1" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-16649" class="wp-caption-text">Source: Louise Anderbjörk (Atlas Camera) for Jekyll and Hyde.</figcaption></figure>
I’ll admit, as soon as I figured out where the plot was going to go, I was determined to hate Jekyll and Hyde: I didn’t read endless academic papers about the repressed homosexual undertones of the novella to watch Henry Jekyll fall for a woman (the horror). Yet, as soon at the moment of the first transformation, when the lights started to pulse and spin and McNinch’s demeanour transformed, I was hooked. If you can turn your brain off and simply enjoy the spectacle, Jekyll and Hyde is a phenomenal piece of theatre—not unlike certain other highly-lauded musicals (cough cough Cats). I will end with one final critique: the musical does not include one of my favourite ever lines written in a book—‘If he be Mr. Hyde, I shall be Mr. Seek’. Criminal.
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<title>From Tartan to Shamrocks: Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in Scotland</title>
<link>https://thestand-online.com/2024/03/20/from-tartan-to-shamrocks-celebrating-st-patricks-day-in-scotland/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[News Editor]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Wed, 20 Mar 2024 12:39:23 +0000</pubDate>
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<description><![CDATA[Isabella discusses the increasingly popular St. Patricks Day holiday and the endless events during the weekend. 
The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thestand-online.com/2024/03/20/from-tartan-to-shamrocks-celebrating-st-patricks-day-in-scotland/">From Tartan to Shamrocks: Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in Scotland</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thestand-online.com">THE STAND</a>.
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With its impending arrival directly following reading week, the month of March for St Andrews students typically entails long library days, impending deadlines, and plenty of late-night study sessions. Luckily (no pun intended), smack dab in the middle of March is the infamous St. Patrick’s Day in all its glory — bringing good times, Guinness and green galore. St Patrick’s Day, celebrated on the 17th of March every year, is a cultural holiday dedicated to commemorating Saint Patrick of Ireland. St. Patrick’s can be considered a sort of Irish cultural celebration, with participants in the festivities sporting shamrocks and the colour green, enjoying traditional Irish food and beverage, and getting together with friends and family. For a holiday with roots in the great nation of Ireland, the widespread sphere of celebrations for St Patrick’s Day are quite the phenomenon. Specifically, amongst university students, St. Patrick’s Day has become a weekend of celebration and festivity. Cities across the world can expect a plethora of parades, parties, and pots of gold this weekend.
Given Scotland’s close proximity to Ireland, there is no doubt that the St Andrews community can expect a number of students jetting off to carry on St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the one and only Dublin, Ireland. In fact, celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin is an all-weekend event full of festivals, parades, live performances, and more. Guests in Dublin over the weekend will be met with displays of traditional Irish dancing, music, and celebration. Navigating an event like this in Ireland’s capital, however, is no easy feat. One who chooses to spend St Patrick’s Day in Dublin can expect to be met with large crowds of people from all around the world at every turn. In fact, every year over 100,000 people make their way to Dublin to celebrate St Patrick’s Day weekend, making March one of the busiest times to visit the city of Dublin. It is no wonder, then, that so many of our own St Andrews community make their way across the Irish Sea to join in the celebration.
 
<figure id="attachment_16642" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-16642" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-16642 size-full" src="https://i1.wp.com/thestand-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/5581471178_efb720483c_b.jpg?resize=640%2C427&ssl=1" alt="" width="640" height="427" data-recalc-dims="1" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-16642" class="wp-caption-text">Credit: Creative Commons License.</figcaption></figure>
If we shift back across the Irish Sea for a moment, we can explore plenty of festivities to be found right here in Scotland this St Patrick’s Day weekend. Albeit not quite the Emerald Isle, events hosted throughout Scotland are guaranteed to be a good time. One of the quintessential experiences of St. Patrick’s Day in Scotland is undoubtedly the pub scene. Traditional Irish music fills the air, courtesy of talented musicians who bring the soul-stirring melodies of the Emerald Isle to the heart of Scotland. In the city of Edinburgh, guests this St Patrick’s Day can look forward to an all-day celebration at The Three Sisters, one of the most famous pubs in the city. The event, hosted from 8am to 3am, boasts delicious food, live musicians, karaoke and surprise guest performances for ticket holders to enjoy. As for Glasgow, visitors and locals of the city this weekend can look forward to performances from Irish singers at the Glasgow Concert Hall, good times at Glasgow’s very own Celtic Park for their St Patrick’s Day celebration, or even the Glasgow St Patrick’s Festival Family Fun Day right in Merchant Square. Undoubtedly, those spending St Patrick’s Day in these major Scottish cities are guaranteed to share a bit of the luck of the Irish this weekend.
 
<figure id="attachment_16644" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-16644" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-16644" src="https://i1.wp.com/thestand-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/4445918701_88ef7745e2_b.jpg?resize=640%2C429&ssl=1" alt="" width="640" height="429" data-recalc-dims="1" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-16644" class="wp-caption-text">Credit: Creative Commons License.</figcaption></figure>
Within our very own St Andrews community, students can expect shamrocks, Guinness, and rainbows right here in our seaside town. This St Patrick’s Day, The Student Union is hosting one of the largest St. Patrick’s Day events St Andrews has ever seen! Beginning at noon, the union excites attendees with promises of St. Patrick’s Day menus, live music, pub quizzes, karaoke, photo booths, face painting, and more! In collaboration with the Irish Society, this all-day event is bringing Irish festivities to life right in our very own union. Alternatively, St. Patrick’s Day is also being celebrated across the street at The Vic, with live music and two different DJs gracing the scene this Sunday. Wherever you choose to spend St. Patrick’s Day in St Andrews this summer, there is certainly no shortage of festivities.
Whether you find yourself savoring a pint of Guinness in a bustling pub or dancing the night away in our own Student Union, St. Patrick’s Day in Scotland is an experience that captures the spirit of Celtic hospitality and camaraderie. So, raise a glass, wear your finest green attire, and join in the celebration of Scotch and shamrocks in the land where Celtic traditions thrive.
The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thestand-online.com/2024/03/20/from-tartan-to-shamrocks-celebrating-st-patricks-day-in-scotland/">From Tartan to Shamrocks: Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in Scotland</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thestand-online.com">THE STAND</a>.
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<title>Faustus Might Be Doomed, But ‘Doctor Faustus’ Is a Winner</title>
<link>https://thestand-online.com/2024/03/13/faustus-might-be-doomed-but-doctor-faustus-is-a-winner/</link>
<comments>https://thestand-online.com/2024/03/13/faustus-might-be-doomed-but-doctor-faustus-is-a-winner/#comments</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Events Editor]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Wed, 13 Mar 2024 12:09:34 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[ByStander]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Byre Theatre]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Callisto Lodwick]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Doctor Faustus]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Mermaids]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Review]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[St Andrews]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Theatre]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[UK]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[university]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thestand-online.com/?p=16613</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Callisto reviews the Mermaids production of Doctor Faustus.
The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thestand-online.com/2024/03/13/faustus-might-be-doomed-but-doctor-faustus-is-a-winner/">Faustus Might Be Doomed, But ‘Doctor Faustus’ Is a Winner</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thestand-online.com">THE STAND</a>.
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A very special surprise awaits the audience at the end of Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus. As the unfortunate titular character is dragged across the stage to his doom, the curtain rises to reveal a full choir, bedecked in robes, providing a dramatic soundtrack to the beginning of Faustus’ eternity. This surprise –which the author takes no qualms in spoiling due to the unfortunate tardiness of her review (blame deadlines) – caps off a play that is equal parts enthralling and electric, even if it comes swathed in somewhat kitschy costuming. The leading lady’s talent plays no small part in this reaction. This Faust is firmly a one-woman show.
Faustus hooks the audience from the curtain, entirely thanks to the talents of Lexie Dykes as Faustus. Her charisma is infectious as she pores over books, slumps in armchairs, and eventually summons a demon. Her charm necessitates Callum Wardman-Browne’s Mephistopheles to remain suave and sullen for contrast – though such is perhaps appropriate for a demon. Either way, Mephistopheles remains firmly in the shadows thanks to Dykes’ magnetic performance: she even outshines the supporting casts’ individual scenes as comic relief (though they are still very funny). Faustus’ ungodly-aided antics around the courts of Europe are one of the highlights of the play, showcasing the mischievousness and childlike joy the thought of absolute power bestows upon a person. Dykes’ Faustus doesn’t seem to comprehend the consequences of their actions until the final scenes of the play – yet even then her tearful final monologue kept the audience rooted to their seats.
Her other great scenes allow the supporting cast to shine in their roles as the Seven Deadly Sins and Lucifer himself. There is a particularly excellent sequence where the Sins approach Faustus one by one: each is uniquely blocked and costumed to be as terrifying as possible. It is easily the standout moment for a cast whose other roles consist of foppish courtiers and bumbling clowns – they play this menagerie well enough, but nothing is particularly worth mentioning. Instead, their appearance as personifications of vice allow both the actors and the director to stretch their creative muscles — and that’s without mentioning Laura Bennie’s appearance as Lucifer. He and Mephistopheles make a striking pair, clad head-to-toe in blood-red gowns. Bennie, however, is more gleefully sadistic than Mephistopheles ever manages, and thus provides an attractive foil for Faustus.
It is a shame, then, that the cast spend most of their time as faceless demons, clad in paper-mâché masks that unfortunately resemble a ten-year-old’s rushed Halloween costume. The blank faces are meant to instill fear and unease, but instead they’re just eye-rollingly ridiculous. Hiding the actors’ faces does the show more harm than good, and renders the opening scene – a neatly choreographed chant – more ridiculous than anything. It is a shame, because the blocking for these demon scenes is excellent, and the actors have the potential to deliver memorable performances as the hellspawn, as the Sins scene deftly demonstrates. Nor does it help that the luminescent tape that the masks sport – an addition that may have made them striking instead of silly – is difficult to see, an issue perhaps down to lack of supply, or the actors simply not finding their light.
Yet a few unfortunate costuming choices doesn’t detract from the power of the piece. With an outstanding lead and a strong supporting cast, along with brilliant choreography, Faustus is one of the great successes of Mermaid’s 2024 spring season. It doesn’t matter that the set is basic, or some costumes are a bit laughable, when the joy, the triumph, the pride, the fall, and the grief of a man is laid so bare onstage – something remarkably human, despite the demons that swirl about. Doctor Faustus’s actors, especially its lead, render it nothing if not gripping. In a world of internet-induced thirty-second attention spans, that may be the greatest accolade a review can give.
The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thestand-online.com/2024/03/13/faustus-might-be-doomed-but-doctor-faustus-is-a-winner/">Faustus Might Be Doomed, But ‘Doctor Faustus’ Is a Winner</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thestand-online.com">THE STAND</a>.
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<title>Rebecca, Homelessness and Fame</title>
<link>https://thestand-online.com/2024/03/12/rebecca-homelessness-and-the-fame/</link>
<comments>https://thestand-online.com/2024/03/12/rebecca-homelessness-and-the-fame/#comments</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Features Editor]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 12 Mar 2024 11:45:42 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[ByStander]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[UnderStand]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[addiction]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Celebrity]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[drugs]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[fame]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[homeless]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[immigration]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[LA]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[rebecca]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[skid row]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Social Media]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[soft white underbelly]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[transgender]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[trauma]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[YouTube]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thestand-online.com/?p=16620</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Charlotte discusses Rebecca, a transgender homeless drug addict and internet celebrity, and the problems with her fame.
The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thestand-online.com/2024/03/12/rebecca-homelessness-and-the-fame/">Rebecca, Homelessness and Fame</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thestand-online.com">THE STAND</a>.
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A few months ago I came across a YouTube channel called Soft White Underbelly. This channel was created by a photographer called Mark Laita, and is self-described as portraying “interviews and portraits of the human condition”. These interviews are mostly with those generally considered outcasts of society – drug dealers, homeless people, murderers, addicts, prostitutes and more. The videos mostly take place in his studio in LA where the interviewee sits in front of a plain background, facing the camera and tells their story, spurred on by Laita’s questions. The channel is very successful, with 5.33 million subscribers currently as I write this and a collective 1 billion views. I entirely understand the allure of his channel; it’s absolutely fascinating and I was immediately riveted by these interviewees and their life stories.
A large proportion of the people Laita interviews are homeless people from Skid Row in Los Angeles. Laita has spent so much time in that area of the city that he is known on those lawless streets. I had a very limited understanding of the homelessness issue in LA but the Soft White Underbelly provided a great deal of insight into that area, the people living there and their circumstances. 
Laita, when interviewed by Youtuber Peter Santenello in his 2022 video “Inside Skid Row – With Soft White Underbelly’s Mark Laita <img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/1f1fa-1f1f8.png" alt="🇺🇸" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />”, gives his impression of the type of people typically found on Skid Row. He explains how the majority there have severe mental health issues caused by trauma (mostly from childhood) that is treated through drug use. The nature of homelessness in LA seems particularly unique. Because of the extreme wealth disparity, you can often find the homeless dressed in designer clothing because of either donations from the rich or dumpster diving. Alluring factors like climate and the vast size of the homeless community mean it is common for homeless people across the country to migrate to LA and settle on those streets rather than the colder, harsher streets of Chicago or New York City. The city officials are entirely aware of the severity of the homelessness issue in LA and so there are missions to help house them, yet Laita explains that this does not solve the problem. There are deeper issues that are much harder to fix than simply putting a roof over people’s heads – this merely provides a surface-level solution to the literal homeless problem, without addressing the reasons why these people are homeless.
 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-16624 size-full" src="https://i2.wp.com/thestand-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-11-at-23.23.41-1.png?resize=640%2C413&ssl=1" alt="" width="640" height="413" data-recalc-dims="1" />
 
Laita’s perspective on why people lead this lifestyle is particularly interesting because of how contradictory he appears. There is a state of dejectedness when he says “I think it’s a waste of money, ultimately, because if you wanna make a difference is to think long term. Maybe help their kids or their kids’ kids” and “I don’t think that trying to fix all these poor broken people on the streets is going to amount to any good”. This is because “a lot of people are addicted to the streets, they love it down here”. The lack of responsibility is “attractive, it’s the freedom” to not need to play the role that everyone in civilised society must play: the role of man, woman, husband, wife, an employee, an employer, a homeowner, a hard worker, a contributor, a conformer. It could be argued whether there is cynicism or realism in Laita’s belief that ultimately there are those who will and won’t succeed in life, regardless of intervention, that expresses an inevitability to homelessness, to those living in poverty with addiction and mental health issues on Skid Row. Yet despite all this, Laita describes himself as “eternally hopeful”, and it is this hope that spurs him to spend all the money he makes from the Soft White Underbelly on helping the people he interviews, even when he knows it’s a “waste of money”. As such, we come on to arguably his most popular interviewee, Rebecca.
It is Rebecca, whom Laita has consistently interviewed since March 2020, who drew me into this channel. The titles of his videos were enough to pique my interest: “Homeless Transgender Woman Interview”. As a young, trans woman of colour with drug and mental health issues, Rebecca hits the jackpot in the identity politics hierarchy of oppression. Moreover, she encapsulates the homeless scene in LA, possessing a Hollywood glamour and all the allure of a star despite her atrocious living situation.
 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-16626 size-full" src="https://i2.wp.com/thestand-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-11-at-23.24.36.png?resize=640%2C504&ssl=1" alt="" width="640" height="504" data-recalc-dims="1" />
 
In Laita’s first interview with Rebecca, audiences are introduced to a trans woman wearing a big blonde long hair wig that’s very tangled and messy (she says she found it in the trash, like almost all that we see her to wear), alongside a bold red lip and bangle on her wrist. Information about her past is not entirely reliable as Rebecca’s stories change from video to video, but it generally can be discerned that she is from Egypt originally and was born in 1997. She has been living on the streets since she was 16, she grew up somewhat within the foster system and has highly complicated relationships with her parents. She mentions having lived in various cities from London, Paris, New York and now LA and her drug of choice is MDMA. When asked how she makes money to live, she says sometimes sex work, sometimes modelling gigs and sometimes panhandling.
The Rebecca we first meet is very nonchalant about everything. She insists on her youth as a justification for her lifestyle, declaring “I wanna have fun”, “I have two good years of fresh young blood in me” and “I’m young and wild and free” currently and she will later, once older, get a job and move to the suburbs and be boring. This attitude, when taken out of context, is not unfamiliar in society. Typically, we assign our youth as the time in which to go crazy, try everything, drink, party, go wild. But there is a time limit for how long this is socially acceptable. There is an expectation that once you reach a certain age, you must give that life up and settle into the humdrum of adult life. Rebecca is not crazy for having this mentality, yet one may argue she takes this life mantra to the extreme. It is clear that this life is not as great as she makes it out to be – she casually brushes off “[if] you get raped, you get raped” to which Laita asks “You’ve been raped before?”. Her response of “Why not? Yeah, sure. I’m not a victim, people get raped” is so indifferent to this pain (Rebecca repeatedly says how much she hates pain) that one can easily tell her drug taking and lifestyle is a numbing agent, a distraction from the pain she has from severely traumatic experiences.
 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-16628 size-full" src="https://i1.wp.com/thestand-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-11-at-23.25.19.png?resize=640%2C386&ssl=1" alt="" width="640" height="386" data-recalc-dims="1" />
 
In this first video, Rebecca is quite calm and normal in her speech, comprehensible and easy to talk to. This is not always the case in Laita’s videos. Because Laita has now over thirty videos talking to Rebecca over a four-year period, audiences get to see all facets of this woman. She varies in her level of sobriety throughout, constantly fluctuating between fairly cognizant and entirely incomprehensible and disturbing. When at her worst, Rebecca is very jittery, emaciated, gruff looking with red bloodshot eyes, chapped lips, black feet from walking barefoot everywhere, she is constantly moving, with her limbs flailing about uncontrollably and her speech is fast and slurred. She has little awareness of her surroundings, is unable to answer Laita’s questions, drooling, her genitals are exposed (Laita censors this) and she just constantly adjusts her outfit or incessantly rubs her feet, which are causing her great pain. These videos are really difficult to watch. Laita struggles to talk to her in this state, always repeating his line “You have so much potential”. They are often followed by Rebecca the following day when she has mellowed out a bit, still jittery and difficult to talk to, but at least not so hyper. As she calms down, she becomes sadder, more contemplative and often disinterested in speaking, which she apologises to Laita for. She’s aware of the responsibility she now holds to be an interviewee for Laita’s videos and it is not always easy to tell if she is sorry for her behaviour when ridiculously high or if she is sorry for ruining Laita’s ‘content’ on Youtube.
Over the past four years, Rebecca has garnered a fan base. She has charmed many, including Laita, with her excitability, her aura, her glamour, her intelligence and insight into fashion, gender identity, art and life in general. A typical comment one might find under one of her videos is “she has SUCH a tortured but beautiful soul”. Concerningly, it very much feels like people have started to project onto Rebecca, painting her to be a sort of manic pixie dream girl. And as much as it is clear that Laita does really care for her and try to help her, he encourages this flattening of herself in his statements like “I just see you as an interesting creature”. There is a disturbing element of voyeurism that I cannot avoid acknowledging with regards to this parasocial relationship that many, including myself, have developed with Rebecca. One can watch a video of Rebecca flailing about on a pavement in LA out of her mind, and then simply turn off their electronic device and continue with live their lives, go to their jobs, be with their families, sleep in a bed under a roof with heating. Rebecca does not have that option and the hundreds of thousands of people who watch her videos are essentially just watching ‘content’ on social media. Rebecca is, in many ways, now an influencer.
 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-16629 size-full" src="https://i0.wp.com/thestand-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-11-at-23.37.02.png?resize=640%2C367&ssl=1" alt="" width="640" height="367" data-recalc-dims="1" />
 
The strict line between watching Rebecca through a screen and reality does blur. There are numerous comments like “Mark! I bought Rebecca a meal at a taco truck downtown on Saturday night 12/18. She seemed pretty out of it but was as sweet as ever. I reminded her how loved she is and how many thousands of people are wishing her well” and “I have come and checked for Rebecca everyday. I was recently in LA and looking for her”. Her audience are seeking her out the same way paparazzi stalk traditional celebrities – at least she often gets a meal out of it. And Rebecca reads the comments and watches herself back on Laita’s videos, in fact Laita gets her to read them out in one of the most recent videos. She said there “was like the same old pity, which I don’t mind”, not wanting to sound rude to her fans, but suggesting “it’s more proactive to be like ‘hey, how about I help you with your clothes or whatever’”. The repetitive insistence on Rebecca’s potential that comes from Laita and the comments section feels futile, especially as these random strangers on the internet slowly grow entitled and hold expectations of Rebecca.
Viewers noticing the discrepancies in the stories Rebecca tells often do not appreciate the lying, but as one comment says, “Whether these people’s stories are ‘real’ or not doesn’t matter. These ppl don’t owe us the truth or anything really. What they choose to tell use is what we get and is still part of their story.” Unfortunately, the majority of commenters fail to understand this, and their parasocial relationship with Rebecca seems recently to have backfired. Whilst videos depicting Rebecca extremely high in the past have stirred pity, the most recent videos of Rebecca in a similar state has seen lots of her audience turn against her.
One Redditor says “She used to be interesting to listen to, but it has become progressively more and more draining and frustrating to listen to her.” In January of this year, a video of Laita’s in which Rebecca is particularly high and agitated because of concerns around immigration and deportation has garnered a lot of ridiculous complaints such as “I have followed Rebecca’s story from the beginning. However, I believe this video is the last I’ll watch of hers. It seems she feels entitled and expects Mark’s help, rather than appreciates it anymore.” There has been full transparency from the beginning that Rebecca is mentally ill and a drug addict. How on earth can a stranger impose expectations onto Rebecca, a woman under a great deal of stress out of fears of deportation (Egypt does not treat transgender women very nicely) to be a bit more polite? Despite spending so much time investing in Rebecca’s story and her life, there still seems to be a great deal of obliviousness to the cruel and ugly nature of addiction. When Rebecca is rolling around on the streets singing to herself, she is a sweet and tortured soul. But when she shows her pain and anger and stress, she is not a good person and therefore not deserving of love and support anymore. It’s quite disgusting how a good chunk of Laita’s audience fail to recognise their own entitlement in their treatment of Rebecca. She is not just a freak to watch from afar in horror and awe, this is a human being stuck in an awful cycle struggling to get by.
 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-16631 size-full" src="https://i0.wp.com/thestand-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-11-at-23.41.02.png?resize=640%2C361&ssl=1" alt="" width="640" height="361" data-recalc-dims="1" />
 
The relationship between Rebecca and Laita is quite significant regarding this disconnect with audiences. It is apparent that a genuine love has developed between the two; both joke about Laita being her sugar daddy as he frequently picks her up off the streets of Skid Row in his Jaguar and drives her away, the passenger window down so she can shout to those left behind “told you I was rich, bitch!” He tells her he appreciates how she doesn’t hassle him for money the way most people on Skid Row do – she is better than the rest because she accepts her scarcity and does not beg for more. That being said, as the videos progress, we frequently see Laita buying her hotel rooms and mobile phones to sort herself out, all quick fixes that amount to little as she always ‘loses’ the phones and rarely stays in the hotels. He repeats “I’d love to see you realise some of your potential” and offers to help her do so but, significantly, he rejects or dismisses a key part of her identity: her transgenderism.
Rebecca has made clear in so many videos that “I just wanna be a woman, goddammit.” Her gender dysmorphia is not aided by the fact that her financial positioning prevents her from making cosmetic changes to her appearance that will give her a more feminine look; for example, we frequently see Rebecca with a full beard because she cannot shave when living on the streets, never mind wear makeup. And as much as Laita expresses love and care for Rebecca, he is not convinced by her female identity. Whenever this comes up in conversation, Laita questions Rebecca’s belief that “what’s in my way is not being a woman.” He says “I have a hard time understanding that whole mindset you’re in […] I don’t know what this whole lifestyle’s about, it’s all confusing to me.” Slightly odd how a man who spends much of his time with homeless drug addicts is struggling to understand the lifestyle of someone who is trans. When Rebecca says “I’m not a man,” Laita retorts “I’ve seen what’s between your legs, you’re a man”. As empathetic as he seems, there is a blatant disregard for the degree of distress Rebecca’s inability to embody her true gender creates. He seems to see Rebecca’s transgenderism as a symptom of her lifestyle, saying she has a lot of potential “but by wearing a wig and demanding that you need to be a woman and doing so many drugs,” as if her desire to be a woman is comparable to her drug addiction. Laita thinks that Rebecca will no longer believe herself to be trans once she becomes more mentally stable. I find it really disturbing to watch him speak like this to her, one of the few people in Rebecca’s life who is actively trying to help her and whom she cares about is so blatantly blind to her gender, which is such a fundamental part of her identity. The earlier videos released on Laita’s channel often describe her as “a cross dressing young man”, despite Rebecca stating herself in those videos that she is a woman. Laita’s own heteronormative biases as a straight man become glaring when he suggests Rebecca just dress up other women rather than dress up as one herself, or describes Rebecca as such a “handsome man”. It’s just disrespectful, and this dismissal of her trans identity fails to understand the plight of trans people in relation to homelessness.
 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-16633 size-full" src="https://i0.wp.com/thestand-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-11-at-23.25.43.png?resize=640%2C360&ssl=1" alt="" width="640" height="360" data-recalc-dims="1" />
 
According to End Homelessness, the number of trans individuals experiencing homelessness has increased by 57% since 2017. The charity Crisis say that 25% of trans people have experienced homelessness at some point and 77% of LGBT youth stated “family rejection, abuse or being asked to leave home” as the cause of their homelessness. A study was taken by the National Library of Medicine in the US called ‘Substance Use in the Transgender Population: A Meta-Analysis’ in which results showed the risk of physical and sexual victimisation in the trans population as higher than the cis population, alongside a lack of legal protection which makes trans people especially vulnerable and therefore they have a higher risk of consuming substances like drugs and alcohol. The higher prevalence of substance abuse amongst the trans community comes from an “emotional regulation or maladaptive coping mechanism to deal with traumatic experiences,” particularly amongst transgender women. Furthermore, compared to the cisgender population, trans youth are more likely to have been victims of child abuse, something which Rebecca discloses in her interviews as being the case in her own childhood.
All of this information shows how fundamental Rebecca’s transgenderism is to her identity, her mental distress and her lifestyle. A trans woman from a Muslim background, who has spoken about her difficult childhood in snippets, now living on the streets and addicted to drugs, not just avoiding the responsibilities of society but also the severe trauma of her past and present life. She is not in the body she believes she belongs in. She says she hates her penis. She frequently asks Laita to choose between famous women: Marilyn Monroe or Jackie Kennedy, Naomi Campbell or Kate Moss, Mary Kate or Ashley Olsen. He often has no opinion sees this is as just a part of Rebecca’s quirkiness. She loves pop culture and women. But really this comparing and differentiating of women, often seen as opposites or two sides of the same coin, shows a desperation to categorise femininity in order for Rebecca to identify her own femininity and place within the canon of iconic women. Is she more of a Marilyn or a Jackie? What kind of woman does she want to be, does she see herself as? Rebecca’s gender identity permeates her entire existence. This severe discomfort in one’s own skin has seen her intoxicate herself to escape that feeling of displacement within. This is so crucial to understanding Rebecca and why she is where she is and yet Laita never gives this the attention it deserves. Laita dismisses Rebecca’s need for gender reassignment surgery as just a part of her messiness, the same way her desire for drugs is messy and irresponsible.
By elevating Rebecca to a mythical creature to be fascinated by, removed from her gender identity, Laita and many viewers will never be capable of seeing Rebecca as a real, multifaceted person. She is just an image on the screen for most people. When we finish watching these videos, feeling sorry for Rebecca, we make no active changes in our own lives to help people like Rebecca. There are millions of Rebeccas everywhere and yet they all are ignored on the streets. They are real and their freakiness is not appealing. But when we have our screens, they are no longer real and we can enjoy the freaks. The people who failed to do The Thing. Be upstanding citizens in society, follow the rules, live the way we were all told to live.
I truly hope Rebecca gets the help she needs. While Laita is not perfect, he is trying and I do appreciate that. His videos have made me so much more aware of the lives of the ultimate outcasts, the homeless. I only ask that people stop romanticising this woman who is struggling and see her as a real human being.
The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thestand-online.com/2024/03/12/rebecca-homelessness-and-the-fame/">Rebecca, Homelessness and Fame</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thestand-online.com">THE STAND</a>.
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<item>
<title>Baller Gowns That Don’t Break the Bank</title>
<link>https://thestand-online.com/2024/03/11/baller-gowns-that-dont-break-the-bank/</link>
<comments>https://thestand-online.com/2024/03/11/baller-gowns-that-dont-break-the-bank/#comments</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Fashion]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 11 Mar 2024 13:12:59 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[StandOut]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[#galentines]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[ball]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[ball review]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Fashion]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[formalwear]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Valentine's]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thestand-online.com/?p=16588</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Vic gives the ultimate guide on what to wear during St. Andrews’ ball season.
The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thestand-online.com/2024/03/11/baller-gowns-that-dont-break-the-bank/">Baller Gowns That Don’t Break the Bank</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thestand-online.com">THE STAND</a>.
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="fb-root"></div>
Thanks to Ines Tramarin and the EmpowHER Galentines subcommittee’s genius, St. Andrews finally saw an all-female, all-pink ball last month – giving me the perfect opportunity to dissect the go-to ball gown bazaars of St. Andrews. As someone on a uni-student budget but also planning on attending entirely too many balls this upcoming semester, diversifying my wardrobe for every occasion has become somewhat of an impossible feat. Consequently, I’ve been on the seemingly never-ending lookout for cheaper places to buy ball-appropriate attire, and now, I’ve done my research. I spent all too much of EmpowHER’s Galentines Ball drunkenly interviewing girls on where they got their dresses (the most extroverted I’ve possibly ever been), and instead of the list remaining selfishly hidden within my notes app, I’ve decided to do the charitable thing and collate a list of the top shopped-at spots.
 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-16590 size-full" src="https://i2.wp.com/thestand-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-08-at-13.43.40.png?resize=640%2C425&ssl=1" alt="" width="640" height="425" data-recalc-dims="1" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-16591 size-full" src="https://i2.wp.com/thestand-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-08-at-13.43.54.png?resize=640%2C425&ssl=1" alt="" width="640" height="425" data-recalc-dims="1" />
Charity Shops
The leading provider for ball attire was, surprisingly, Save the Children. A hidden gem gracing Greyfriars Garden (the Spoiled Life Street), the charity shop dedicated an entire rack dedicated to red and pink formal wear during the week of Valentine’s day, most pieces on which boasted prices of less than £15. 
Another form of charity shop that cropped up a few times – where payment took the form of love and doing the dishes on occasion – was their mother’s closet. This was a personal favourite of mine, and perhaps a solution to those with suffering budgets and struggling with bouts of homesickness. It’s not the kind of vintage we see plastered over Depop pages, it’s real vintage. Clothes that have been well-worn, well-loved, and a few stories of their own stitched into the lining.
High-Street Brands
Uber-mentioned brands of the night included Zara and Urban outfitters, known for their sleek styles and student-led demographic. They’re not the cheapest options around, but tend to be reliable quality and relatively inventive in the fabrics and cuts on offer. Proceed with caution, though, as the popularity of Zara or Urban leave customers at high risk of unsuspected dress duplicates. Still, I’d always choose to consider it as affirmation of my superior dress sense.
Modest Fashion
For those whose style resides in modest fashion, look no further than ASOS. The most popular shop among the Hijabis I spoke to, it seemed to be at the perfect crossroads between affordability and quality – especially at a time where many styles trend towards showing more skin.
 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-16592 size-full" src="https://i1.wp.com/thestand-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-08-at-13.44.12.png?resize=640%2C421&ssl=1" alt="" width="640" height="421" data-recalc-dims="1" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-16593 size-full" src="https://i0.wp.com/thestand-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-08-at-13.44.28.png?resize=640%2C451&ssl=1" alt="" width="640" height="451" data-recalc-dims="1" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-16594 size-full" src="https://i1.wp.com/thestand-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-08-at-13.44.50.png?resize=640%2C415&ssl=1" alt="" width="640" height="415" data-recalc-dims="1" />
 
Shorter dresses
On the flip side, for those looking to show off freshly-shaven legs, Vinted seems the place to be. The untainted version of Depop and Ebay’s proverbial granddaughter, it seems you can still find good deals and great dresses without too many hours spent searching. The key is to know what you’re looking for before you start looking – start your search through friends or on Tiktok, gather your brand names, and then start searching. 
Suit yourself
A personal favourite of mine, but one which was a rare occurrence at the Galentines Ball, is the suit. Brands for all budgets – H&M, Arket, Alchemy London to name a few – all cater towards this more masculine take of female formal wear. Trend like these trigger other conversations, and ones which I think are long overdue in places like St. Andrews. At smaller, intimate balls such as EmpowHer’s, spaces have been created where there’s wider freedom of fashion. Hopefully, more and more people will be encouraged to take further steps into uncommon forms of formal wear, or even perhaps more traditional and cultural takes. The only judgement in the room that night I felt was because I didn’t know the lyrics to Taylor Swift’s All Too Well (10 minute Version).
 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-16595 size-full" src="https://i0.wp.com/thestand-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-08-at-13.45.07.png?resize=640%2C460&ssl=1" alt="" width="640" height="460" data-recalc-dims="1" /> 

I hope that this list helps shorten the struggle to find ball-appropriate attire that we all tend to leave until the last minute. It’s important to remember that although balls come with a lot of expectations and anxiety, erring on the side of comfort and confidence is always the best option. But as The Saint’s Leo Berenson said, if the question is “to serve or not to serve” – there’s only one thing to do.
 
Photography by Tala Mencej and Hanna Sabu.
The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thestand-online.com/2024/03/11/baller-gowns-that-dont-break-the-bank/">Baller Gowns That Don’t Break the Bank</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thestand-online.com">THE STAND</a>.
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