Monday 9th June 2025

Culture

Common threads: Historical fashion and its lessons for our time

When we think of historical fashion, images of towering wigs, tight-laced corsets, heavy brocades and voluminous skirts often spring to mind – ornate, impractical, and rooted firmly in the unenlightened...

Food, fashion, and escapism in a cost of living crisis

Food costs have been front and centre in newsreels as of recent months, whether...

Oxford Fashion Gala’s ‘Metamorphosis’ reflects the beauty of change

The Oxford Fashion Gala was back and bigger than ever, with a larger venue,...

Tailoring expectations: Couture culture shocks

Academia has a historic relationship with fashion, both officially and unofficially. The former manifests...

“Hide the babies” – Review: Girls and Dolls

There’s been a recent uptick in global awareness of the history of Northern Ireland. We can trace it back, roughly, to 2018. That’s when Lisa McGee’s hit TV series Derry Girls, which chronicles the tribulations of growing up in Derry during the Troubles, arrived on screens worldwide; and just like that, Northern Ireland became the object of cultural fascination.

Disappointing and passionless: The Met Gala 2022 review

"More than half of the outfits could have been worn for any other red carpet or film premiere that year."

Oxford Fashion Gala Review

Anna Roberts shares her experience of participating in Oxford's first FADSOC x Industry fashion gala.

Dresse me my harpe

The speaker in Anna Cowan’s poem herself undertakes a myth-making activity in playing her harp. “It is time”, she declares, as she unshackles the...

“Strikingly modern” – Review: Twelfth Night at Waterperry Gardens

May McEvoy reviews Somerville College Drama Society and Sunday Productions' Twelfth Night.

“Inclusive and psychologically profound” – Review: Dracula

Sophie Magalhaes reviews Leah O'Grady's 'queer Dracula' at Michael Pilch Studio.

“Outside, in drag, covered in glitter”: Little Shop of Horrors comes to Oxford

Everybody better beware: Little Shop of Horrors has arrived in Oxford.  The wacky musical tells the story of a meek florist, Seymour Krelborn, who finds...

“Student drama done right” – Review: Much Ado About Nothing

"The production harnesses its idyllic, summery setting to explore the [...] ideals of love and courtship in a world dominated by gendered notions of how honour is achieved, and the use of deception as a means to an end."

Girls and Dolls: In conversation with A² Productions

"The popularity of Derry Girls [demonstrates] that shows like this, with a good balance of witty humour and colourful characters, family dynamics and psychological insights, are the perfect blend to watch."

Puzzles Answers TT22 Week 1

The answers for the puzzles in TT22 Week 1's edition

“Why am I the one on trial?” – Review: Prima Facie

"The woman who once vociferously defended the judicial system comes to the realisation that the concept of justice is merely an ideal, which in reality is often unattainable, especially for women."

Ismat Chughtai on Indian female experiences

The Quilt and Other Stories is a 1994 compilation of short stories by Ismat Chughtai (1915-1991), a prolific writer of 20th-century India. She occupied...

Summer 2022 Trend Predictions

Shoes - As someone who struggles to walk in anything with a smaller surface area than a block heel, I am pleased to report...

The Afterlife of a Ballgown

"More than anything else you might buy, a ballgown represents an odd intersection of disposability."

In conversation with Elaine Hsieh Chou

Sonya Ribner interviews author Elaine Hsieh Chou.

Puzzles Answers: TT22 Week 0

Here are the answers for the week 0 edition of Trinity term 2022. Medium Sudoku: Hard Sudoku: Cryptic Crossword: Pencil Puzzle - Marupeke: The answer for the Cherdle...

‘Beckett on speed’: In conversation with Nocturne Productions

"[...] they descend into paranoia, and carnage unfolds in a network of marvellously-layered backstabbing."

Battle of the vintage fashion eras

Cherwell's fashion editors explain why each of their favourite vintage fashion eras holds a special place in their hearts.

“My wardrobe is not the most cohesive”: Exploring non-binary fashion

Naomi Man explores the blurred lines and performative norms of self-expression in non-binary fashion.

Review – Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention

a review of the book 'Stolen Focus' by Johann Hari

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