Monday 2nd February 2026

Culture

Dressed the part: Dark academia at Oxford

The style of dark academia, while it helps us to ward off the worst of the seasonal chills, hints at the class politics underpinning the University.

Lighthouse Productions on ‘Lemons’

The team outlined the vision for their debut production: a political, surrealist piece of contemporary theatre.

Breaking free from the Pinterest board

Over the Christmas vac I was lucky enough to attend an exhibition on one of my favourite designers, Vivienne Westwood, at the National Gallery of Victoria.

In defence of the theatrical release

If film, like all art, nourishes itself on its own œuvre, I don’t think we can afford to sever the association between the cinema and the film.

The Oxford Fashion Gala is Back!

"After an incredible sold-out 2023 show, The Oxford Fashion Gala is back for 2024, so get the date in your diary (W3 TT24!)"

The Holy Trinity of women’s leg wear this summer

"In a moment of divine inspiration, I googled this years predicted fashion trends before I hit the January sales, in the hope that this year my outfits might be both cheap and trendy."

Poor Things – Fashion Deconstructed

"Disturbing and spirited, Poor Things unconventional story is truly supported by equally unconventional but meaningful designs."

Crafting Kingship: Hellenistic Royal Portraiture

"A standardised visual vocabulary of royal ideology represented by statues and coinage"

The Modern Corset

"Corsets boast a captivating history spanning centuries, originally worn to sculpt the female silhouette."

Saltburn: a Mid-Noughties Fashion Revival

"It seems necessary to dissect Fennell’s portrayal of noughties trends to see what deserves to return, and what ought to be left in the past."

Remembering Oxford: Memorialising “The City of Dreaming Spires”

"As I exit the library, it strikes me that in its memorials of people long deceased and its unchanging historical landscape, Oxford seems often at a standstill."

2023 Fashion: Wrapped

"As 2023 comes to a close, it’s time to reflect on and deconstruct the year’s most popular fashion trends."

As losses deepen, could this mark the death of ASOS?

In the ever-evolving realm of online fashion retail, ASOS once stood as a shining star - a household name which soared to success over...

Is Kylie Jenner’s khy aiming too high in the sky?

The youngest member of the Kardashian-Jenner clan recently came out with a new clothing line under the name of ‘khy’ towards the end of...

Fallen Angels? Investigating Victoria’s Secret’s redemption arc

Simultaneously iconic for its glorious displays and notorious for the impossible beauty standards it perpetuates, the Victoria Secret Fashion show was a cultural staple...

Can our individual habits solve the fast fashion problem?

​​It is no mystery that fast fashion is a Bad Thing. I’ve spent a lot of time in recent years thinking about fast fashion,...

The Unwritten (Until Now) Oxford Dress Code

Liberated from the constraints of school uniforms and dress codes, University is a wonderful time of fashion freedom. But this bewildering independence can be...

‘He eagerly played the lead guitar whilst simultaneously thrashing a piano chord with his foot’ – A review of Jacob Collier’s Bristol concert

'With at least 12 different musical instruments on stage, Collier tirelessly leapt from one instrument to another across the stage'

Harry Potter as Therapy

'I am 25 years old, and I have reread the Harry Potter books 10 times, but in this review I want to introduce you to something truly special'

“A Brilliant Balancing Act”: A Review of By Proxy

By Proxy is shocking, morally complicated, and will have you frustrated, yet empathetic towards both Kit and Jo. It is also hysterically funny, with witty dialogue and inside jokes that will appeal to the Oxford student. By Proxy is a brilliant balancing act that engages at every turn.

“A Joy to Watch”: A Review of ‘Window Seat’

The play is a joy to watch. Coleman always provides just enough detail in the dialogue to allow the audience to follow what is happening without making the relationship between the two characters seem overlaboured or mechanistic.

“Dreamlike and Wonderful”: A Review of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’

"All in all, a dream-like and wonderful way to spend the ‘three hours between our after-supper and bedtime’, in the words of Theseus himself."

How can we make the most of Oxford’s eight-week frenzy?

"We have found ourselves in a place where we are surrounded by tradition and glamour, yet we have no time to enjoy it."

Retelling the Immigrant Experience: A Review of ‘Xiao’

'Before us is a potted plant, a porcelain tea set, a dinner table, and a couple in embrace.'

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