What bits to buy for a “posher” uni on a budget?

[EachandEveryone]

The one that the royals favour up North of the border. We aren’t their level of poshness infact we are very ordinary. No one has been to a ball. We are over the moon that niece is going. What can U buy her will it all be labels like North Face for hiking and where does one get a ball gown on the cheap from? She said she won’t be going to any balls but it’s always nice to have a good frock for best isn’t it?😀

@RooniIWazlib St Andrews is fifty miles from Edinburgh! Luckily there are some shops in Dundee, which is only 13 miles away.

Get some second hand dubarry boots from eBay. She can wear them with most things

And a second hand Barbour jacket. Waxed

Shes getting doc martin boots you cant tell her anything but i will get some proper socks.

That's a really lovely idea.

I would clear of North Face - it's code for drug dealer where I live.

Depends on her course but a smart blazer if she the course will involve making regular presentations, a good warm jumper or a nice blazer.

Would you consider asking her what she would like or even asking her if she'll let you know what she would like once she's been there a few weeks?

I was there doing a postgrad at the same time as Wills and Kate. It didn't occur to me to be much interested in Wills (Kate wasn't really known then) but I did find it very posh, and I grew up in Surrey. I remember a lot of the girls wearing pashminas, which I thought was very odd for students.

That said, I would totally second the fact that the main need is for a very, very warm coat.

Ooh, blazer is a good idea.

Or a decent pair of flat boots maybe?

Meh, if she has a full spare day she can have a nice day out in Edinburgh. I didn't really want to recommend Dundee.

Plenty of the usual chains + TKMaxx in Dundee, no need to traipse to Edinburgh, especially as more and more StAndresz students are being housed in Dundee due to the worsening student accommodation situation.
DS2 has just graduated and we live not far away so have visited a lot.
Very varied dress styles, sporty, scruffy, "dark academia", posh. DS2 wears something called "Gorp core" according to DS3, I think it means he dresses mostly in outdoor gear and boots.

Yes I can easily wait until she starts. Two weeks from results day its crazy!

EBay. I got a Roland Mouret dress for under £50 this week.

Fieldwork - some good lightweight Goretex walking boots will be useful.

Totally this. There are lots of 'regular' folk there too and the yahs all dress the same! We used to borrow and share ball dresses, a good aran jumper, lipstick and a pair of DMs and she'll be perfect!

Not to derail thread, but may I ask why?

Get her some nice merino wool base layers. I can't recommend a brand. I get my from Aldi when they come in!

I went to Oxbridge and got my ball gowns either from Quiz or Asos

I got my first evening dress from a charity shop. Many students do this, from all backgrounds.

There's nothing wrong with Dundee, it's just a bit ordinary, with a few nice features and the odd sketchy character (like most Scottish towns that aren't Edinburgh)

She should wear what she will normally wear. My DN graduated from there recently, the posh kids don't mix with the plebs (us) at all. They can tell others from their social group a mile off and will avoid everyone else. Don't bother trying to fit in with them.

What's all the cloak and dagger stuff? Are you referring to St Andrews? Can't you just buy her something that you'd buy your average 18 year old?

Thermals, hat, gloves.

Why aren't you naming the university?

They'll be students from a mix of backgrounds. Maybe gift her an Amazon voucher so she can buy the things she didn't know she needed/wanted.

Put some money in her bank account so she can choose once she figures out what she needs.

My dd and dniece are same size and used their prom dresses and shoes for first ball then swapped with each other for second ball. Neither at St Andrews though. Later they shared maternity clothes too. They have always been really close.