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?😀

Also, re-purposing and recycling is where it's at with that generation. Think Depop and Vinted. St A's has some decent charity shops but the best ones are in Dundee, where they also have several social enterprise recycling/reusing shops - so you can learn how to up cycle

I recommend some decent thermals. Always useful.

In my day it was very very casual. The “posh” students wore their country clothes not city ones.
First balls won’t be till after reading week at least, probably later so can shop in the holidays. Most students in my day took their “prom” dress as one formal option.
Dundee for shopping but most don’t bother. Although my day was before the explosion in internet shopping so maybe they order online now?

I went to uni in Scotland but on the West. It was wetter but still pretty cold. Make sure she has a really good winter coat and boots plus things like merino tights and tops are useful (I had none of this!) A good woolly hat, giant scarf, gloves etc ?

My DD is about to go into her 3rd year. She is not remotely posh!! She has no ball gowns and wears a lot of black and has her trusty Doc Martens and Vans.

She has a waterproof coat, but she bought it at the mountain warehouse shop there.

@DaffodillSky definitely, and a normal choice for non-students too. I live in Scotland and wear my DMs more than any of my other boots. Perfectly warm and comfortable. Hiking boots for hiking but there’s no need to wear ‘country

I definitely, I've got lots of pairs including the ones I had at university. I graduated in 1997. And both my DD's have both shoes and boots. They both wore the shoes for the last few years at secondary school when their feet had stopped growing.

My oldest is going to university in September too but I'll never name it.

Congratulations to your niece- hope she has a great time. She doesn’t need “posh” clothes though and if she goes to a ball she might be better of choosing something for herself nearer the time. With that in mind, I think cash makes an excellent gift 😉.

Thanks. That’s just what I meant DM’s are fab and I wish I’d kept mine from the 90’s they would be lovely and worn in by now! They just aren’t the boots for doing what your husband does are they?

it’s not about telling her anything but more like letting her know how cold it is, how the terrain will be when she’s on field trips etc. she has that teenage thing about what’s cool and what’s not. So practical things are sniffed it. I’ve done it myself with winkle pickers in the 80’s how I suffer now with my deformed feet😀

I will just get her something online when she gets there and sees how it all is and finds out what she will be needing when that wind hits.

some people on here take things too literally it was just abit of fun. I didn’t want to say St Andrews as I didn’t want my sister or anyone outing me. It’s not like I was being vague about it!

I like Vinted or eBay for nice secondhand clothes from brands I would never afford. I know people have been scammed but it's fairly easy to spot the ridiculous prices vs the reasonable sellers who have a good rating.

DD is at a different uni but with lots of formal dinners and some balls.
She has kept her prom dresses (one was £25 on line and one was £50 from a high street shop) and reworn them. Her others have come from eBay and vinted and two from TKMaxx.
In terms of labels for other clothing that hasn't been mentioned - she wears mostly second hand stuff from eBay but not particular brands.

I live in the town and can say that she will need a warm coat and plenty of cosy jumpers. Apart from that anything goes. I am also a ( very mature) student at the university and and in and out of the library etc all the time. The students tend to dress very casually (leggings, jeans, hoodies) just like most students. Not all the balls require fancy frocks. Lots of students can be seen in short body con dresses from places like ASOS. Tell her not to worry about it.

I went to St Andrew's albeit before Kate & William.

It's not Downton Abbey. The hunting comment made me
Base layers, warm coat, hats and gloves. Needed anyone but definitely for field trips.
I'd buy her a warm blanket for her bed. The wind in winter is biting.

doc Martens are perfect, there's lots of walking from halls to lectures etc
Wouldn't bother with a ball dress yet, she's more likely to spend her time at the students union or in the pub. There are some balls throughout the year but she'll be able to get something in Edinburgh or Dundee if she needs to.

Lovely place. I had a terrific time there. Like all unis, everyone is different, lots of new opportunities and fun, tell her just to be herself.

I don't understand the requirement for 'posh' clothes.

She can't pretend to be someone she isn't just to fit it.
The best thing you can do is tell her to be herself, dress in whatever she feels comfortable in.
If you look around any university you will see a myriad of styles.
Your clothes do not define who you are.

If she needs practical clothes for field trips. Then good durable clothing. A reliable brand. Always go for a good base/thermal layer as it is super cold there in winter.

Look on eBay for RAB, Paramo, Patagonia etc. You can get some bargains.

Yes. And works in a garden centre. So I suspect she's not posh!

Hopefully she will just beable to get on with uni life without press intrusions

If she had a prom dress or formal dress for the end of secondary, that will do very nicely for a ball. Some of them are just glorified discos really. There are a lot of ceilidhs though, as the first part of a ball or as an event in themselves, so she might like to make sure she has a swingy skirt or dress (or at least one that isn't bodycon) and a pair of flattish, comfy shoes (or even trainers) for those. I got a tartan skirt from one of the charity shops for that purpose!

Thermal layers, hiking boots, decent waterproof for the field trips are a good idea. I would say absolutely prioritise the boots, and then good socks, and good gloves! I skimped on the gloves at first and regretted it. One good pair of each should have her sorted.

For in town, get a coat with a hood or a wooly hat. Don't bother fighting a brolly in the constant wind.

If she wants a gown, they have a practical if unpublished use as an extra blanket on top of the bed!

If she's planning to come home for reading week she will know better what extra bits she wants by then.

Congratultions to her, hope she has the time of her life. It's a wonderful place.

I'm on the St Andrews parent's Facebook page, so much angst on there from the parents of international students about clothing, first of all you'd think the uni was North of the Arctic Circle, yes it's a bit windy but is in the driest sunniest bit of Scotland, they also think everyone wears Barbour jackets and Hunter wellies. The desire to get the "right" brands of everything is cringy IMO.

Just give her money. If she’s bright enough to get into university, I’m sure she can dress herself.

This thread is hilarious.

I'm laughing at the bit about some students being too scared to go to Dundee. Wonder what terrified them the most? The ice cream shop next to the V&A? 🤣

Well I'm delighted to hear I dress like a drug dealer every time it rains. I can only assume the reason nobody has ever asked for anything is because I look too intimidating (or too much like I might know their mum?)

@Insertdeadcatsnamehere, I've been asked. Not in a 'posher' uni town and it wasn't raining.

I would give her some Patra silk long-sleeved thermal vests. Practical, lovely against the skin and they keep you warm without being bulky or sweaty.

The Patra ones aren't warm. Merino is much better.

She should just wait till she gets there and see what the weathers like and what everyone else is wearing that works well for the weather and then buy what she needs online