After a year of hard work, essays, and exams, May Week is just around the corner. This stress-free and party-full celebration comes as a sigh of relief, until you remember the horrors of organising a May Ball outfit. If you’re somebody who has procrastinated outfit shopping until it was slightly too late, do not fear! We are here to give the rundown of this year’s Ball themes, suggesting what you could incorporate into your outfits to ensure you are serving high fashion whilst being tastefully on theme.
Tailcoats, bow ties, floor-length gowns and gloves are emblematic of the white tie dress code at Magdalene. With Magdalene being one of the only colleges that have a white tie dress code, alongside Peterhouse, it offers the chance to engage with a long Cambridge tradition of style which has been upheld since Magdalene’s first ball in 1911. White tie can be traced back to the end of the 19th century, when aristocrats and members of royalty used to wear it as a symbol of opulence at parties. It is the champion of formality, where attendees don wing collars and waistcoats. For those wearing dresses, a full-length gown paired with elegant jewellery and close-toed heels is ideal, while those wearing suits, shop for an evening tailcoat, black patent shoes and a white bow tie – optional accessories include a top hat and white pocket square. And don’t forget your gloves!
Branching out from tradition, ‘Odyssey of the Earth’ at Queens’ College encourages outfits that mirror the earthly sphere, focusing on the Earth’s history, evolution or geology. Within this theme there is a lot of scope for exploration and experimentation, whether you choose to embrace the greens attributed to the forests or countryside, or branch out to explore other biomes like the desert or rainforest with yellow, blues or multi-colours. Beyond expressing the natural world, there’s room to incorporate flora and fauna elements with a floral dress. Similarly, why not style as one of the elements that make up our world, and go for a flowy blue or white dress to imitate air? The world really is your oyster.
“There is a lot of scope for experimentation”
Homerton’s theme, ‘Luminara’, centres on light, luminescence and bioluminescence. However, there’s far more room for experimentation as the theme encompasses flowers, insects, and underwater too. Tumbling layers of flowing dress could gracefully mimic a bioluminescent jellyfish. Iridescent hues, deep blues, purples and greens would imitate the glow of bioluminescence, with metallics or reflective fabrics creating a shimmering, otherworldly effect. Sheer or glittering fabrics would play into the glowing effect desired. Accessorising with floral jewellery, shells, crystals or butterflies would make sure the theme is completely enwrapped within the outfit.
On a complete U-turn from the florals and pastels that appear to be inundating this year’s themes, Jesus has gone for something bright, bold and playful. Their Instagram exhibits an array of neon colours and vivid colours, which can be mimicked into a luminous dress, or a jazzy, flamboyant tie. With this boldness comes the potential to mess around with some fun sleeves, or dress length, or perhaps earrings which draw the attention completely upwards while the dress is more understated. Bold necklines could be the move, like a strong halter-neck to reflect the stand-out theme for this year.
“All dress is incomplete without a decorated mask”
Channelling Shakespeare, Downing’s theme, ‘Antony and Cleopatra’, encourages Grecian-inspired elements of dress, like a loose, draped neckline or a billowy shirt. Flowy, light and loose materials imitate the climate, while wearing colours like whites, creams, purples and golds would echo the dress of the play’s characters. If you know the play well, why not copy Cleopatra’s description as ‘marble constant’, with a marble-patterned, royal dress? Adding gold accessories like big belts and sashes or floral wreath headwear provide the icing on the cake to match the theme, and, paired with some smoky, thick eyeliner and blue eyeshadow, would perfectly imitate Elizabeth Taylor’s depiction of Cleopatra.
Drawing inspiration from one of the most vibrant and aesthetically intricate festivals in the world, Darwin has opted for ‘The Carnival of Venice’ as a theme, nodding specifically to its eighteenth century peak. Thus, the theme is ripe for extravagant interpretations, and leaves an exciting door open for suit-wearing guests, who could opt for embellished suit-jackets, adorned bow-ties or even eighteenth-century heeled footwear. Of course, all dress is incomplete without a decorated mask.
Pembroke’s theme, ‘Sub Rosa’, entices with secrecy, and a more abstract theme leaves much to interpretation. The committee have said Pembroke will transform into a “realm where mystery and splendor intertwine”. Your dress might take inspiration from roses, thorns and everything in between, and play with appearances and intrigue. Roses are both beautiful and harmful, so think black, red and purple, and perhaps make choices that are bold and enticing, or play with layered and tiered pieces to nod to this multifaceted and mysterious theme.
Finally, Corpus’ May Ball theme also leaves fertile ground for interpretation due to the vastness of the concept: ‘The Elements’. Think nature, the earth and the sky, think leaves and water and fire. Opting for block-coloured dresses and suits in theme with one of the elements is a subtle and classy way to bring the theme to your wardrobe. Alternatively, adorning oneself in bold floral print or abstract shapes of blue and green is a surefire way to bring high fashion to the ball, whilst staying firmly on theme.
Fashion Shoot Co-Ordinator: Holly Hardman
Photographers: Samuel Li and Ryan Teh
Models: Felix Armstrong, Zoë Brzakalik, Violette Chereau, Alara Nar Clayton, Taffy Dune, Sami Firdose, Chloe Hawryluk, Katie Marshall, Ria Patel, Maaria Rajput, Em Sparkes, Jessica Spearman, Ewan Woods
