Before arriving in Cambridge, the formalwear gap in my wardrobe was hard to ignore. I knew that within two days of arrival matriculation would happen, and beyond learning the art of fine dining, the looming question of what to wear remained. Despite scouring some shops, the options were less than appealing and, more frustratingly, nothing quite seemed to fit the bill.

 "The options were less than appealing, and nothing quite seemed to fit the bill"

Re-use, re-wear, re-purpose

Second-hand clothes might be the answer here. While thrifting at charity shops and on Vinted remain popular options, it may be worth looking closer to home: the good ol’ hand-me-downs from elder siblings, cousins and family friends. Away from home, it’s easy to forget how valuable a source of second-hand clothes our families can be. Tucked away at the back of my wardrobe was a trove of my mum’s dresses in impeccable condition, waiting to be revived for a Cambridge occasion. While it was no Narnia, these clothes did act almost like a magical portal for me to see how she dressed for some of the most significant moments in her life.

There, I found dresses originally bought for weddings, birthdays and bridesmaid duties – all of which made a perfect match for the Cambridge formal. A deep wine-red velvet mini dress for matriculation; a crimson scoop-neck midi dress with a black ribbon for the merriness of Bridgemas; a classic black mini dress with lace sleeves for the family friends’ formal. Going to formals in her dresses gave me a connection to her despite being over 300 miles away from home. By re-purposing dresses from your mum, sister, or your aunt, you also get a glimpse into their memories as you create your own memories at formal events.

"If your mum has impeccable taste, the perfect formal fit might already be at home"

Attending the Fabricated formal as part of Churchill’s sewing society, I discovered that many of us were actually wearing dresses which had belonged to our mothers, or dresses found by our mothers. If your mum has impeccable taste, the perfect formal fit might already be at home, waiting for you to give it a second life! Fashion trends are cyclical, so styles never really go out of fashion, or certainly not for long. Particularly with formal wear, people often invest in high-quality pieces that end up being worn only a handful of times at special occasions. So why not give old clothes from family and friends a renewed sense of purpose and formality?

Rainy-day finds

Yet that is not to say there is never an opportunity to find something similar in the shops. Over the Easter holidays, I stumbled upon a brand called OMNES when seeking shelter from the rain. These dresses were precisely what I had been looking for in formal wear. The dresses had personality, silk and satin in a selection of shades from sage and blush pink to magenta and bright reds. And the brand’s key message is investing in quality and sustainability, wearing a dress for more than one single event before tiring of it. Investing in quality statement pieces for your formal wear might end up being more rewarding, either in the thrill of finding a bargain in a sale or adding some colour to your wardrobe as we approach the summer.

Superdry also proved unexpectedly fruitful. I had never imagined it would be the place to bridge the formalwear gap in my wardrobe, yet one of my all-time favourite dresses now is from there: a burgundy crushed velvet moment with a slit up the leg and sparkly silver straps. Sometimes, the best comes when you least expect it; you might find a dress that has everyone at the formal asking where you bought it, hidden among Superdry’s heavy-duty windbreakers and graphic T-shirts.

"Sometimes, the best comes when you least expect it"

Building a collection of formal dresses is a continuous process; there is always a new occasion, an event with a hyper-specific dress code to shop for – I know I’m not alone in having to procure a white dress for the marriage formal! But whether through repurposing a dress, or spending hours scrolling online – an excellent form of procrastination during exam season – the right outfit will eventually appear. Hidden gems tend to turn up when you least expect them to, but when you find a handful of pieces you truly love, it is enough to transform your formal wear. And with May Week approaching, formal dresses will soon be on everyone’s minds.

After a gruelling term of exams, what could bring more joy than the prospect of a final week of pure party bliss? Even if finding the perfect piece might seem more challenging than currently trying to find a seat in the library. Perhaps a fairy godmother is all you need to find your gown, someone with flawless taste. Your perfect dress might be closer to home than you would expect, or in the last place you would ever guess.