One thing I’m sure all Cambridge students can agree on is that tourists are incredibly annoying. Whether it’s them swarming your college entrance just as you’re running late to a supo, snapping random pictures of you shamelessly, or just generally getting in your way, every student has something to complain about regarding the crowds. Albeit irritating, these tourists are innocent at heart, often here just to admire the aesthetics of Cambridge – and the uncomfortable question is, how many students are here for just the same reason? 

 A curious phenomenon in the form of a strange alignment in clothing style can be observed within Sidgwick Site on any average day. Simply wandering around the corridors of lecture halls gives you a front row view of the unofficial yet nearly universal dress code of Cambridge students: academia. From long trench coats and artfully folded scarves to leather satchels, there is no denying that they have style. The mystery really lies in how much of it is a genuine expression of their style, and how much of it is constructed to conform to the surrounding environment, both physically and culturally. 

"How much of it is constructed to conform to the surrounding environment?"

This could sound ridiculous. Stupidly expensive clothes shops are embedded into this city like particularly attractive bear traps, and managing to afford them on student loans is simply unfathomable. But if there is one thing that I have discovered, it's to never underestimate the desire to conform to an attractive aesthetic – especially one so ingrained into the public consciousness! In a way, it seems that looking like a proper Cambridge student has become as important as actually being one. Students wish to move away from their drab, past selves and embrace the culture offered to them by this university - one of classy, intellectual privilege. What better way to show off this new transformation than through the art of the wardrobe? 

Then again, the student body wanting to curate their attire in this way is only natural. Overrun by historical buildings, cobbled streets, and a frankly ridiculous number of libraries, studying in Cambridge is a Pinterest board enthusiast's dream-come-true. Understandably, in a curated environment like this, no one wants to ruin a good picture with a school leaver's hoodie from 2022. 

Of course, the reason why people tend to apply to this university isn’t exactly a source of much debate. When most are asked why they accepted their offer, I’ve found their answer can generally be boiled down to “Well, it’s Cambridge”. As one of the most academically prestigious universities in the world, this question seems like a no-brainer. But as the 'academic aesthetic' grows in popularity, proliferated with social media’s far-reaching influence, I can’t help but wonder if people's motivation to apply for the University is moving away from the academic side, and towards the more aesthetic. 

"Is it the fashionable who make it to Cambridge, or Cambridge that makes the fashionable?"

After all, a love for the old, beautiful and mysterious is embedded within our culture, and to live in an area that encompasses those qualities is a reason to brag. With the perfect stage (Instagram) to show off your fashionable environment, a university that possesses all these attributes is more than attractive, regardless of its academic reputation. The fact that academic prestige and lavish occasions like May balls come with the package only sweetens the deal, not to mention the secret societies that add to Cambridge’s mystique. At this point, the Instagram posts practically make themselves! 

For this peculiar stylistic unity, I can only imagine one of two possibilities: either more people are falling in love with a romanticised vision of academia and thus applying, or people undergo a strange metamorphosis into living Pinterest posts upon setting foot on the streets of Cambridge. Personally, I favour the first explanation, though I remain open to persuasion for the second. 

Still, whether your motivation lies in receiving its world-class education or collecting a stack of impeccable formal photos across all 31 colleges to show off to your friends at home, we all earned our place here just the same. But at the end of the day, I still wonder: is it the fashionable student who makes it to Cambridge, or Cambridge that makes the student fashionable?