OVERSEAS BRIEFING

Author: DANIEL L. J. PHILLIPS

ST. ANDREWS - Usually it is the pristine golf courses that allure visitors from all over the world to this small, university town that hugs the lowland coasts of Scotland. After all, St. Andrews lays it claim as the birthplace of the timeless sport, but this March the town was teeming with travellers, seeking not a tee time, but the new spring line of style.

I first came to St. Andrews during my Feb semester in the fall of 2002, when I was crestfallen to discover that I would miss the two student-run fashion shows later in the spring. While the proceeds for both annual events go to charity, it is widely acknowledged that they boast some of the best after-parties of the entire academic year.

All of the models recruited for the runway are St. Andrews students who have been perfecting their "Blue Steel" look in front of the mirror since November. So equally as important as their outfits and hairdos under the spotlights and flashbulbs is what to wear as an audience member surrounded by your fashion-savvy peers - particularly if you are privileged enough to secure a VIP seat at the tables along the runway. You had better plan ahead to have your dry cleaning ready on time - how could you possibly show your face at a fashion show in a wrinkled shirt or worn-out shoes?

Now I was anticipating a hip new nightclub or hotel as the venue, much like the town itself, but the organizers chose a far more rustic site to host the vanguard of style - a crumbling, draughty old barn. So while the women stayed buried beneath their fur coats and pashminas, the rest of us tried to keep warm by dancing in our seats to two different DJs laying down beats together throughout the night.

Since droves of posh St. Andrews students hail from chic, cosmopolitan cities like Milan, Paris and New York, the list of featured designers was more impressive than expected - displaying the fresh new looks of Dsquared, Guess Jeans, DKNY and Zang Toi, among the more notable.

Many have pointed to Prince William's arrival at Scotland's first university three years ago as the primary thrust for fashion's heightened popularity. Certain student publications have showcased how these elements of High Society are replacing traditional forms of artistic expression at St. Andrews - the number of theatrical productions has dropped from 40 to 15 shows per year, replacing difficult and controversial works with guaranteed hits that will "create the correct effect for a social status of an audience," wrote one former student.

But whatever the reason, the show was a smashing success. Try to imagine Middlebury pulling off a stunt like this - our most glamorous students flaunting Patagonia fleeces of every color, coordinated with matching pastel polo shirts in the McCullough Social Space. Not quite as appealing, although Also came very close with last year's swimsuit issue. So if any of you find yourselves in Scotland in the springtime, seeking style in St. Andrews is definitely worth the trip. Just don't forget your golf clubs.