How To… Fake ‘Rah’
It’s all about the fashion daaahling
In Durham’s underworld of societies and sports there is a distinct class system at work. Clearly this can be seen with the infamous example of Wine Soc and its practically income-assessed admissions policy. The majority of members are probably the type to overuse the words “banter” and “jokes” and be a resident of Jersey (I am clearly exaggerating here – 100% no-chance I’d be getting in!) They are also recognisable as fitting into the patented-in-Durham stereotype of Rahs as far as their fashion sense goes. So… should you wish to enjoy a tipple of fine wine with Johnny Rich-Moneybuckets III (double barrelled name entirely necessary) and his host of polo ponies, there are a few fashionable hints you should probably bear in mind before attempting to bypass the bouncers on the castle door and get in… from my humble experience and observations.
1. Rahs like their labels
Simple yet effective advice. A Polo Ralph Lauren sweatshirt is a particular favourite, usually a little oversize on girls and pink on boys, along with a striped shirt underneath (collar up – but really that doesn’t even need to be noted does it?) and genuine Ugg boots. Designer bags are also a must, even to a lecture, and this is Wine Soc after all – the place to meet your future stinking-rich husband… not that that’s why we picked Durham University!
Note to self: Even in the freezing Arctic-North temperatures of Durham between September and June, no tights may ever be worn. Even in snow.
2. Chavs innit
Rahs are in touch with their inner chav brap brap. Well kind of. Rich people are often quite sporty (something to do with being locked up in boarding schools for the majority of childhood) and so obviously they must wear sports gear all the time in case they are called upon to go cross-country running or join a lacrosse team at the last minute. Rahs are nearly always in tracksuit bottoms (apart from when they are wearing denim skirts in -10000000 degrees) accompanied by gilets – the least functional and most pointless piece of clothing ever created (sorry Mr. Gilet). Vital lesson learned: being rich does not equal caring about fashion just because you can afford it.
Interesting fact: Despite this shall we say ‘casual’ look there’s always a tightly wound pashmina and a bag perched on their elbow. How boho chic.
3. I don’t get out of bed for less than $100 000
Despite having more dosh than Amy Winehouse has had melt-downs, the Rah always looks a bit, well, shit. In a scruffy way, I mean. All of their clothes are extremely expensive, totting up the labels would probably push most of us simple folks’ overdrafts, yet scruff is like an addiction to the Rah. And I do have to agree that they have got something very right here – the backcombed hair that uses an amount of hairspray that probably does more for the Ozone layer than CO2 emissions is undeniably hot. It’s just the tracksuit bottoms (Jack Wills or no Jack Wills) tucked into dirty ugg boots (worn by builders everywhere) and the ridiculous non-functional and de-sexing gilet (again, sorry Mr. Gilet) that do not do it for me. So yeah, what we have learnt is that Rahs are scruffy chavs with a bit of designer clobber.
So in conclusion then, if you want to fake Rah and swan into Wine Soc like a seasoned-pro undertake the following in your wardrobe preparations: stock up on some designer woollies, grab some chavtastic trackie-bottoms, wind a pashmina round your neck and bouft up that hair. Who would have thought it could be this easy to look so rich?
I’m sorry, but I have to say, what a terrible article.
What’s your point? Who or what are you talking about? Surely you don’t believe a word of what you’ve just written?
They got the back-combed hair right!? It’s sexy!? I have to disagree there, Becky. Hair with knots in it/that looks like a pineapple is never sexy, from where I’m standing. Some of those girls need a good brush.
Most of the time I really couldn’t care less about what people wear, but those corpulent farting rugby players that wear their tracksuit bottoms half way down their arses are just stupid. If I was wearing pastel pink stripy boxers I wouldn’t be putting them on display. Pull your fucking trousers up! As for the women, why are they all wearing those thick brown leather belts? It just emphasises how unattractive they are.
Articles about Rahs always think they’re so much better than other articles about rahs…
That article is entirerly true, although i dress like this it made me laugh.
I love the fact that most people find this article by searching for ‘Jack Wills’ on Google.
I’m a Rah, and I’m better and richer than all of you plebes.
to be perfectly honest, i think you ‘rah’ people are all simply a buch of sheep
bahh baahhh
This is definitely funny, accurate, and has in no way been written before.
Good to see the inverted snobbery of D21 is still going strong. The editors of this website obviously have a massive chip on their shoulders
“a resident of Jersey”
hahahaha, it’s so true
This is supposed to be a student site. Exactly what effect do CO2 emissions have on the ozone layer?
Yeah
I had very little respect for you after the first few paragraphs.
The CO2/Ozone comment just pushed me over the edge.
is there really that much social antagonism? it’s kind of putting me off coming a bit…
nice comment about jersey
i suppose we are all ‘rah’ and ride around on our pony that daddy bought us haha
oh, this is so true. my school is inodated with them. URGH!
the whole resident of Jersey thing isn’t true. jersey kids are genuinely rich and bought up to be how they are, the english uni kids are complete wannabees.
look no-one would like it if you took the piss outta their style, maybe they do all look pretty similar but maybe they just feel more comfortable that way, its about what you like and what you feel comfortable and if people concentrated more on real issues with the world and accepting people for who they are or how they dress instead of hating them for not feeling comfortable enough to express their own individual style then the world would be a much nicer place.
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