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Conservation Couture
Being up to your ears in mud and brambles is no excuse not to look stylish, dahhlings!  Whatever the season, the best dressed conservation volunteers are wearing the height of conservation chic from the OCV fashion label. In 08-09, the OCV pręt-a-porter collection launched with the Dark Green T-Shirt. It cut a swathe through the fashion scene like a slasher through the long grass. This classically cut T-shirt combines style and practicality, with the dark green colour symbolising OCV's environmental credentials and neatly covering up any grass stains, mud, mould, pond water or lichen. This is an incredibly hardy fashion garment that can resist all that is thrown at it, apart from Tim's acidic sweat! Once the Dark Green T-Shirt had been seen at all the classiest tasks, some of the more daring OCV fashionistas began to customise theirs with cuts, rips, and the ever-popular burn holes. Team the Dark Green T-Shirt with a contrasting colour, like red, to really bring out the richness of the green.  After the Dark Green T-Shirt became too ubiquitous to be truly fashionable, the OCV House of Style brought out the 09-10 Dark Blue version. This variation manages to be innovative, but yet remain faithful to the classic lines that brought the OCV designers their original fame. Branded with the distinctive OCV logo, the dark blue symbolises the group's connection to Oxford, whilst also being able to hide dirt as effectively as its green cousin. This item has yet to be on the scene long enough for it to be truly customised with burn-holes and sweat stains, but it is only a matter of time before it acquires its own slasher style! The Dark Blue T-Shirt is best worn over a long-sleeved white top to bring out the striking white logo on the back.  After the phenomenal success of the traditional T-Shirt silhouette, the OCV in-house designers have branched out yet again, pushing back the boundaries of fashion just like a team of volunteers pushing back invasive scrub. The winter season saw the introduction of the OCV Fleece in slimming black. This warm garment will slip over the rest of your conservation clothes to provide a striking winter look – just remember black is the new black, sweeties! The Fleece also features the novel and jaunty "arm pocket" – handy for keeping your phone, loose change, VIP pass, and small mammals safe whilst engaged in vigorous conservation work. No OCVer would be seen at tea-break without one of these fashion essentials. These highly sought after, limited edition items are available only to OCV members. If you would like to purchase a blue T-Shirt or a fleece while stocks last, talk to our fashion retailer, Jo Gay, when out on task. Who knows when the temperamental OCV designers will create another item to add to this growing collection but, when they do, make sure it reflects your designer taste by answering our short survey here - What colour and item of clothing do you want to get the OCV style treatment next? We regrettably cannot promise that the divas running the OCV Fashion House will produce exactly what you specify, but this survey may help us influence them! Michelle Reid |