Aural Style: Headphones, Looking Good.

Olga Shvarova
Headphones: AKG Quincy Jones Q701
available at Oxford Audio Consultants

It was the ‘80s; the use of noise in style was a loud statement, literally. Everyone remembers the boom box shoulder walk, and the very colours of clothes themselves would often cause deafness. The boom box, and the neon clothes, however, didn’t quite make it through the filters of the ‘90s. There has yet to be a style as memorable as the shoulder borne boom boxes. Over the past couple of decades the boom boxes have been replaced with something more civilized…

When you’re walking in the street, or while you’re stuck on some variation of public transport, have a look around at what the boom box legacy has dwindled down to – mere tiny white cables!These tiny white adverts for the Apple Empire, laden on commuters’ ears in the most unsociable manners, are the statement of a bland mediocrity we’re constantly drifting towards. Every so often though, some guy with blaring, bright white and green AKG headphones will wander by, and just for that moment, you understand the reasoning behind the extinction of the boom box. But there is a rather large part of you that stares – these headphones are way cooler than the dull iPod ear buds you’re hiding beneath your hair… and you understand that, if you had a headband of sound like that, there is no need to listen to them at that volume. To you, they’re like a beautiful, noisy shall, plus they match your shoes.

Agnieszka Burzynska
Headphones: Sennheiser HD 25P, PX90
available at Oxford Audio Consultants

Olga Shvarova
Headphones: Sennheiser HD 25P, PX90
available at Oxford Audio Consultants

Olga Shvarova
Headphones: Sennheiser HD 25P
available at Oxford Audio Consultants

Agnieszka Burzynska
Headphones: Fostex T40RP MkII

Agnieszka Burzynska
Headphones: Sennheiser HD 598
available at Oxford Audio Consultants

Agnieszka Burzynska
Headphones: Sennheiser HD 598, HD 25P
available at Oxford Audio Consultants

Olga Shvarova
Headphones: Sennheiser HD 518
available at Oxford Audio Consultants

Agnieszka Burzynska
Headphones: Sennheiser HD 518
available at Oxford Audio Consultants

Agnieszka Burzynska
Headphones: Sennheiser HD 25P
available at Oxford Audio Consultants

Agnieszka Burzynska
Headphones: AKG Quincy Jones Q701
available at Oxford Audio Consultants

Beyond the occasional odd person in the street, headphones aren't likely to replace the tie or scarf any time soon. It's important to consider the oncoming style of Silicon Valley's finest tech entrepreneurs. They may be singled out by the magazines and media at the moment for their dress, but it shouldn't come as too much of a surprise when they begin wearing headphones both as a functional piece of attire and to compliment their flip flops. Who knows how many people unfamiliar with orthodox style will be looking to them for inspiration...

Agnieszka Burzynska
Headphones: AKG Quincy Jones Q701
available at Oxford Audio Consultants

Credits - Creative directors: Max Munsie, Chloe Mansell. Photographers: Agnieszka Burzynska, Olga Shvarova. Stylist: Chloe Mansell. Hair & Make Up: Sophie Kevlin. Models: Kristy Chen, Lucy Treadwell, Josh Mansell.
A special thanks to Greg Blatchford and to David and Jon from Oxford Audio Consultants.

A larger collection of photos from the shoot can be seen on our facebook page here