Imagine all the colors, the personality, of Oxford captured in an outfit. How can one actually capture the spirit of Oxford?
The Oxford Clothing Company, the brainchild of two true blood Mississippians, embodies the style of the South, inspired by “long sunsets, specialty cocktails, trading recipes and talking football.”
The creative minds behind these original clothes are Ian Tailyour and Sarah Beth Wiley.
Ian Tailyour has deep roots in Mississippi going back eight generations on his mother’s side, and he is making his home in Oxford after owning and operating a furniture manufacturing factory in Vietnam for 14 years, which made and shipped fine furniture to markets all over the world.
Tailyour said, “I’ve been coming to Oxford since the 1970s to see my family. I really love Oxford for its quality of life. It was the only place that I wanted to move to.”
Tailyour believes he has arrived full-circle in Oxford. He has put his expertise and factory connections in manufacturing to good use with unique designs from Sarah Beth Wiley, an Oxford native who has returned home after 20+ years in the Boston-area.
Wiley grew up in Oxford as the daughter of Hugh C. Wiley, Jr., the city clerk, and Bobbye Wiley who is a well-known Oxonian from her many years at the Bank of Oxford branch on University Avenue. Her grandparents, Susan Good and Hugh Wiley, Sr., were part owners of the town’s City Grocery on the square, which is the namesake for the widely famous restaurant of the same name.
With such a deeply-rooted history in Oxford, it’s no wonder her designs on the Oxford Clothing Company fabrics are a perfect fit.
“We’re trying to capture the Southern style,” she said. “You can notice the little icon of the Oxford Courthouse on the collars of some shirts. Our logo is the Dogwood flower which is an iconic Southern flower.”
The clothes come in true Ole Miss colors: red, navy and powder blue as well as white. The polo collars have eye-popping patterns: Oxford Courthouse, red and blue camo and the dogwood flower as well as multi-color stripes.
Oxford Clothing Company currently offers polos, t-shirts and outerwear. Men also can purchase pocket polos.
Wiley’s one-of-a-kind designs are unique within the marketplace of many lines featuring Oxford and Ole Miss. Tailyour’s expertise in fabrics can make these polos even more desirable.
“The fabrics are high quality and durable. They are fashioned by Swiss engineers so they’re stain resistant and don’t wrinkle,” said Wiley.
She recalls spilling a little on her polo from the Oxford Clothing Company while tailgating in the Grove. “I dabbed at it and the stain was gone. I didn’t have to do much more to get rid of it,” she said.
These clothes can be found at Neilson’s Department Store on the Square and can be purchased online at theoxfordclothingcompany.com.
Sarah Beth Wiley and Ian Tailyour’s next step are to expand the Oxford Clothing Company to ties, bow ties, scarves, button downs and even custom workout clothes, as well as more variety within their existing categories.
“As the brand develops we’ll add more Southern flairs,” said Tailyour.
Follow The Oxford Clothing Company on Facebook,, Instagram as well as on Pinterest.
Callie Daniels Bryant is the senior managing editor at HottyToddy.com. She can be reached at callie.daniels@hottytoddy.com.
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