From Preppy to Practical: A Tour Through American Gameday Fashion
The Fashion Stock Market here, your one and only source into the hottest style trends and fashion events. For those of us that are students, it’s safe to say that school is officially back in session. For many fashionistas and sports fanatics across the country, the start of the school year signals something even more exciting than classes, commutes, and coursework. Yes, that’s right, college football is back! While some fans go strictly for the action on the field, others find the action off the field far more enticing. Tailgates, post-game drinks, and cheering from the stands means you have to bring your A-game. Sports are never just about sports: if the world is a runway, college football games are like New York Fashion Week. Think I’m exaggerating? Clearly, you’ve never been to an SEC football game. Don’t even think about wearing jeans and a hoodie to one of those, or you might find yourself outshined by sorority girls in maxi dresses and cowboy boots. Whether or not the dress or the hoodie is ridiculous is up to where you’re from or where you go to school. Not to fear, though! I’m here to tell you everything you need to know about gameday fashion, so my loyal readers can shine in the stands from Alabama to Pennsylvania.
Flowy mini dresses, customized university accessories like earrings and pins, and heels or boots are often seen from the stands.
Photo: Pinterest
Let’s start our national tour of gameday apparel in the south. Historically, students, faculty, and staff did not play around when it came to what they sported to football games. Suits and ties, long dresses, and furs were considered the norm, almost like the games were as formal as a wedding or school dance. Now, as a girl who has friends who go to UGA and Alabama, seeing their planned outfits for gameday shocked me, but ultimately I can see why southerners love to dress to impress. Football is a fundamental part of American culture, right there with Thanksgiving and the Fourth of July. In the south, football is more than just a game, it’s an opportunity to make connections with others and show your team pride.
Today, fans have toned down the formality a bit for their gameday ensembles, but style is still prioritized. Flowy mini dresses, customized university accessories like earrings and pins, and heels or boots are often seen from the stands. After all, for these students, gameday isn’t just about watching football; it’s about coming together with friends and family. Some even would describe football games in the south as a family reunion, so jeans and a t-shirt just won’t cut it. Southern football pride mixed with southerners’ tendency to overdress for every occasion (I mean, casual Fridays must not exist there, right?) means football game attire is bound to be an opportunity for each student to show off their style and school pride. I mean, just look at Bama rush. Clearly, people in the south spare no opportunity to dress to the nines!
For football fans here, games are about practicality and comfort.
Photo: Instagram
Now, let’s head north to the land of blizzards and the best people ever (can you tell I’m from Jersey?), the northeast! For football fans here, games are about practicality and comfort, a complete 180 from the fashion shows taking place down south. Don’t get it twisted, northerners love their football just as much as anyone out there (Eagles fans alone represent how intense our pride can get), but that pride is expressed in a much different way. Rather than spending all week planning an outfit for gameday, most people throw on some combination of jeans, shorts, or leggings and a jersey, tank top, or t-shirt. That’s not to say effort is not put into these outfits, as I definitely get outfit inspo from the girls I see at my school’s football tailgates, but the dress code is much more relaxed, allowing for fans to wear sweaters when it’s 30 degrees out or wear their nasty Air Force 1s to the tailgate, knowing they’ll get wrecked even more but not really caring.
What do fans in the north do to show school pride, then? Well, there’s the day drinking, the fights with fans, the storming the streets post-win, and the bar crawls that follow. But in all honesty, we wear outfits that we would wear on any other day to go out or to go to class. I have noticed though that girls are slowly starting to step it up, potentially taking inspiration from the southern belles. I really hope this doesn’t happen, though; my pockets can’t afford the way these SEC girls dress!
No matter if you choose to dress up or keep it simple, the midwest girlies know how to stylize an outfit.
Photo: Pinterest
Finally, we end our tour in the midwest/west of the country. I put these two together because the same can be said for both. The gameday fashion out west is as if the south and north had a baby. Some people wear sundresses and sandals, while others wear the classic jersey, shorts or skirt, and sneakers combination. No matter if you choose to dress up or keep it simple, the midwest girlies know how to stylize an outfit. The key is in the details, and these students definitely have their outfits on point down to the hairband on their ponytail. However, I would say gameday outfits here are still practical, because the desert heat out there is definitely no joke. I have no idea how they do it, so honestly the football-loving fashionistas from California to New Mexico have my respect. And for my girls from Ohio and Michigan, that cold weather is so bad even the 5 tequila shots you had at the pregame can’t stop you from shivering during a mid-November game.
Moral of the story? The gameday outfits of each region of the USA kind of reflects the culture of the area in a perfect symbolic way. Oh how I love when I can show my readers fashion is always more than just clothes! The preppy and often formal style of the south represents their culture that emphasizes presenting yourself well and showing up for things you care about, not to mention southern manners and etiquette. The chill vibe from the north shows our relaxed nature, with outfits that say, “I look cute but I didn’t work too hard to look this cute.” While we can be extra in other ways, northern football fans don’t overcomplicate gameday outfits and dress for rain or shine. And finally, in the midwest/west is where you’ll find fans that do it all. Maybe it’s school-specific, or maybe it differs by city or from person-to-person, but you will find a true diversity of styles at the games there.
Sports are never just about sports: if the world is a runway, college football games are like New York Fashion Week.
Photo: Pinterest
Hopefully, my short and sweet guide into how to outshine the players on the field inspired you to go big or go home this football season. Now that you have the knowledge, put yourself to the test! Will you be preppy, lowkey, or somehow both? I for one can’t wait to see all the gameday outfits this year. After all, I barely know how football works, and I need something to keep me entertained. Until next time, my most loyal readers!
XOXO, The Fashion Stock Market
Cover Photo: Pinterest
Editor: Felicity Field
