As soon as Commonwealth Stadium opens for tailgating, we'll see a wild array of outfits. There will be freshmen and sorority girls trying to prove that they DRESS UP, no matter the circumstance. Others will show up in dreadful Daisy Dukes-and-oversized jersey combos that make one wonder whether they're wearing pants at all.
To prevent the awkward embarrassment of showing up in the wrong thing, the Kentucky girls have put together a few rules of thumb.
Don'ts:
- Dresses
- Heels
- Silky fabrics
- Super-low rise jeans
- Ridiculously trendy sunglasses
The key here is casual comfort, ladies. The same outfit that looks adorable for pref party or the Clubhouse makes you look foolish at a tailgate. You're outside. At best, you're walking on grass. Far more often, you're in mud up to your ankles. And you'll most likely be sitting on metal bleachers. If you're fortunate enough to sit in a skybox, feel free to disregard all of my suggestions. You're clearly doing something right. For the rest of us, metal bleachers require a higher-rise jean. Nobody wants to see your underwear (or worse)... The basic rule of thumb when dressing for a football game? Imagine how you (and your ensemble) would react if someone threw you a football. Or spilled beer on you. Would a seam rip? Would your spike heels sink into the ground? Would your dress be ruined? If the answer is yes, then leave it at home.
Dos:
- Natural fabrics like cotton or wool.
- Flats or sneakers
- Comfortable layers
- Flattering jeans or slacks
- Most important of all, BLUE AND WHITE!!
Autumn/winter weather in Kentucky is notoriously unpredictable. Make sure to bring layers to accommodate the tempramental weather. Flats are crucial, as you will be walking a lot. Make sure to check the stadium's size requirements on any purse you may carry (this Kentucky girl may have found some stadiums that considered her trusty LV Speedy 35 to be too big to carry in). Most importantly, this is a time to support your team. I don't care how cute your new Tory Burch dress is, nor that chic black is your signature look. Wear team colors. And have fun!
--h
always appropriate by wildcatblue featuring J Crew
ETA: I know that a lot of Southern schools do the over-the-top dressy tailgates; a lot of my Vandy fan friends are cute as a button in their game day attire. We just go a little more low-key at Kentucky. It's a matter of personal taste. (And I really meant more "freshmen in silky F21 clubwear" than preppy sundresses...)
meh. I've never tailgated. Last time I went to a game I had tix in some sorority girl section (they were all dressed inappropriatley) and they yelled at me and my husband that we were in their seats and to get out. Then I had beer spilled on me when we refused to leave (our seats!) and the girls made fun of me very loudly, while texting and not watching the game. Shame because I LOVE Kentucky football, but I'm like a 10 year old scared as hell to run into the mean girls again.
ReplyDeleteNo gameday dresses? Loubie's are unsuitable everywhere? What kind of life are you living girls...Flipflops and a cute sundress (esp. a gameday dress-check out haute football couture) are perfect for football in the South-don't miss out on the fun!
ReplyDeleteOh no!!!! I completely disagree!!!! Sundresses (in appropriate team colors), cute sandals, and pearls and going to brunch or to a tailgates are Southern traditions that KY could easily adopt!!!
ReplyDeleteYou can still be super-cute and super-comfortable! It's just a matter of finding things that actually fit. (Another discussion altogether..)
Oh, and not wearing the appropriate undergarments (read: visible) is tres tacky anywhere!
@Champagne Blonde-- I think I was misleading in the polyvore. I love Loubies, just not on a football field (And, as a personal preference, I just don't like white shoes)... I realized after I published it that it looked a little too preachy...
ReplyDeleteWe have Keeneland in the fall, where it's far more appropriate to wear cute dresses. It's far more of a Lexington style to go with pearls and slacks for games, and save the dresses for the racetrack.
I went to Georgia, where it is tres tres tacky to wear jeans to a game. However, I grew up in Knoxville, where everyone wears jeans (except for September games where it is too HOT). I think there is a upper south, deep south difference in the SEC, because UGA, Ole Miss and Bama all dress to the nines!
ReplyDeleteFor the Kentucky/Louisville game, I will be wearing a Ky. Blue knit short dress, blue and white monogrammed sandals, and a silver paw pin. Please, nobody wear Wildcat shoestrings, okay.
ReplyDeleteI will also go with cotton. And for the GAME, the heels are awkward. I think blue will be cool for it.
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