Don't lie. You know all summer long, the second an orange or blue article of clothing caught your eye, you were nearly required to buy it. Football season is back, ladies and gentlemen, and it's time to whip out your game day attire. Urban Meyer's whiteout didn't quite succeed â€" for more reasons than multiple see-through sundresses after the first quarter downpour â€" and at the Florida vs Hawaii game, orange and blue still reigned as the dominant colors in the Swamp. Sadly, I witnessed far too many fashion faux pas. So, to clear up some game day fashion confusion, here are some do's and don'ts.
Let's get this one out of the way first: the infamous "jorts." Everybody secretly owns a pair, hidden somewhere in the depths of his or her closet, perhaps in the seventh-grade Hollister drawer. This isn't Tallahassee, though, and we Gators should know better than to sport those tattered and overly fringed bottoms. Make an effort to stray from wearing the distressed hems, especially when the pockets are longer than the actual shorts themselves ¾ no one wants to see your butt cheeks, even the old alumni who drunkenly and not-so-subtly check you out. Also, it'd be best not to wear the "roll-up" ¾ rolling up a pair of jean shorts doesn't make them any classier.
Jean shorts can be acceptable in some cases, though. Go for the ones with cuffs, which are classy and standard. They can be found at Abercrombie & Fitch or Wolfgang Boutique on 1127 W. University Ave. As for you, boys, don't even think about sporting the jort. You know you're only wearing them to try to look silly, so save yourself the embarrassment, and wait to put them on as a ridiculous costume for a themed party.
Cutting a T-shirt can work in mysterious ways. You either end up with a masterpiece that looks store-bought or a slutty catastrophe that leaves your bra straps all over the place. To refrain from making any disastrous cutting mistakes, stick to basic patterns you're familiar with. Don't go snipping away and tying back together without knowing what your result will be. It's also best not to show your stomach, no matter how hard you worked out for that bangin' hot body this summer. Avoid the midriff. If you're really a risk taker, buy "99 Ways to Cut, Sew, Trim, & Tie Your T-Shirt into Something Special." You can find the book on Amazon.com, and its orange cover will coordinate perfectly with whatever you choose to cut up for game day.
And though it's a simple fact that during football season, orange and blue basically vomit all over the city of Gainesville, try not to overdo it. A big no-no: Don't wear orange on orange or blue on blue. This usually fails miserably and temporarily blinds onlookers.
Black on black on game day usually fails too. We all know and love the color black, but I'd suggest not wearing black to a game unless it's a Gators T-shirt or you're in mourning for a previous game loss.
What works best for ladies is the fan-favorite sundress. Sundresses come in all different shades of orange, blue, white or a combination of all three and always have a great spot to tie a colored ribbon. They're comfortable, airy and do a great job of hiding the sweat that's dripping down your back. For gentlemen, the sundress won't work quite as well, but you can find ways to be just as comfy. Basic shorts and a T-shirt or polo work the best. Chances are you're going to end up shirtless by the start of the second quarter anyway. I know some guys find it hard to resist that game day frat-tastic outfit and simply have to sport a shirt and tie, but I promise you will be miserable in 98-degree weather. On Saturday, I spotted a guy wearing just a tie and no shirt. You don't want to be that guy. That guy is weird.
Another game day fashion blunder: footwear. It can be quite the annoyance. We all want to wear those cute orange and blue shoes, which sadly result in numerous blisters and a miserable walk home â€" win or lose. Keep it safe with Rainbows or any basic sandal. And if you absolutely must do it, whip out the Crocs. As much as I hate to approve, they will keep your feet comfortable as you stand for the entire game. A cool way to sport your Gator pride is with Jack Rogers Navajo sandals, which come in a great orange and blue shade that will certainly match with any Saturday outfit.
So Gators, as far as game day fashion goes, keep it classy, cute and comfortable. Sport your orange and blue in tasteful ways, and you'll be representing The Gator Nation with not just pride, but style too. You've got all you need and more to make a statement in the Swamp.
