Whether you cry War Eagle, have pride for the Crimson Tide or cheer for the Bulldogs, we’ve got the perfect looks to help you get your game face on in style.
Men and women are jumping on the gameday bandwagon, and with all the available options, showing your team spirit is more fun then ever.
“I think the actual idea of a gameday dress has really just taken off in the past few years,” said Lois Ann Reed Marin, owner of Personal Couture. “So many college girls wanted to still be able to show their team spirit while feeling cute and feminine at games with their dates, that a gameday dress became a perfect compromise. The idea stuck and the gameday dress industry is really booming.”
Amy Word, owner of Shoe Fly agrees, “Gameday dressing has maintained its popularity because of the support it gives to your team. It’s a tradition.”
Head-to-toe looks are certainly popular and many companies have started creating specific gameday dresses. Natalie Kim Game Day Dresses and Judith March are two that offer options for showing your true colors. If you want to be more subtle with your gameday look, there’s plenty of ways to incorporate colors without going all in.
“A great way to spice up your gameday look is, of course, a fabulous gameday dress, said Marin. “However, accessories are a great way to add some team spirit to your look and incorporating a statement necklace or a cute scarf is an easy way to create an effortless football look.”
Many football fans opt to take pieces they already own and update them with accessories and one-of-a-kind touches allowing them to support their team and stand out a little. If you already own a blue, crimson or maroon dress, adding some spirited earrings or a belt will prep you for a day of great plays.
“A scarf and hair accessories are a great way to get into the team spirit,” said Sara Alavi, owner of Silhouette. “Just adding a headband with a fun print using your team colors is a great way to root for your team from head to toe. I also love the unexpected gameday dresses by designers that don’t make dresses specifically for game day. The colors still work for your favorite team, but this way you won’t go into a stadium and see your outfit over and over again. It takes a little bit of searching to find them, but once you do, you’ll have a more unique game day look that will help you stand out.”
Men are getting in on the football fashion as well.
“We really love when guys dress up for game day,” said Angie Kloote, owner of The Pink Pelican. “One of our favorite looks is a Vineyard Vines long-sleeved shirt with a High Cotton bowtie and Sailor Red khakis from Southern Tide. A really fun way to incorporate team colors without wearing the typical college T-shirt is by wearing a classic oxford and a gingham reversible game-day bowtie from High Cotton with a fun-colored pair of khakis. As for shoes, guys really can’t go wrong with a pair of classic loafers or top-siders – sans socks.”
Whether you’re setting out for a day on campus or gathering with friends to watch the game, comfort is still key. There’s no need for stilettos when gameday looks lend themselves so easily to a shoe that’s pretty yet practical.
“The type of shoes we would suggest for game day would be wedges,” said Word. “They are comfortable for walking around all day and wedges can be worn with a dress or jeans.”
When you want to look pulled together but still be ready for walking and cheering, boots, wedges and even fabulous flats are the clear choice.
“Of course a boot is one of my favorites,” said Marin. “But a metallic wedge or an embellished flat is a great option while the weather is still so warm.”
A common sight with gameday dresses is cowboy boots, offering comfort with a little bit of flare.
“Cowboy boots are also a fun way to inject some style and fun into your look while helping you concur the long, sometimes muddy, walks to and from the stadium,” said Alavi.
As the weather cools down and the season heats up, outfits are easily updated for the chillier temps.
“Pair a long open sweater over your more lightweight dresses, cinch in your waist with a great belt, and trade in your wedges for tights and boots,” said Marin. “You can take half your football attire through the rest of the season by layering. Or, if you’re not a big dress person, pair a cute fitted football t-shirt with a long open cardigan or blazer with your skinny jeans tucked into your boots.”
Our local fashion experts all agree layering is a key, and fashionable, solution.
“I love pieces that you can wear for more than one season,” said Alavi. “The key is layers. Layer a tissue tee, long-sleeve tee or turtleneck underneath your favorite game day piece or throw on a cardigan or jacket to carry you into the cooler games.”
Men can easily transition their game day duds as well.
“Adding a classic navy blazer to the gameday look is a great way to transition our guy’s look to cooler weather,” said Kloote. “For those guys who lived through summer in their favorite Vineyard Vines T-shirts and shorts, but would like to transition that look for Fall and step it up a bit, simply replace your shorts with Southern Tide’s new jeans, add a classic button-down shirt over the tee, and add replace the favorite flip-flops with classic loafers, and you’ll be set for anything.”
Long days of cheering and celebrating call for makeup that won’t fade by the fourth quarter.
“For game day, you want to look your best throughout the game and celebrations,” said Pamela Lloyd, Estee Lauder makeup artist at Belk Parkway Place. “Start with good skincare. Dry, flaky or oily skin disturbs foundation. Always use a sunscreen of at least 30 under your foundation to protect your skin. We also recommend a light foundation, like Double Wear Light which has 12-hour staying power but isn’t heavy and allows for a casual carefree look. Go easy on foundation, a light even coat actually will wear longer.”
No matter what color your team wears, with lipstick it’s always helpful to have the blues.
“Your teeth will look whiter with a blue based pink, red, coral, brown or wine shade,” said Lloyd. “Those colors will always flatter your pearly whites.”
Football fashion is fun but it also says a lot to the team you support. We rounded up some former players to share a little about their love of the game – and the love of the fans.
“To me, other than the American flag, no colors make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck like the crimson and white you see in the stands while running into Bryant-Denny Stadium on a fall afternoon with The Million Dollar band playing the fight song,” said Roman Colburn, a former player at the University of Alabama.
Cole Cubelic still enjoys talking with the fans.
“Meeting and speaking to the fans on a daily basis is one thing that I truly love about my job,” said Cubelic, former Auburn player and host of 97.7 The Zone’s Cubelic and the Kid. “The passion for local sports in this market is fantastic and I love being the only locally broadcasted morning sports show in Huntsville. My time at Auburn was vital in who I am today and the support of fans means as much now as it did then.”
Players and coaches are equally appreciative of the fans and their team spirit.
“Coming from a coach’s perspective, you think of it the same way you would as a player,” said Johnny Baldwin, a former Alabama A&M player who now coaches the team’s linebackers. “You’re very appreciative. It’s great to see fans and children take their time and the money they work for to come see you and support you.”
College kickoff is just days away and whether you don maroon and white, orange and blue or crimson and white, there’s a game day gorgeous look for you.
Shop the Shoot
Personal Couture
2124 Cecil Ashburn Drive, Suite 110, Huntsville
256-508-5632
The Pink Pelican
4800 Whitesburg Drive, Suite 6 Huntsville
256-882-1433
Shoe Fly
975 Airport Road, Huntsville
256-881-0002
Silhouette
4851 Whitesburg Drive, Suite D-2, Huntsville
256-489-8277
About the location
Louis Crews Stadium is named after the winningest coach to ever pace the sidelines for Alabama A&M. The Louis Crews Stadium and Physical Education Complex stands as one of the finest on-campus football facilities in the NCAA's Division I-AA and consists of a 21,000 seat football stadium, a state of the art pressbox, 19 luxury suites and the George Hobson Field House, which houses the football coaching offices, a weight room and locker room space.
The stadium is also host to cultural events such as concerts and general assemblies and serves as the site for A&M's commencement exercises.
In 11 seasons calling it home, the Bulldogs have amassed a 47-24 record, including a 30-10 mark under coach Anthony Jones. The largest crowd to see a game at the stadium was on Homecoming 1998 when A&M defeated Southern, 33-27, in front of 22,287 fans. This year's season kicks off on Sept. 17 with the Louis Crews Classic against Tuskegee University.
About the players
Johnny Baldwin was a linebacker at Alabama A&M from 2002-06. In 2007, he was drafted by the Detroit Lions. He played for several teams including the Washington Redskins. Currently, he coaches the linebackers at Alabama A&M.
Roman Colburn played for the University of Alabama from 1990-94 as a wide receiver. Roman played in every game in the 1992 national championship year. He now works for Stryker as an endoscopy sales representative.
Cole Cubelic was a center at Auburn University from 1997 to 2000 and was named permanent captain in 2000. Cole can be heard week days from 6-10 a.m on 97.7 The Zone's Cubelic and the Kid. He is also a color commentator for the Sunbelt Network.
Thank you
The Huntsville Times would like to thank all of the individuals and businesses who made this piece possible. Thank you to models Betty Mayfield, Jessie Steadmon and Maryna Tsymbalar as well as Gayle Cochran with PAMA and Victoria Pennington of the Victoria Pennington Agency. Thank you to Johnny Baldwin, Roman Colburn and Cole Cubelic. Special thank you to Alabama A&M University, especially Wendy Kobler, Tourischeva Stubbs and Brandon Willis. Thank you to Tamara Halsey and Pamela Lloyd from Estee Lauder at Belk Parkway Place. Thank you to the stores who graciously supplied clothing and expertise; Lois Ann Reed Marin of Personal Couture, Angie Kloote and the staff of The Pink Pelican, Sara Alavi of Silhouette and Amy Word and the staff of Shoe Fly.