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Style Scenario: What to Wear to a Football Game

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From the Mailbag:  Stadium Style – Dressing well at the game

Football season is upon us, and I’m visiting my Alma Mater for college games.  I’m not a jersey guy, but I want to represent my team and usually hit a tailgate or two on my way to the stadium.  Any tips for expressing school spirit, while at the same time keeping warm in the winter part of the season and still looking good? 

– Lewis
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This is tricky.  If you’re under the age of 60 and you show up to a football game in a sportcoat, you’re absolutely going to be “that guy.”  Some claim you can never be overdressed.  Gotta respectfully disagree.  You don’t want to draw unnecessary attention to yourself, so for this scenario it’s all about fit and details without getting too out of hand.  With that in mind, here’s two options for those hitting a tailgate or two this fall.  One of which is a barely noticeable upgrade (the picks on the left), the other setup is a few notches up from that.
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The Sweater:  Crewneck Sweatshirt – $59.95 | L.E.C. Shawl Collar – $29.99
Be prepared to pay for the licensed stuff.

If you’re going with some officially licensed apparel from the school, look for plain or vintage designs.  Skip the bulky hooded sweatshirts and try a size down if all they have is thick sweatshirts.  If you’re fine with dressing it up a bit more and don’t need a team logo or graphic across your chest, try a shawl collar pull over like this one from L.E.C.  It’ll blend in with the hooded sweatshirts, but it’s a definite upgrade.

 

The Shirt Underneath:  J. Crew Factory – $39.50 | Brooks Brothers Extra Slim – $34.75*
A button down under a crew is just enough.

Layering with a collared shirt is almost unheard of on game day.  The white oxford cloth is thick, plain, and casual enough to go well with the sweatshirt.  For a checked sport shirt, make sure you’ve got a button down collar.  Don’t bother ironing it for the game.  *Only if you buy two.  30%  off if you buy one, which makes them just under $50

 

The Pants:  GAP Standard Fit jeans in Resin Rinse – $39.95 ($59.95)
Dark, clean, and on sale.

It’s a football game, so let’s not think too hard about what we’re covering our legs with.  Amongst the sea of hoodies and stone-washed jeans, a pair of dark & simple denim stands out for the right reasons.  The GAP Standard Fits are roomier than a 501 without being loose.  And that’s perfect for getting around the parking lots and avoiding bleacher butt while in the stands.  UPDATE: On sale but the 25% off code GAPGEM doesn’t work on them.  One of the exclusions is jeans.  That’s more than a little weak GAP.  Code expires today 8/17.

 

The Belt:  Rugby Green/Blue striped Surcingle Belt – $59.50
Pricey. A sale would be nice.

The leather/fabric combo belts are getting real popular and for good reason.  They’re the cool weather version of the bright summer belt.  This one from Rugby is a total splurge.  $60?  That’s a lot for a belt.  But it’s close to perfect.  A much cheaper option would be the recently mentioned cotton belts from Toneka.

 

The boots: Clarks suede in Grey – $69.96 | 1901 Carl wingtip suede – $99.95
both under $100

While the older alumni will be in cross trainers and most of the students will be in retro-sneakers, boots will keep you comfortable and the beer off your socks.  The price is terrific for the Clarks and the grey gives you a little more pop on your feet.  Meanwhile, the Nordstom house brand 1901 might have a serious winner on their hands.  Will have to do an in-person with these real soon.

 

The Watch:  Victorinox Renegade – $130 | Orient Aviator – $145 w/code DapperedAugust
No need for a dress watch at the game.

Both can work with either outfit, but despite its rugged case and contrast stitching, the Orient Aviator really can look dressed up.  The case is larger but not gigantic, and you can tell from just glancing at it that it’s a real nice piece.  Unlike the automatic Orient, the Renegade from Victorinox is quartz, and the perforated strap makes it more casual.

Thanks to Lewis for sending in the style scenario suggestion.  For more style scenarios, see the archive.  Good luck to your favorite team this fall.  Hope they win.  That is of course, unless they’re playing one of mine.   Top Photo Credit

Comments

  9. I’m an SEC guy, so sweaters are definitely out until much later in the football season, you know, around the time we win national titles. 

  10. I’m with Anotherjames here. Here in the deep south a rig like this might be appropriate around December. How about a hot weather post?

  11. For a college tailgate I think this is a great idea, but for an NFL game and tailgating with friends I don’t think so.  That’s one of the times to throw style out the window and rock the jersey.  At least in Baltimore if you’re at the stadium and not wearing a jersey you’re, in an odd way, under-dressed and out of place.

  12. This is way too much for everyone in SEC/ACC land until November.  Any other tips?

  14. No beers in NCAA Stadiums.  So, he probably got plowed before hand, and is now stuck sipping Sprite till half time.

  18. We sweat through most of our season, too, so I tend to go with right-length shorts (bonobos does me well) and either the collegiate-colored Polo (found at the nearest-to-the-stadium Dillards) or a patterned long sleeve button down collar in the right colors (roll your sleeves up the right way, which is illustrated somewhere here on dappered). First few games can handle a normal or bold gingham. Watch out for Columbia PFG shirts, croakies, and Sperry topsiders as they will mark you as this decade’s fraternity rush population (was in a house myself, so no complaints… just, stay away from it). And, with all respect to Toms, no Toms. Go with a Jack Purcell boat shoe for a sporty look or bump up to the driving moccasin to asset that you indeed know the difference between the former and the latter.

  19. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being labelled “that guy”.  Sperrys, croakies and team-labelled stuff are perfectly normal to wear to a college football tailgate / game.  I personally stay away from PFGs, but they’re great shirts if you live below the Mason-Dixon and attend afternoon football games where temps approach triple digits.

  20. At a lot of the SEC schools, blazers are still pretty standard football wear once the weather gets crisp in the fall. Before that it’s jean/chinos and a polo. I’m a big fan of the way the South does it. Everybody is a little dressed up for the game and the girls wear those sundresses.

  21. SEC guy here too; how about a polo with a logo and some khakis?  If you are a Bama fan, which I’m not, a Bear Bryant hat.  I would wear a nice straw hat though, to keep the sun out of my eyes.

  22. As a UVA student let me say that we’ve got the ACC and SEC dominated for football dappered-ness with our classic “guys in ties, girls in pearls” tradition. It’s a shame the football team can’t give us a little more to cheer about, but at least we look sharp…

  23. Growing up a Big 10 guy, I can tell you that most universities have some pretty stylish polos.  Check with a campus bookstore or a regional sports store.

  24. Growing up a Big 10 guy, I can tell you that most universities have some pretty stylish polos.  Check with a campus bookstore or a regional sports store.

  26. In the midwest, we’ll be rockin’ the navy peacoat over these suggestions by October.

  27. I could be very wrong, but I swear there was a sign at Gap last night advertising some in-store discount on denim. Can anyone else verify?

  28. Just as a word to the wise, I recently ordered that LEC sweater in red…and it is A LOT lighter than pictured.  Nice fit, just think lighter than expected.

    Also, can someone elaborate on the difference between the Clark’s Bushacre boots and their Desert boots?

  29. Apparently the only tangible difference is the sole. On the Bushacre it’s a rubber sole, and on the Desert Boots it’s a crepe sole. I’ve heard the rubber wears less.

  30. I was gonna post this exact comment. I’m new to the Atlanta area and keep hearing about how everyone dresses up really nice for SEC games and tailgates. From what I’ve heard the women all wear sundresses and men wear chinos, button ups, and blazers. I’m gonna try something similar when I head home for a Penn State game this fall. 

  31. University of Delaware – I like rocking either a white polo/yellow belt or yellow polo/white belt with my blue Gargamel’s Revenge chinos from Bonobos. Classy and comfortable, not too dressed down or dressed up.

  32. woot woot for Baltimore!

    Definitely agree, if you’re at the Raven’s stadium and not rocking the jersey the crowd will most likely peg you as a fan of the opposition… and you don’t want that happening in bmore.

  33. Let’s keep in mind that you should go to the game to see the game (not to be seen.)  It’s football, not a Lakers game.  Make it effortless.

  34. Everything’s by conference.  Big East is all about selling beer to the five people at the games.  I think gameday attire is also a conference matter.  Go ahead and wear a blazer in the SEC, but don’t even think about a collared shirt in the Big Ten (unless you’re a coach).  As for the PAC-10?  Who cares, we’re all looking at the girls.

  38. There are also slight differences in the colors.  The suede bushacres are typically darker than the suede desert boots and the beeswax desert boots are darker than the beeswax bushacres.