The Group Chat: Sorry we’re late, we were throwing a ’fit

Fashion Weeks are wrapping up around the world, but girlies are turning tailgates into runways across the U.S. every single Saturday with college football season in full swing. Increased attention to women fans means gameday gear has come a long way in the last few years, even (or perhaps especially) in the tradition-obsessed world of NCAA football.

• So today, we’re chatting about how to slay the tailgate, no matter your school’s vibe, featuring a special treat from the one and only, legendary ESPN reporter Holly Rowe. Time to throw a ’fit.

NCAA football has its own unique culture compared to the NFL, and its tailgates — namely its tailgate fashion — reflect that. With college players so frequently on the move, the traditional “jersey with your favorite player’s name and jeans” outfit formula isn’t as tried and true.

• Plus, college football fandom is famously bone-deep and intensely regional. The sport is dominated by decades-old rivalries driven by 100 years of intraconference competition, creating a hyperlocal vibe that comes through in fans’ gameday attire.

Take the football-obsessed Southeastern Conference (SEC), where Southern sorority style reigns supreme. Gameday outfits are typically hyperfeminine compared to what you’d expect to see at an NFL game — think mini skirts and crop tops, dresses and pearls, floral prints and ruffles…and lots of cowboy boots.

• Heading north to the Big Ten, you’re more likely to see casual gear like oversized shirts and sweatshirts or striped overalls (aka bibs) dominating tailgates. As the season goes on, there’s a premium on gear that’s as cute as it is warm, too.

• Whether it’s East Coast prep or West Coast beach vibes, Penn State’s White Out Game or Greek Letter pieces at HBCUs, dressing for a tailgate means leaning into a school’s and region’s unique personality — and, most importantly, making it your own.

Chic fan gear isn’t just about looking cute — when brands invest in spiritwear that women fans actually want to wear, they help those fans feel at home in the bro-heavy world of college football. Being fully part of the community while still presenting yourself authentically? Sign us up.

Want to take your football fashion back to school? Here are some of our favorite places to hunt for gameday-ready pieces:

💲 Thrifting: The best vintage spiritwear often comes from thrift stores around campus. Why buy a ’90s–inspired item when you can have something someone actually wore in the ’90s?

💲💲 Hype and Vice: From elevated basics to blinged-out mini skirts, they have gear repping over 200 schools.

💲💲💲 Smith & Quinn: Their tailgate collection is preppy, polished, and screams SEC (although it includes plenty of non–SEC schools, too!).