As the beloved gamedays roll around each weekend, we, the lovely ladies of the Swamp, ritually break out our cutest blue and orange gear, from blue high-low skirts with a Gator shirt and white strappy sandals to a white sundress with chunky orange jewelry and wedges.
But what about that dreadful and recurring tragedy of “I already wore that!” when you’re frantically throwing all of your clothes into a heap on the floor, searching for that perfect outfit that makes you feel like a glamorous Gator? Well fret no more, for the very colors we bleed seem to be a fashion trend this fall and can be seen popping up everywhere from little boutiques to large shopping departments.
Before the chaos of classes started again in the fall, I took a small shopping day while back at home in south Florida. I began my hunt for a white belt but couldn’t find one for my life. However, I realized that I could easily find a bright orange, or even a gorgeous cobalt blue one easily at any store I happened to walk into.
Later on, I ran across bold blue Jessica Simpson wedges, nude and neon orange Steve Madden pumps, and multiple orange and blue tops, workout gear, jewelry, and purses. The topping on the cake was a blousy orange and blue chevron dress, which of course I immediately snatched up because it’s the perfect thing to wear when cheering for the boys on the field.
For our fashion fix, Urban Outfitters has some amazing BDG High-rise Cheeky Shorts ($54) that would go perfectly with a handmade Gator crop top for more casual days at Midtown, and the Cooperative Strapless Crepe Dress ($20) comes in only bright orange and blue and is great for a dressier game day or a night out.
This loose fitting, striped v-neck knit top ($36, YesStyle.com) is just what a stylish Gator needs when Gainesville temperatures start to plummet as winter approaches. The party hopper peplum dress ($45, threadsence.com) is great for those tailgates in the scorching Florida sun.
Finally, to accessorize, the Thomas Paul ‘Susan’ Sunglass Case ($24, Nordstrom) is a very retro addition to any outfit and features a large print of blue Ray Bans with orange lenses.
For college sports fans, these two colors next to each other immediately scream “Gators,” but to the rest, they are simply just different colors, and I for one am not complaining. In fact, the Pantone color of the year just happens to be orange, Tangerine Tango to be precise, which is why orange in particular is absolutely everywhere! From dresses, to bedspreads, to furniture and pet accessories, orange has made its way into every commercial product. Olympian Blue was listed as a top Pantone color fall favorite as well.
Our school colors have been trending in the fashion world this season, and hopefully they will continue to as winter draws near. For now, we don’t need to tirelessly hunt for hours on online stores for cute Gators wear, all that’s needed is a quick trip to the mall or a few clicks online.