College football season is here, which means it’s time for tailgates, stadium Saturdays and, of course, cute gameday outfits.
Whether you’re heading to the stadium, meeting friends at a tailgate or watching the game around town, the best gameday outfit should do three things: show a little team spirit, keep you comfortable and still feel like you.
And you definitely don’t need to wear a jersey from head to toe to look gameday ready.
From team-colored dresses and denim to silk scarves, cowboy boots and statement jewelry, here are six easy college football outfit ideas to help you put together the perfect gameday look.
1. Start With Your Team Colors
The easiest place to start is with your school colors.
Instead of trying to make every piece of your outfit match your team, choose one main color and build your look around it.
Pair a burnt orange top with denim, choose a purple dress, wear a maroon skirt with a neutral top or start with a simple red dress and let your accessories finish the look.
You can also reverse it: keep your outfit neutral and bring in your team colors through jewelry, a scarf, handbag or shoes.
Palm Tree Tip: Choose a team-colored piece you’ll actually wear again. A cute dress, blouse or skirt can easily become part of your everyday wardrobe once football season is over.
2. Wear a Cute Gameday Dress With Boots
When you want to look put together without spending 20 minutes figuring out what goes with what, you can’t beat a dress.
A gameday dress in your school color gives you an instant outfit and still leaves plenty of room to make the look your own.
Pair it with cowboy boots for a classic Texas gameday look, sneakers if you’ll be doing a lot of walking or statement jewelry if you want to dress things up a little.
For early-season games, look for lightweight styles that will keep you comfortable during long, hot afternoons. As the weather cools down, add boots, a denim jacket or a lightweight layer.
Palm Tree Tip: If your dress already makes a statement, you don’t need to overdo the rest of the outfit. Add one or two fun accessories and let the dress do the work.
3. Try Denim + a Fun Gameday Top
For a casual college football outfit, denim is always an easy choice.
Start with your favorite jeans, shorts or denim skirt and add a top in your team color. A fun blouse makes the outfit feel a little more elevated, while a graphic tee and sneakers are perfect for a casual tailgate.
For an updated look, try wide-leg or barrel-leg jeans with a more fitted top.
Then add boots, sneakers, statement earrings or a scarf to finish everything off.
This is also one of the easiest gameday outfits to wear when your plans include more than just the game. You’ll be comfortable walking around campus or tailgating, but you can still head to dinner afterward without feeling underdressed.
Palm Tree Tip: If you know you’ll be on your feet all day, build your outfit around the shoes first. Cute is important. Being able to walk back to the car after four quarters is important too.
4. Add Team Spirit With a Silk Scarf or Twilly
Want to show your school spirit without wearing an entire outfit in your team colors?
A silk scarf or twilly is one of the easiest ways to do it.
Tie one around your neck, wear it in your hair, add it to your ponytail or tie it around the handle of your favorite handbag.
You can even wear a larger scarf around your waist or over a simple dress to give a neutral outfit an instant gameday update.
It’s a small detail, but it can completely change the look of an outfit you already own.
Palm Tree Tip: Start with denim and a white, black or neutral top, then use your scarf as your pop of team color. It’s one of the easiest gameday looks to recreate with pieces already in your closet.
5. Make Your Gameday Jewelry the Statement
Sometimes you don’t need a new outfit at all.
The right jewelry can turn a simple dress, basic top or jeans-and-tee combination into a gameday look.
Try layering necklaces, stacking bracelets or adding a statement pair of earrings in your team colors.
At The Palm Tree, you’ll find jewelry ranging from fun colorful pieces to more elevated everyday styles from brands including Beaded Blondes, Melinda Maria, TOVA, Kendra Scott and more.
And if you’re heading to an early-season football game in Texas, waterproof and sweat-proof jewelry can be a lifesaver.
Palm Tree Tip: For those hot August and September games, choose lightweight accessories and sweat-friendly jewelry. You can still make a statement without adding anything heavy to your outfit.
6. Try a Matching Set for an Easy Gameday Outfit
Matching sets are another easy way to create a gameday outfit without having to think too hard about styling.
Look for a skirt-and-top set, shorts set or coordinating pieces in your team colors. Because the pieces are designed to work together, you immediately have a polished outfit—but you can also wear each piece separately later.
Pair your set with cowboy boots for a more dressed-up gameday look or sneakers for something casual.
Then finish it with a simple necklace, statement earrings, a crossbody bag or a scarf tied in your hair.
Palm Tree Tip: Matching sets are especially versatile because you’re really getting three outfit options: wear the pieces together, wear the top separately or style the bottom with something else.
What Should I Wear to a College Football Game?
The best college football outfit depends on what your day looks like.
If you’re tailgating, walking around campus or spending several hours at the stadium, start with comfortable pieces like denim, lightweight tops, dresses and comfortable shoes.
For early-season games—especially here in Texas—breathable fabrics and lightweight accessories are your friend.
If you’re planning to go to dinner or somewhere else after the game, choose a dress, matching set or elevated top that can easily transition from the stadium to whatever comes next.
Most importantly, wear something that lets you show your team spirit while still feeling like yourself.
How Can I Show Team Spirit Without Wearing a Jersey?
You definitely don’t need a jersey to dress for gameday.
Try incorporating your school colors through:
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A dress or top in your team color
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A silk scarf or twilly
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Statement earrings
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Colorful bracelets
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A fun handbag
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Cowboy boots or sneakers
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A few carefully chosen accessories
Even one pop of your team color can make an otherwise simple outfit feel gameday ready.
What Should I Wear to a Tailgate?
Comfort matters.
For a tailgate, try denim shorts or jeans with a cute top, an easy dress or a lightweight matching set.
Add comfortable sneakers or boots, a crossbody bag and a few accessories to finish the look.
If you’re going to be outside for several hours, think about the weather before anything else. Those September football Saturdays can get hot, so lightweight fabrics, comfortable shoes and accessories that won’t bother you in the heat are always a good idea.
What Accessories Are Best for Gameday?
Some of our favorites include:
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Silk scarves and twillies
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Statement earrings
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Layered necklaces
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Colorful bracelets
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Crossbody bags
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Cowboy boots
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Team-colored accessories
Accessories are especially helpful if you already own plenty of basics. Start with a simple outfit and add a few pieces in your school colors instead of buying a completely new look for every game.
Shopping for Your School?
Looking for your team's colors? Shop our gameday collections to find dresses, tops, accessories and jewelry that make getting dressed for Saturday a little easier.
SHOP TEXAS GAMEDAY →
SHOP TEXAS A&M GAMEDAY →
SHOP TCU GAMEDAY →
SHOP OKLAHOMA GAMEDAY →
SHOP LSU GAMEDAY →
And so many more schools listed on our website!
Ready for Gameday?
Still not sure what to wear?
Start with your school color, choose one comfortable piece you love and build around it with accessories. You don’t need a head-to-toe themed outfit to look gameday ready.
Whether you’re cheering from the stands, tailgating with friends or watching from home, The Palm Tree has everything you need to put together a gameday look you’ll love wearing all season long.
Shop our latest gameday dresses, tops, denim, scarves, accessories and jewelry online, or visit us in Denton, Grapevine or McKinney and let our team help you put together the perfect look.
Styled by The Palm Tree Team
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