Hey y'all! It's officially football season, and whether you're tailgating all day, cheering from the stands, or watching from the couch with snacks, you deserve to look and feel great doing it.
The short answer: a great game day outfit starts with a top in your team's colors (a graphic tee, a simple colored top, or a cute top in a neutral). Add comfortable jeans and boots or sneakers, a stadium-approved clear bag, and one or two accessories in team colors. Then plan a layer for the weather, because early-season games are hot and late-season games get chilly fast.
Here's my complete game day checklist, plus four outfit formulas you can steal this weekend.
Your Game Day Checklist
1. A top in your team colors
This is the easiest place to show your spirit. A collegiate-style graphic tee in burnt orange or a fun football slogan tee does all the work for you. Not a graphic tee girl? A simple top in your team's color, like a maroon dolman-sleeve top, looks polished and still says exactly who you're cheering for.
2. A stadium-approved clear bag
Most stadiums only allow clear bags now, so this is one game day essential you can't skip. The good news is they've gotten so much cuter. Look for a clear crossbody with a chain or vegan leather trim in your team color. Then add a swappable game day strap so the same bag works for every team in your house.
3. Accessories that do the cheering
Accessories are the secret to a game day look that feels like you, not a uniform. A chunky beaded necklace in team colors, a scarf necklace with a team charm, a Morse code bracelet, or a simple Texas pendant all add personality without going overboard. Pick one statement piece and keep the rest simple.
4. Comfortable bottoms and shoes
You'll be on your feet, climbing bleachers, and walking from the parking lot, so comfort wins. Your favorite jeans are always right, and denim shorts or a skirt work for warm early-season games. For shoes, pick boots you can actually walk in, or clean white sneakers.
5. A layer for the weather
Early-season games can be hot, but night games and late-season games cool off fast once the sun goes down. Tie a lightweight layer around your waist or tuck it in your clear bag. A quarter zip or a long sleeve top in a team-adjacent color, like rust, is perfect. (Need ideas? Check out How to Style Thermals and Long Sleeve Tops.)
The Clear Bag Rules, Explained
I get asked about this all the time in the store, so here's the quick version. Most college and NFL stadiums follow the same basic rules. At UT's stadium in Austin, for example, you can bring:
- One clear bag no larger than 12" x 6" x 12" (or a one-gallon clear zip-top bag)
- Plus one small clutch or wristlet that doesn't have to be clear, as long as it's no bigger than 4.5" x 6.5" (about the size of your hand)
That means your regular purse, tote, or backpack stays in the car. A clear crossbody plus a tiny clutch for your phone and cards is the easiest combo, and it's way cuter than a plastic freezer bag!
Policies can change and vary by venue, so always double-check your stadium's website before you go.
4 Game Day Outfit Formulas
The Burnt Orange Formula
Hook 'em! Start with a burnt orange varsity-style graphic tee and give it a front tuck into your favorite light-wash jeans. Add western boots, a clear crossbody with orange trim, and a burnt orange beaded necklace. It's classic, comfortable, and stadium-ready.
Formula: burnt orange graphic tee + light-wash jeans + boots + clear crossbody + statement necklace
Shop: Game Day · Graphic Tees
The Maroon Formula
For my Aggie girls, try a maroon top instead of a graphic tee for a slightly dressier look. A relaxed dolman-sleeve top with a little ruching is flattering and easy to move in. Pair it with dark jeans, add a scarf necklace with a team charm, and switch your clear bag strap to maroon and white.
Formula: maroon top + dark jeans + scarf necklace + clear bag with team strap
Shop: Fashion Tops · Necklaces
The Any-Team Formula
Cheering for a team with tricky colors, or a house divided? Go with a fun football slogan tee or tank in white or cream, then bring in team colors through your accessories. A beaded bracelet, a game day bag strap, and a felt hat let you change teams week to week without buying a new outfit.
Formula: neutral football graphic tee + jeans or denim shorts + team-color accessories + felt hat
Shop: Game Day · Accessories
The Watching-From-Home Formula
Not every game day means a stadium. For a watch party or a cozy afternoon on the couch, pair your team-color tee with soft jeans or joggers. Throw a quarter zip over the top when it cools off, and keep your jewelry on so you're ready if plans change. Comfortable, but still cute.
Formula: team-color tee + relaxed jeans or joggers + quarter zip + everyday jewelry
Shop: Long Sleeve Tops · Fashion Tops
Shop the Look
- Everything game day in one place: Game Day
- Team-color and football graphic tees: Graphic Tees
- Colored tops and quarter zips: Fashion Tops
- Clear stadium bags and straps: Bags
- Game day necklaces and bracelets: Necklaces and Accessories
- Jeans: Jeans
- Boots: Shoes
Game Day FAQ
What size clear bag is allowed in college football stadiums? Most stadiums allow one clear bag up to 12" x 6" x 12", or a one-gallon clear zip-top bag, plus one small clutch up to about 4.5" x 6.5" that doesn't have to be clear. Rules vary by venue, so check your stadium's website before game day.
What should a woman wear to a college football game? Wear a top in your team's colors, comfortable jeans or shorts, and shoes you can walk and climb stairs in. Bring a clear bag and one or two team-color accessories. Add a light layer for night games, since temperatures drop quickly after sunset.
How do you dress for a football game without wearing a jersey? Pick a graphic tee or a simple top in team colors, or wear a neutral top and bring in team colors with accessories like a beaded necklace, bag strap, or bracelet. It shows your spirit and still feels like your own style.
What do you wear to a football game when it's cold? Layer a long sleeve top or thermal under a quarter zip, sweatshirt, or jacket. Choose jeans over shorts and boots over sneakers, and add a scarf in team colors for extra warmth.
Game day is about having fun, cheering loud, and feeling good in what you're wearing. Shop our Game Day collection online, or stop by the boutique in Historic Downtown Buda before kickoff. We'll help you put together the whole look!
xoxo, Amy
Amy Krell is the owner of Ellipsis Boutique in Buda, Texas, and has been helping women find comfortable, on-trend outfits since 2017.
