If there’s anything you need to know about college, it’s that any event can be used as an excuse to dress up.
From the classic going-out top to brunch with friends, students will always look for an opportunity to put on a cute outfit.
But what happens when your gameday fits don’t make the cut? You make some more, of course! Here are the best fashion tips and tricks to make sure your DIY gameday fit steals the show.
Slice team spirit shirts
You remember those free T-shirts they literally threw at you at the beginning of the year? Make use of those bad boys now.
Simply cut the neckline off of a shirt you like the design of, and stretch it to your shoulders to relax the fit, and just like that, it’s ready to wear.
While you’ve got the scissors, you can also crop the bottom of a shirt. It helps add movement to the shirt and functions to show off that cute belt I know you just had to buy at the thrift store.
For either of these, I also recommend flipping the shirt inside out before cutting. The hemline tends to roll, and by doing it inside out, you can force the roll to look more intentional.
If you’re feeling extra scissor happy, you can also make a no-sew halter top to instantly upgrade any T-shirt with a design you like. I’ve found this one works best with tops that are a little too big to be worn regularly.
Customize plain clothes
Customization of premade clothing has been a popular trend in college culture lately, and it’s not hard to see why.
There is a certain appeal to being able to take a shirt that fits well and decorate it exactly how you want, and oftentimes, it ends up being cheaper and more fun to do.
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Embroidery is easy to learn and doesn’t require many materials. Simply grab some embroidery floss at any craft store, and you can add anything from simple collar stitching to more complex patterns.
If you’re really feeling fancy, I love the reverse appliqué technique. Pin a piece of fabric inside a shirt or sweatshirt, embroider letters or a design, and then cut out the letters on the top layer.
Over the summer, I used this technique to create a Miami spirit sweatshirt for my boyfriend, and it only took about a day of work to create something he wears often.
Buttons
Another trend that I am completely in love with is wearing buttons to accessorize an outfit. They’re a simple, fun touch that can be easily reused without having to wear the same thing.
You can buy pins online, but it’s so much more fun to make your own.
Gather some friends, some coloring supplies and a button maker. You can also print off photos, or make designs online and print them if that’s more your style.
Makeup and face paint
I will start this one off with a warning: Those eyeblack stickers they give out are destined to give you an evil tan line.
That being said, there are plenty of easy ways to utilize makeup and face paint to decorate for the game, without having the dreaded eyeblack sticker semi-permanently etched on your face.
Use eyeshadow in team colors to add spirit subtly, or if you’re feeling extra, use face paint in order to draw on dots or colorful eyeblack.
With these tips and tricks, you’re sure to have some of the best outfits in the game, and that’s even compared to the people all wearing matching jerseys.
Elise Hanna is the Digital Media editor and a sophomore strategic communication major. Alongside writing, she is involved in Kappa Alpha Pi, a resident assistant and enjoys the Detroit Lions, the Muppets and learning about the Watergate scandal.
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