I've Been in an NFL Family for 27 Years—Here's How to Dress for Game Day

Before I get started on my personal set of rules for game-day outfits, please keep one thing in mind: Wear whatever you want. Attending a football game can often mean standing outside for hours in inclement weather, tailgating at the break of dawn, and sitting on uncomfortable benches. If activewear styled with a jersey makes your day easy, go for it. However, there's something about the spirit of game day that makes me want to get all dressed up.

I'm usually seeing a lot of family members and friends and attending a celebratory dinner or pregame brunch. When I was young and still living at home with my parents, I was coming off a week of school uniforms and responsibilities. Game day was always my opportunity to hang out with friends and get creative with what I wore. Over time, my affinity for game-day style grew, and I began to step it up. Especially since I now attend maybe four games per season, the outfits I wear hold a lot of weight.

This past weekend, I was fortunate enough to attend a game that my father was scouting at. I made myself busy by mingling with politicians and notable alums, which made me feel like I had a peek into what the elite were wearing to the football game. I found that they followed my go-to outfit formula for a big game.

My game-day outfit formula:

I spent many years hoping to buy the latest jersey, but with jerseys going for $150+ these days and my love for fashion, I tend to avoid any team logos. Following in the footsteps of major designers who are currently still pushing the logo-free agenda, I find it more alluring for a clothing item to leave room for the imagination when it comes to where it's from and what team you're supporting. I lean into the color palette of the team's logo and build my shopping choices around that. I'm currently rooting for the Washington Commanders, so when I see a burgundy or yellowish-tan clothing item, I'll often pick it up and save it for game day. This is the way most women who are insiders in the football world dress, and I love how chic it makes going to a football game. Give this advice a try.

Let's shop out more outfit ideas:

Style Tip: Wear a pair of comfortable nylon joggers with a crop top for an undoubtedly comfortable ensemble.

Shop the look:

Style Tip: Feel like showing your team spirit? Any vintage sports attire in your team's colors is a chic take on game-day style.

Shop the look:

Style Tip: You'll never go wrong with stripes and denim for game day.

Shop the look:

Style Tip: Turn a night game into a party with a unique matching set or jumpsuit like this one—you can go straight from the game to the afters.

Shop the look:

Style Tip: For that in-between weather when it's too hot to wear a jacket but too cold to go without, style a puffer vest with a turtleneck.

Shop the look:

Style Tip: You can also wear an oversize sweater with straight-leg jeans. To give it an added touch of cool, style your look with a pair of lug-sole boots.

Shop the look:

Style Tip: People always tell me they think that certain teams' colors are hard to make chic, but even orange and teal can make a fashion statement.

Shop the look:

Style Tip: If you want to make a statement, choose a sweater in your team's color and add a contrasting skirt.

Shop the look:

Style Tip: When you don't know what to wear, you can never go wrong with a button-down shirt and white jeans.

Shop the look: