I went to visit Eldest at school this weekend. It was the weekend of their first game (Saturday), so I got to experience Austin in full game-day glory. Can you grasp the concept of 150,000 people shoved into one relatively small area, all dressed in burnt orange? I felt positively blasphemous in my turquoise tank top.
Now, normally, Austin fashion falls into the "anything goes" category. It's quite the melange. There's a bit of every possible fashion sense to be found in Austin, which makes it pretty groovy in my book. You'll always be grounded to the Longhorn aesthetic by a goodly number of students in their "Hook 'Em Horns" orange gear, but it's usually a small smattering, just enough to remind you of where you are. The goal of fashion in general here is to wear what you like, like what you wear, and hope that a little piece of you shines through.
Game days, on the other hand, are a completely different story. The entire city's fashion aspirations magically align, and suddenly everyone looks fantastic in burnt orange. The goal suddenly becomes totally different. A little more challenging in some respects. On game days, it is imperative that you wear something, ANYTHING, in the only color that exists on the color wheel: burnt orange. However, you still want your personality to make an appearance, so the big trick is to search for clothing items that are your style but made in that one hideous, unifying color. The entire second floor of the Co-op is reserved for women's clothing (with a stunning array of styles but not much in the way of color selection)! I saw girls in cute little shift dresses in burnt orange, polos in burnt orange, flip flops in burnt orange, Soffe shorts in burnt orange, baseball tees in burnt orange, and on and on it went; it was truly a sight to behold, this veritable ocean of orange threatening to pull you under in its insidious current.
Something strange overcomes you when you go to Austin. Even those of us with no school spirit to speak of suddenly have the urge to "throw the horns" and buy something hideously orange. Even me. Yes, even me.
hee hee.
If I'd known it was a home weekend, I'd have given you a little something to sport from Anna's closet.
Posted by: BlueLikeTheSky | September 01, 2008 at 07:00 PM
Is it true everything's bigger there?
Georganna @ A Writer's Edge
Posted by: Georganna Hancock | September 01, 2008 at 08:54 PM
I've bestowed upon you an "I Love Your Blog" award!
You can pick it up at my site.
XO,
K
Posted by: BlueLikeTheSky | September 04, 2008 at 10:07 AM
you know you love your adorable new BURNT ORANGE shirt hehe :)
i can't wait to see my WHOLE FAMILY decked in burnt orange for the UT vs. A&M game that we will surely win :D
Posted by: Eldest | September 21, 2008 at 04:48 PM
Isn't awesome? I'm a SOTA (student older than average) and it was the best years of my life. I can't get enough burnt orange. Now I want a Jeep that is burnt orange.
Hook 'em!
Posted by: Bridget | October 25, 2008 at 11:58 AM
I own a store in Charlotte, NC and we specialize in dressing girls for gamedays! We carry 14 different colors-- even burnt orange! Check us out at www.gamedayboutique.com!
Posted by: gameday boutique | January 27, 2009 at 10:27 PM
There is a huge selection of great burnt orange clothing at www.teamcolorscouture.com! Check it out!
Posted by: Catie | September 28, 2009 at 10:37 PM
What are my choices in the fashion industry other then a fashion designer, which I wish I could be but I have no clue on how to sew or draw. Where can I start and work my way up to......Please help! I am 20 and I want to get on the get go. I am not in a fashion school or anything. Because I wanted to be a lawyer but I noticed that I really want to be in the fashion world. I love fashion and I am always into the new fashion.
Posted by: Generic Viagra | April 13, 2010 at 02:48 PM
What are the options for the fashion industry then another stylist, I wish I could be, but I have no idea how to sew or do. Where do I start and work my way up ...... Help! I'm 20 and I want to get you going. I'm not a fashion school or anything.
Posted by: איפור מקצועי | June 14, 2011 at 01:13 AM