The Evolution of Gamedays

Written By Cassidy Ratner

With the long lasting tradition of the University of Michigan’s football games has come the nearly just as long lasting tradition of celebrating them. And just as these celebrations have evolved, so have the outfits that are worn to them. While throwing on anything with a block M or maize and blue colors once felt as innovative as necessary, with every passing season students set out to make their gameday outfits even trendier and more inventive than the previous years’.

Straying away from Michigan merchandise that is likely to be also worn by at least a handful of other students on the same day, vintage apparel has begun to enter the scene of any football game or tailgate alike. One of a kind resold and revamped pieces have allowed for students to make an individual statement of their liking. In recent years, students have been able to find these pieces on campus, no longer needing to rely on third party websites such as Depop or Poshmark. Motivation, a clothing store located conveniently in the middle of South University Avenue, provides a carefully curated collection of vintage crewnecks, jerseys, jackets, and hats. Only one of each piece is sold as new merchandise cycles in to replace it once it is sold. This allows for every item sold at Motivation to be unique and distinctive, causing any outfit to be differentiated from the rest. Similarly, University Vintage has recently opened a permanent location on State street, as opposed to holding pop up shops as they had done in previous years. They carry a similar selection of vintage pieces as Motivation, and was co-founded by an alumni of the Ross School of Business.

In addition to diversifying gameday outfits through non-replicable clothing items, students have also been using larger scale designer brands and purchasing their blue and yellow pieces that could be worn on countless other occasions aside from games. From navy Aritzia playsuits to yellow pleated I Am Gia skirts, these items not only follow recent trends but their versatility far proceeds a one time wear that traditional gameday clothing has previously been known for.