The Grove: Ole Miss' Runway

“Are you ready?” “Hell yeah, damn right,” the famous hotty toddy chant echoes throughout the ten-acres Grove. Thousands of people huddle under hundreds of tailgating tents adorned with spirited banners, elaborate flower arrangements, and even picturesque chandeliers. Men and women alike are dressed to the nines for the biggest event of the year, football season. Yes ladies and gentleman, the changing of the leaves and shortening of the days not only bring fall’s cooler weather, but also the excitement of Ole Miss football.

Robert C. Khayat, former chancellor of the University of Mississippi, has been quoted as referring to the Grove as a “spiritual place “ that turns into “Mississippi’s number one social event,” and with such a reputation, one must dress appropriately for the prestigious occasion.

While watching the Rebels take on their competitors in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium is an exciting conquest, one cannot deny that attending an Ole Miss football game is as much about what to wear as it is about the sport. During the past two weekends, I have watched countless fans ranging from two-months, to nearly eighty years old in range participate in America’s most elaborate pregame ritual, while cheering on their favorite football team in high style. If one thing is for sure, in the Grove on game days, style does not go unnoticed.

For the lady’s, cowgirl boots, red lipstick, and affiliation buttons seem to match some sort of Grove dress code. Blythe Brumleve seemed to sum up women’s Grove attire perfectly when she wrote, “at Ole Miss, high heels are encouraged, sun dresses are a requirement and wearing a t-shirt is just outlawed.” For junior Special Education major, Kelley Hansbrough, hair plays a big part of her whole game day appearance. “I always bring my teasing brush, and a really nice brush because I have really tangley hair and it just whips it into shape.” McKenzie Cavanaugh, a sophomore Exercise Science major from Rhode Island believes that fashion outweighs practicality. “Heels are a must have for game day. They may not be the most comfortable thing, but in a place like the grove, you have to be on your A-game.” Regardless of your opinion, Grove goers alike can all agree that the Grove demands a little more effort than the usual Nike shorts and oversized t-shirt.

Although women make up a majority of the fashion participants, men also use the Grove as a perfect opportunity to showcase their outfits. Boys of all ages adorned in blazers, slacks, and bow ties cover the Grove during football weekends. For guys like sophomore Journalism major, Daniel Dubuisson, the Grove acts as their catwalk to display both preppy, and flashy attire. “I will wear bright, stand out colors, or a white blazer, or something that you would not normally see, just because I do not really like to go with the status quo,” Dubuisson said. In contrast, sophomore Criminal Justice major, Darian White likes to keep his Grove attire simple, yet timeless. “I tend to stick to khaki shorts and a nice Ole Miss button down shirt,” White stated. Although both styles are vastly different, one can be assured that a multitude of style preferences are represented in the Grove.

As the game draws to an end, and the final whistle is blown, marking the end of another well-fought game, many fans flock back to their tents to recap the most memorable plays. At this point, many girls have transitioned from their high heels to more sensible flats, their perfectly curled tresses have slowly fallen, and their seemingly airbrushed makeup has nearly melted away. The men walk back with sweaty blazers in hand and the strong smell of beer on their breath, while sweat roles down their now red face. As everyone discusses plans for the night, one cannot help but wonder the immense amount of work that went into the now sweaty game day outfit. Although much of their hard work has now been faded away by alcohol and sweat, Grover’s are already planning the next games outfit, insuring that the legendary tradition of the Grove continues.