Farewell

Sad day. This will be my last post on TCU Men's Fall Fashion. Luckily, over the past 9 weeks I think we have covered majority of the emerging fashion trends at TCU. I tried to cover the “basics”, staples to male attire that won’t change anytime soon. Though fashion does evolve. We covered your wardrobe head to toe: shoes, clothes, outerwear, and accessories. But just incase you need a re-cap, I am going to list out the TCU Men's Fashion rules as a quick "go to".

1. When in doubt, wear a pastel polo.
2. Never attend a TCU football game without your boots on.
3. Cold Weather = Northface jacket
4. Go to shoes... Sperry's
5. Koozies and Croakies- Party in style
6. Going out? Wear a button down
7. No shorts with boots
8. With loafers, anything goes
9. Ray Ban Wayfarers are a must
10. Be a man- wear hunting and fishing gear to show it
11. When you graduate, just remember you are dressing for work not class
12. Halloween – Humor

Hopefully, over these past couple months you have been able to take some of my advice and apply it to your daily wardrobe. Just remember, the most important aspect of fashion is making it your own. I have to let you in on a secret...breaking the rules is actually okay. It's called being a trendsetter. You don't have to look like everyone else. People might actually notice you more if you are an individual.

However I will leave you with one last fashion tip for this week in particular. Two words: PINK OUT! As many of you know and you all should know… TCU is ranked #4 as of today in the BCS standings. We have a big game coming up this Saturday, November 14th, against Utah who is ranked #16. AND… ESPN College Game Day is going to be hosted right here in Fort Worth, Texas. So be prepared to be on TV Saturday and cheer on the frogs. This weeks game supports breast cancer awareness. So wear your boots and your pink and purple and cheer on the Frogs!!! Face painting and making signs is a must. We have to show our Horned Frog Spirit. And on a fashion note, check out the new uniforms sponsored by Nike.



So this is goodbye ☹ I must say I thoroughly enjoyed observing all the trends around campus. Keep it classy TCU!

Halloween Weekend at TCU

Halloween at TCU, enough said. This is one of the most eventful weekends of the year and as I sit here I am just reflecting and taking in all that I saw. You may think this isn’t exactly men’s fashion advice, but it is. This is a fashion review- take it in for next year whether you will still be attending TCU or not.
The parties usually commence Thursday night, this year it was a blowout at Fat Daddy’s where the rapper Lil’ Flip performed. Friday night parties continued and Saturday happened to be the homecoming football game! Frogs demolished UNLV 41-0 as they were cheered on by fans in the stands, some even in costume. Saturday night was the pinnacle of the festivities and partiers even got an extra hour because of daylight savings! Twas a great weekend for frogs.

Costumes. There were some epic 2009 costumes that must be mentioned. The Facebook (yes you could write on his wall with Sharpie), Balloon Boy, and Swine Flu.





Halloween is the one weekend of the year where nearly everyone goes out, you have an excuse to dress up and have fun and not care what anyone thinks. However sometimes I wonder about you men? There was far too many of you dressed up as women. I don’t know if here is some inner desire to try out what its like to wear makeup and have boobs or you just think it’s funny. Then there are the scary costumes where we must wonder if you are demented. And there is those of you who like to cover your identity completely with a mask so no one can tell who you are. Are you going to do something bad and try to get away with it or do you just like to confuse your friends? There are so many options on Halloween and everyone is guaranteed to be entertained.
The key to Halloween weekend is to stand out in the crowd. The best way to do so is to come up with an original idea. Humor is your best bet. You know it’s a good costume when random people stop you on the street and ask to take their picture with you. Whether you are a ghoul or a ghost or a cow or a Reno 911 cop or a boy or a girl… make it good and you’ll be sure to make friends.

Wear Your Boots Right

As the weather continually gets cooler I see more and more guys wearing their cowboy boots around campus. This is okay in certain circumstances but sometimes its just not
#1 Rule as was stated in the memo on boots at the football game, you may not under any circumstances wear cowboy boots with your shorts.

You may however wear them with jeans or khakis. Lots of guys wear them around campus with their khakis and a button down or polo, which is a fine look. You will see a lot of this around the Neeley Business School buildings.

If you want to see REAL boots and jeans though, you should head over to The Ranch Management Building on Stadium. That is where the cowboys are at. They are not posing or wearing them for style, they are wearing boots for their intended purpose of functionality, but it has created its own style in a sense. Wranglers and dirty boots are the definition of a cowboy and we embrace that in Fort Worth, or should I say Cowtown? We’ve got lots of true cowboys in the community outside of TCU and they know how to do it right.

Therefore, if you are a poser, which 96% of men on campus wearing boots probably are, you should at least show respect to the true style. Make yourself look rugged you know. That is why boots are so pertinent at football games. It is a manly activity.
Also, don’t be afraid to get a little dirt or dust on your boots it just makes them look more authentic and gives you character. After all, you are most likely wearing these with khakis and pastel shirt of sorts which you probably wouldn’t find a cowboy caught dead in. Real cowboys wear their boots year round, not just when the weather is permitting.

We love TCU and we respect it and its trends and fashions but we also need to respect the larger community. One of the largest boot companies worldwide, Justin Boots, is headquartered just down the road. So we have some major heritage to respect and live up to. Go have a barbecue sandwich at the Railhead some afternoon, guys in there can show you how to wear your boots.

So in honor of Fort Worth and the rodeo and the stockyards and to all the cowboys in here, wear your boots right. Hell, you might even try on some Wranglers and like them too.

Keep it Cool

It is finally late enough in fall that we are beginning to have cold or rather cool days. The closer it gets to November the colder it will become. Before we know it the holidays will be approaching and everyone will be shivering around campus in their coats and scarves.

However, we are in Texas so we have to leave room for error it could be eighty degrees some days in November but nonetheless we need to prepare your wardrobe. Since we are in Texas and you can’t really rely on the weather I wouldn’t recommend going out and spending a lot of money but bulky winter clothes that you might or might not get to use. So unless you plan to go skiing or are from a colder climate and you need these items anyways let’s keep it basic.

There is really only one main item you need for a Texas winter and that is a Northface jacket. Like the polo this is just such a versatile piece! And guess what you can even wear them together. A Northface jacket is ideal because it is warm, it is comfortable, it is fashionable and it is original. They come in all different patterns and fabrics. Though again, to ensure you stay fashionable I would keep it basic. If you get a neutral color like black or navy blue it will go with anything. Your polos should be where you have a “splash” of color in your wardrobe; you do not want to clash with that.

North Face jackets are great because they can be worn with any attire we have previously mentioned. They are great for a chilly evening at a football game, or a cold outdoor house party in someone’s backyard, a bonfire at the ranch, walking to class on a cold morning. There are endless possibilities. This is also one trend that is popular outside of the TCU community. If you do go skiing and go north to a colder destination for the holidays with your North Face jacket you are sure to fit in anywhere you go. Chances are, they will be wearing them too!

North Face is also “cool” because it is considered real sporting gear sold at sporting gear stores so people will probably think you are pretty hardcore if you wear it. Goes back to the sexy edginess factor.

So go buy a North Face, everybody’s doing it!

P.S. Check out this video... TCU guys aren't the only ones who can do it in style. Take some tips from these East Coast Pros. They know how to dress and how to partaayy!

Hunting and Fishing Attire

Sporting attire is another trend we see around campus. TCU men are so rough and rugged they have to portray this side of them in their everyday lives. Even on campus men like to wear their hunting and fishing attire. Maybe they want others to know that this is what they do on the weekends or maybe this isn’t what they do on the weekends but they just want others to think that they are cool. Or possibly they think this is how they find people with similar interests, it strikes up a whole conversation.

Fishing first. If you want to be considered a real man on the TCU campus you need to sport your fishing attire and it has to be brand name. Your shirt should have all kinds of flaps and pockets and zippers to accommodate all of your tools needed. You won’t necessarily be carrying around a pole and bait but dressing like this will help you catch your desired bait around campus. Ladies dig this style so much they have picked up on it too. Be careful though, if she stays over your favorite fishing shirt might go missing.

Hunting attire is a necessity as well. Camouflage on campus has the opposite effect from its intended purpose. Rather than making you blend in, it actually sets you apart. Well maybe I shouldn’t say sets you apart but it lets others know that you have style and you know what’s going on. Also, camo makes it an automatic assumption that you actually hunt which can induce a fear factor in people because you can use a gun. Intimidation is always a good thing.

What to Wear Post- Graduation

This week we are going to take some tips from our TCU Alumni. Along with preparing yourself mentally and academically for graduation you must also prepare your wardrobe. Although khaki shorts and Sperry’s are the greatest, you cannot always wear them into the office.

When you get out of college you no longer want to have that “I am in college” look anymore or maybe you do want to, but you shouldn’t. It works now but it is not going to work forever. When you graduate, even if you live a similar lifestyle, you are going to have to step it up a bit.

Polos are still and always will be acceptable. You can wear them in the office with slacks, on the golf course with clients and still pretty much everywhere except in a formal setting.

Your post graduation daily attire will really be dependant on the dress code of the office where you work, assuming that you will of course work. If it is casual you can wear polos and slacks. Business casual- slacks and a button down but not necessarily a tie or coat. Formal- you are in a suit and tie. This is all pretty standard and all this you should definitely already know. The Neeley School has made you dress for presentations.

My concern is your after work attire. When you go out - you need to look good. It doesn’t matter if you are rolling in the dough at first or not you can look good and be classified as a thirty-thousand millionaire. The point is, at least you will look good.

At The Aardvark or The Moon you can get away with looking like pretty much whatever you want. But the truth is whether you know it or not, no one takes you seriously right now besides your fellow classmates. In public, people look at you, shrug their shoulders and let out a “huh while tilting their head. Don’t be bothered by this- while you are still in college take advantage of it because girls here dig it. Just start preparing for the future gradually. Wearing a button-down and a blazer out with some loafers every once in a while doesn’t hurt anyone. Try a change of venue and go downtown one night dressed nicely and see how well you are received.

Also, if by chance you make it through college without a significant other take these tips so that you can meet an older more sophisticated woman on your level. If you like ‘em young you may want to continue to dress like a tool on weekends. Just watch yourself, there tend to be some especially young ones at the ‘Vark”.

What to Wear at a TCU Football Game

Hello fellow Horned Frogs! In case you are unaware, TCU had their first home football game this last Saturday, the 19^th, versus Texas State University. The team pulled out a win, 56-21. They also beat Clemson on the road yesterday 14-10. We’re 3-0, Go Frogs!!!

If you attend TCU you know that going to the football game is a must, everybody does it! Well, everyone may not actually make it through the game or even make it to the actual game at all. But most everyone makes it to the tailgate. Good friends, good food, beer - need I explain more?

Therefore, if you are going to attend the social events of the season you want to know what to wear! This is very important.

First off, cowboy boots are a must. There is just something about watching a football game while wearing boots, it must make you manlier or something. Since you aren’t out there playing you don’t want to confuse others by wearing tennis shoes. Wearing boots is a sign to let others know you came to party. Plus people are known to get sloppy at the tailgate so the dirtier your boots get the tougher and more in style you look. (This rule also applies to the more beer you drink.) As we have addressed Sperry’s and loafers are great, but not for a football game.

The only exception to not wearing boots is if it is just too hot and you must wear shorts. If you wear shorts, you are not allowed to EVER wear boots with them, NOT OKAY.

So, boots are a given but then we have another dilemma. What do you wear with your pants of choice and your boots… a polo or a button-down?

We can narrow it down by agreeing it has to be purple or must at least have purple on it somewhere. We also all know that just a plain ole TCU t-shirt is not cool these days. So, what to do?

My advice is just to mix it up in the season, maybe start out wearing your different purple polos while the weather is hot and as it gets cooler move into the button down. Another factor to consider is a day game versus a night game. Day game, you get to go home before you go out after the game but a night game you may just want to go straight to the bar. It’s already a little cooler at night so, the button-down may be the way to go. The decision is yours.

Next home game, TCU vs. SMU, Saturday 7:00pm. You better be there in your button-downs. Stay classy - make those pansies, my bad, ponies, look even worse! Again, Go Frogs!