Clothes don’t make the human. But they do make an impression. Sometimes, that impression is less effortlessly timeless and more Miami-trendy.
One Gainesville-based University of Florida student has got opinions on the fashion habits of her classmates. SofiaVaron1 (@sofiavaron741) notes that in Gainesville, they don’t exactly dress the way the Southeastern Conference (SEC) recommends. And with 66,000 views of her TikTok, the internet is taking notice.
Dressing For Success
Over in-video text that reads, “The University of Florida is the ‘least SEC school’ out of all the SEC schools,” Varon walks and talks. She says she feels that if she attended the University of Georgia and was wearing what she wore to tailgate at UF, the other students would be like, “What?” in the most disparaging sense of the word.
She explains that she wears “jean shorts—a lot more of like, I don’t know—[in a] more of a ‘trendy aesthetic'” kind of way.
“Kind of like what you’d wear to a U Miami or a, like, an FSU tailgate,” she clarifies. “Nobody really wears long dresses and everything like all the other SEC schools. I think their aesthetic is very country and preppy,” she says.
Regional Variations—Is North Florida Really The South?
But then, she pauses in her fashion critique to reflect on how Florida’s culture might impact sartorial choices. She says, “Florida’s the most southern state, but it’s definitely not the South. UF is filled with so many Florida and Miami kids. First off, it’s very Latin; a lot of Latinos go here. On top of that, I feel like a lot of people from Jersey come here. So UF is like Miami-slash-New-Jersey, and that’s kind of what, like, the vibe is. Kind of.”
Then she clarifies, “It’s still SEC with, like, sports and everything, but definitely not that same kind of vibe.” She goes on to admit that she imagines people who’re not familiar with the school think of it as another typical SEC school. But she says, “We’re not like that, that.”
She thinks it’s funny they’re in the same conference.
OK, But What Does ‘That, That’ Mean?
If you’re unfamiliar with the traditions of the Southeastern Conference, game day attire is generally a little more formal (think Sunday best). That means sweaty as it can be, men are often wearing blazers, bow ties, or a team jerseys. Women wear everything from jewels to sundresses; everyone is encouraged to “avoid outrageously themed [outfits] to spur a reaction.” Especially considering that fans of opposing teams often mingle during the tailgate party.
The tailgate party at some schools has also evolved: Think chandeliers, tablecloths, televisions, and more.
Why are games considered an opportunity to dress up? CNN reports that it is a combination of factors. College football is considered “a religion” in the South, in part because, historically, professional southern teams haven’t been as prominent as their northern and western counterparts.
That same article also notes that in the South, “every social event is a big deal.” And to show love for their teams, they show up in their best. And your best means keeping it classy, wearing team colors, and being smart about footwear. Because you never know if you’re going to end up on the live broadcast.
Jorts Have Entered The Chat
Users are quick to agree with Varon, noting UF’s unique place in the SEC.
“As a gator mom and as a Baton Rouge native born and raised I can 100% tell you that I tell my daughter all the time that UF is a school IN the SEC but it’s not an SEC school. Hope that makes sense,” 1stitchinmomma (@1stitchinmomma) said.
Grace Caroline (@grace.bastow) also noticed a Miami-vibe, saying, “It’s so funny because it really is because of Miami influence. I can always tell when people are from Gainesville vs just go to school here bc it’s like southern dresses vs Miami ish outfit.”
“I came to UF for grad school from UGA and the culture shock is unreal,” added Warner (@savagemode_2).
Other users lament UF’s more casual style. “I love UF but I really wanna wear the long dresses and fancy outfits like bama,” said Mayahhyder2 (@mayahhyder2).
But, considering Mike (@floridatampaman) offered the fashion history note, “Florida invented jorts,” folks who want to dress up for game day might just have to do it despite the proliferation of cut-offs.
Either way: Welcome to the swamp.
BroBible reached out to Sofia Varon via email and TikTok direct message. We’ll update this article if she gets back to us.
@sofiavaron741 still the best SEC school though👀#uf #universityofflorida #sec #collegefootball #college