On the morning of Saturday, Sept. 27, University of Missouri students, alumni and Tiger fans lined the streets of downtown Columbia to watch the annual Mizzou Homecoming Parade. This event marked the beginning of a day full of Tiger pride and football festivities, but it was also a fashion spectacle.
There seemed to be an unspoken dress code that screamed Mizzou. Columbia seemed to come alive into a breathing thing with the gold sequins, stripes and jerseys that played a part in the loud outfits worn by the many excited fans.
Bejeweled ambush
Alumni Denaye Sperling brightened up the sidewalk with a bright gold sequined jacket that reflected the light. Her daughter, Eden, matched in the same gold sequins. Sperling had planned her and her daughter’s outfits months prior to the parade.
“The sequins are a big deal,” Sperling said. “We wear a lot of sparkles, not always black and gold, but it is just for this weekend, obviously.”
Polka dots, not stripes
Junior Amanda Orth dressed classy and put together on Saturday morning. Her white A-line polka dot dress paired with her white cowgirl boots echoed a southern charm, channeling Mizzou’s Southeastern Conference status.
“My favorite part of my outfit is definitely my boots,” Orth said. “They’ve been with me since freshman year of high school. They’re very broke in. They’re very dirty, but I wear them to everything.”
Despite her outfit being so well put together, her look was somewhat last-minute as she purchased the dress from a friend only three days prior. The trendiness of her dress was also undeniable.
“Polka dots is a trend that I did not know would come back until it did, and I was like, okay, period I love that,” Orth said.
Orth’s look served as a reminder that a classy polka dot dress with a good pair of boots will ensure you stand out in a sea of stripes.
Freshman fashionista
It was hard to miss first-year Rory Barnes in the crowd thanks to her bedazzled top and Mizzou print ‘60s golf cap.
Barnes noted the gold fish necklace hanging around her neck was made by her. With her vintage hat and DIY accessory paired together, she brought a youthful spirit to the parade’s fashion scene.
Double Trouble
Graduate students Lily and Mimi Brown arrived at the parade in eye-catching outfits with their dog, Martha. Lily Brown wore a pair of yellow and black striped bib overalls, creating a balance between spirit and practicality.
“You can change the style of [the overalls],” Lily Brown said. “I wore this for the KU game and I had both of them buckled, but today, it is gonna be hotter, so I unbuckled one of them. It is a bit more versatile than other outfits.”
Mimi Brown wore a black graphic T-shirt with Mizzou’s quarterback, Beau Pribula, collaged on it that she had picked up from a bookstore the previous night. When asked what her favorite part of her outfit was, she didn’t hesitate, stating, “Uh, definitely the player on the short line.”
Pompoms and paw prints
Tracy Shepherd attended the parade in pride and support of her daughter, Quincy Shepherd, who is a member of Mizzou’s cheer squad. To add to the excitement, Tracy Shepherd brought her daughter’s five-month-old puppy, Jersey.
Jersey found her Tiger spirit by sporting a black Mizzou jersey that perfectly fit her small frame. Although she wasn’t Truman, Jersey made the perfect personal cheerleader for Quincey in the crowd.
Tiger fans showed up to Mizzou’s Homecoming Parade ready to celebrate the University of Missouri and the city of Columbia. They did so in style, whether their outfit was thrown on at the last minute in the morning or planned three months in advance. Their fashion told a story of tradition, pride and a whole lot of black and gold.