The fall semester begins Aug. 21, and with football season hot on its heels, preparation for tailgating is key.

Tailgating season has numerous aspects to it, such as hanging out with friends, reconnecting with alumni, supporting one’s favorite team, and eating food. Regardless of the reason to attend, one aspect of preparation that remains the same is finding the perfect outfit.

One local shop, Imagine Boutique, is preparing for the wave of college students searching for green and gold attire.

“We are continuously trend forecasting and striving to provide outfits that are stylish and versatile,” said Mary-Danse Jarratt, store manager. “We specifically look for items that are green and gold and would be great for tailgates. We also have our own custom graphic tees specifically for football season.”

Jarratt believes versatility will be the trend this season.

“We love pieces that can be worn different ways and can be dressed up or down – such as graphic tees,” explained Jarratt. “We have been seeing graphic tees incorporated in dressier outfits – such as with fun pants and a blazer – and we love that trend. We also will be re-ordering our custom SLU graphic tees, which have been very popular.”

Laura Kehrer, owner of Edge Boutique, shared what accessory she expects to see take off.

“I am really excited to see how people are going to incorporate hair scarves into their tailgating outfits,” said Kehrer. “Hair scarves are the perfect accessory, and it’s perfect for adding something to your pony – especially with how hot it gets down here.”

With Hammond being a college town, local boutiques are aware that students would rather not break their banks on clothing.

According to Kehrer, Edge Boutique has competitive prices with the average price of an item ranging between $20 to $40.

“We make our prices affordable for our customers so they are able to get the most out of what they are buying,” shared Kehrer. “We also occasionally do a student discount where our college students can bring in their student ID cards to receive a discount.”

Tyra McGary, owner of Gypsy Hill Boutique, feels the wide selection of styles they carry is what sets the store apart.

“Students should shop at Gypsy Hill because they will find versatile pieces that can be worn to class, out with friends or even to interviews,” observed McGary. “We have something for any event you may need to attend during college.”

Jarratt explained how Imagine Boutique is different from other boutiques in the area.

“Students are a very big portion of our clientele, so we always have them in mind when buying and trend forecasting,” stated Jarratt. “We keep our prices very reasonable, and we always keep up with new trends. We also carry extended sizes, which sets us apart from other stores in the area.”

Hammond boutiques are dedicated to finding the best styles for fans to support the Lions at their home games this upcoming season.

“We also love getting items that are light for tailgating since it is very warm during football season,” said Kehrer. “We have plenty of styles and options.”