A Gameday in the Life

Today I'm thrilled to share a post I've been thinking about writing for quite sometime. Obviously, I love sharing outfit posts and photos, but I wanted to mix it up and publish something that would speak a little to my typical weekend routine and my life at college. Welcome to a post all about GAMEDAY at Notre Dame!

If you didn't know, Notre Dame has a football program that is really central to the University. Football is part of the culture here, and the majority of students attend the games.

As fun as they are, gamedays are a whirlwind. They usually mean you have an early wakeup call, a trek all around campus to different tailgate locations until kickoff, 4 hours on your feet in the student section during the game, and then finally a reprieve when the game ends. I can only imagine how the students actually playing in the game feel!

Yesterday, we played the University of Virginia and won 35-20 (woohoo!).

A big part of the gameday fun happens at the tailgates in the hours leading up to kickoff. This weekend, since the game began at 3:30, we headed out to the big tailgate parking lot beyond the stadium at around 10:30 am. The forecast was supposed to be really rainy and dreary, but luckily the rain held out and we weren't drenched!

Tailgates are typically hosted by someone's parents or extended family/friends, with the invite spreading through Facebook or word of mouth. We spend most of the morning hopping around from one location to another, socializing with friends and meeting their families. Aside from all of the fun memories made, one reason I really enjoy tailgating is because it's a testament to how close the ND community is. Oftentimes you don't always know the hosts of the tailgate, but you're able to find common ground with them through the shared bond of Notre Dame, and everyone is so welcoming and generous.

Student football tickets give you admission to the student section of the stadium, which has general seating. We usually get into the stadium at around 3 pm to try to get a good view of the field. Sadly, I didn't get to snap any pictures of the actual game itself, but I'll be sure to post some next weekend to give you all an inside peek at the game :)

I wish I could share some stadium pictures from Saturday, because there's nothing quite like seeing it packed to the brim with 70,000 fans! Oh well, I still have a pretty good view of the stadium on a typical Monday from my perch on the 13th floor of the library as I write this post!

I hope you enjoyed a little peek into what a typical gameday is like here, and let me know if you're interested in seeing more of these posts! Have a great week!

Put a Bow On It

This jumpsuit is hands-down my favorite early fall item in my closet. I was originally browsing Instagram and came across a boutique called Clementine LA. I thought it had such a fabulous range of items, and I love to support small clothing businesses whenever I can.

In my first order, I purchased the belt I highlighted two posts ago ("A Dressed Down Button Down"), as well as this jumpsuit. I wasn't sure if it would be petite-friendly or even if it would be flattering on me, but I was so drawn to the cute pumpkin-colored print and ruffled neckline that I had to give it a try.

I am SO happy I did, because it has quickly become a staple in my wardrobe. It is unbelievably comfortable--the fit is perfect (it's not even too long on me and I'm 5'1! Hooray!), and the wide pant legs feel like I'm wearing my coziest PJ pants!

I often have a problem with necklines being a bit too low on me, but with the snap closure and the adjustable straps, I have had no such problem with this jumpsuit! The neckline is flirty while still modest.

And of course, the bow! My favorite detail of all.

I have received so many complements on this jumpsuit, and I cannot recommend it enough. If you're looking for a fun and unique item to add to your fall collection, this is the one!

Jumpsuit: available here 

Leafy Greens

As much as I love fall, it's so hard for me to say goodbye to short skirts and flowy sundresses. There's just something about warm-weather clothes the summer pastel color palette that I find so lovely and feminine.

Nevertheless, the seasons keep changing, so I suppose my fashion must as well! I love that this outfit is appropriate for transitioning to fall, yet still retains a little bit of that summer vibe, with the little cap sleeves and sandals.

Best of all, the skirt has deep pockets! Especially now that I'm back at school and have a lot of walking to do, it's so convenient when I can pop my phone, headphones, etc., in my pocket and not have to worry about digging around in my backpack on my way to class. So convenient!

This top, with its cute little button detailing, is actually a ribbed bodysuit. When I think of bodysuits I typically think of something more suitable for "going out," but this really is the perfect everyday bodysuit (I actually featured it in white on my story a little while back!). So casual and cute, and you never have to worry about readjusting when it's tucked into the skirt. Plus, it has snaps!

This pretty army green color is definitely something I'll be incorporating more of in my fall wardrobe. What colors are you looking forward to wearing this season?

A Dressed Down Button-Down

Today I wanted to hop on the blog and a) end my brief hiatus while I was adjusting to my new college schedule, and b) share with you what I consider a perfect summer-to-fall outfit for class!

I like the look of button-down shirts, but I've always felt they've looked a little too boxy and rigid on me. This dress, however, is the perfect compromise. It's feminine and flared, yet polished. The overall look and material is perfect for wearing on a day you want to look trendy, yet really classy.

When I purchased the dress last year, it "swallowed me up" a bit. I was hesitant to wear it because I kind of looked as though I had just thrown on my dad's polo without pants, yikes!

Luckily, I found this belt and it really transformed the whole look. It gave a much needed waistline to the dress and added the perfect summery finishing touch. Voila!

Hope you enjoy the look! What have you been wearing back to school lately? 

*outfit details available on my Instagram story (@thelaureledit)