Grove En Vogue: Rebels Dress up for Homecoming

Saturday’s Homecoming game vs. New Mexico State drew students, alumni and family from all across the country home to Ole Miss. We caught up with them to ask about their game day outfits, and to find out what makes Ole Miss feel like home.

Sally Margaret Jordan is rocking a blue embellished jumpsuit.

Sally Margaret Jordan from Grove Hill, Alabama, is rocking a blue embellished jumpsuit from Dillard’s. She is currently a senior in high school, but is committed to attending Ole Miss next year. She describes her style as fun and says she’s been welcomed here by Southern hospitality. “The people make it feel so much like home here, I can’t wait to be here next fall,” she said.

Casey Sullivan and Morgan Tomlinson decided to break the color rule by sporting neutrals.

Casey Sullivan is a freshman at Ole Miss and her friend Morgan Tomlinson is staying with her for the weekend. The girls decided to break the color rules and wear neutrals and blue, accessorized with standout shoes. Sullivan wore platform black sandals while Tomlinson showed off her over-the-knee boots, which have been very popular this season. Both girls are originally from Florida, but Tomlinson attends Auburn. “When I first came, I noticed how different it was from tailgating at Auburn,” Tomlinson said, “Both places are fun, it’s just different.” Both Sullivan and Tomlinson have family members who attended Ole Miss and they say that is what makes Ole Miss feel so much like home.

Sara McCullar models a dress from California

Sara McCullar has returned to her Alma Mater this weekend, traveling from Burbank, California. Her dress is from a store in Burbank called “Pin Up Girl.”
“I decided to get all dressed up because it is homecoming, and they just happened to have this dress in navy and blue,” she said. She accessorizes with her red Toms and handmade hat from Etsy. McCullar graduated from Ole Miss and now does tech support for a school district in Los Angeles. She is a proud rebel, sporting a membership to the Southern California Rebel Club, and an Ole Miss Alumni tag and sticker on her car. “Sometimes people will see my car parked somewhere and come up to me and ask if I went to Ole Miss because they did as well,” she said, “I actually run into more people like that in California than you would think!”

Christy Lott and Kalalia Spearman, both in Rebel red, are alumni from Water Valley.

Christy Lott and Kalailah Spearman, both in Rebel red, are alumni from Water Valley. “We’re excited about seeing familiar faces, being able to dress cute and actually have a day off,” said Lott who got her lace up dress and hat from Miss Behavin and LuLu’s, respectively. We asked the girls what trends to look out for this season and they said to look for bohemian styles following the trendy-70s style.

“I’m seeing a lot of fringe: booties, dresses purses, rusty browns and maroons,” said Spearman, who graduated with a degree in fashion merchandising.

Lott said her ideal coat for the upcoming winter weather would be black shearling or an over-sized loophole furry coat. “I want to look wild,” she said with a laugh.

Angie Ochoa has transitioned her red dress into fall by adding a navy vest for warmth

Angie Ochoa from Austin, Texas, is the mother of three sons here at Ole Miss. She comes to every game and said, “I’m always wearing a dress with boots and some Ole Miss-themed jewelry.” She has transitioned her red dress into fall by adding a navy vest for warmth. To prepare for the colder weather at upcoming games she has several Ole Miss accessories, “Gloves, scarves, hats, you name it I have it,” she said. According to Ochoa, her son even has a lucky pair of socks that he wears to all the games to pull for a Rebel win.

Her favorite part of the Grove is the Walk of Champions. “Of course I love all the people hanging out at all the tents and the food and the camaraderie, but I love when the team comes down the walkway, I mean, every school doesn’t do that,” she said.

Don and Linda Fuller are from Sacramento, California and are in the area for their son’s wedding this weekend in Memphis.

Linda and Don Fuller are from Sacramento, California and are in the area for their son’s wedding this weekend in Memphis. They are in the Grove for the first time. “All we knew was that we were told to wear red,” Linda said. She got her coat from Chicos, and her husband got his shirt from an online retailer. Don’s Ole Miss bowtie comes from the retailer in Memphis where he rented his tuxedo for the wedding. “The gal there makes bowties, and she actually made this for me while we were in the store,” Don said.

The couples are Rebels for the day, but usually pull for the Oregon State Beavers. “Our version of tailgating is you tailgate at your car and then go to the game; this is something else!” Linda said. The Fullers have been having a great time thus far.

Olivia Morgan is a HottyToddy.com reporter and can be reached at olmorgan@go.olemiss.edu.