OOTDs In the swamp

kaitlyntarakji6
Mar 24
2 min read

How UF students are turning campus into a runway

By: Kaitlyn Tarakji

With our academic primacy and ever-climbing sports ranks, University of Florida Gators have been known to do it all. Outfits are no exception to this. Just simply walk through Plaza or Turlington and it's easy to mistake campus for an upcoming runway show.

So, I did exactly that.

While ducking below the Plaza tightrope walkers and smiling at every other tabler in Turlington, I searched for cute fits, but most importantly, the inspiration for wearing it. UF students are constantly putting their brains to work, but what are they thinking while staring into the open abyss of Gator merch, athleisure, and Edikted tops piled in their closets each morning.

Ana Mascarua and her twin sister, Isabel, are both sophomores at UF with an ever-expanding schedule. From business finance exams to club volleyball practice, they somehow find the time to ensure their outfits are authentic and elevated every day.

“When deciding my outfit, the main thing in my mind is ‘Will my class crush be there today,’” Ana explained with a laugh. “Besides that, I’ve really been liking blue and neutral tones.”

The light wash denim, lightly knit grey v-neck, and statement necklace not only fit the muted shades in the trending Boho-chic style of spring 2025, but are also perfectly lightweight for Gainesville’s change-by-the-minute weather.

“I like to wear something that makes me feel stylish and confident,” Isabel described.

The layered pearl drop necklace, oversized sweater, and black mini skirt perfectly encapsulates the lifestyle of a Gator. Cute for class, but also perfectly versatile for a fun night with friends.

For some UF students, comfort outweighs squeezing into a stiff pair of jeans before 8 a.m. lab. They often opt for matching sweat sets and baby tanks, giving them an effortlessly elevated outfit. For UF sophomore Ellen Cocurull, even an iced Honey Gator from Opus is an essential accessory to her studying at Norman Hall outfit.

“When picking out an outfit, I think about how I can look the most put-together while being as comfy as possible. Especially now that the weather’s getting warmer,” she said.

Ellen explained how she ensures a put together outfit each morning by matching her shoes to the color of her top. A styling strategy TikTok refers to as a recently discovered ph known as the “sandwich method” (is it really recently discovered or is it something we’ve all naturally done since we were five, but given a fancy name?)

Meteorology student Tami Hutson, goes for the same element of comfort, but loves to work with a color scheme. Her monochromatic navy, soft knit outfit keeps her cool as temperatures rise, comfortable for endless hours in Marston, and on-trend with the matching Adidas Sambas.

Kaitlyn Tarakji is an online writer for Rowdy Magazine. She typically spends her time at the education library studying for an international relations exam or online shopping.