By Gabbi Ferreri
Mississippi State University’s Greek life is a prominent part of campus, and it is easy to distinguish who is a part of it. Greek letters are the main giveaway, but anyone can tell who part of a fraternity by what is the men walking from fraternity row wear.
During the course of my time at MSU, I have noticed the difference of the guys walking from Clyde Q. Sheely Circle opposed to other guys on campus just because of the clothes they pick out in the morning. To prove my point about the quintessential fraternity man, I recently sat at a table in the Drill Field watching each guy walk by trying to figure out if they are involved in Greek life or not. It was obvious who was Greek.
For some it seems that “frat fashion” is another definition of fast fashion. Meaning whatever Mississippi State’s greek men see first is what they throw on. It's something that's quick and easy and hopefully clean. But on the flip side, some make more of an effort. Obviously not the amount of effort as most girls do, but running a brush through their hair or even trying to match colors seems to be just enough to look presentable for the day.
The closet of a Greek man consists of “staples.” Staples meaning articles of clothing that can be mixed and matched with each other to create the perfect look. These are also the clothes that go with almost every occasion they could possibly think of. This list consists of t-shirts, sweatshirts, athletic shorts, joggers, khaki’s, jeans, a suit, cowboy boots, dress shoes, and tennis shoes. This really seems to be it.
After the many outfits that I have seen on campus, I have narrowed the fashion aesthetic of fraternities at Mississippi State to be dependent on three things: comfort, weather and occasion.
Comfort:
T-shirts are a must-have. Especially the brand Comfort Colors. Mississippi State t-shirts are popular as well. These shirts have a chokehold on all of the “Chads and Brads” at Mississippi State. T-shirts are easy to throw on minutes before leaving for class and can go with almost any type of bottoms. The most popular t-shirts have their own frat letters on them or even a sorority’s letters, but never another fraternity’s.
Shorts are the easiest throw on bottoms for men. Most guys will pair their Comfort Colors t-shirts or their MSU t-shirts with PFG shorts for a quick class look and sometimes athletic shorts. PFG shorts are a brand of Columbia shorts that are nylon fabric. These special shorts can be worn in the water and on dry land for an everyday ensemble. The color of PFG or athletic shorts are not required to match their t-shirt and normally do not.
On one of the days, I conducted my research, I saw a rainbow of faded Comfort Colors t-shirts walk past me. One specific shirt I saw walking by was a light faded blue Sigma Chi t-shirt with a pocket on the front stating “Sigma Chi” and a huge “Great Gatsby” design on the back. The shirt was paired with light khaki colored PFG shorts, tall white socks and navy on cloud tennis shoes. Another guy walking with him was wearing a white shirt with the Greek letters “XO” on the front pocket. The word “Fall Ball” was on the back accompanied by a man and woman dressed nicely. This guy was wearing PFG shorts as well with white On Cloud shoes.
Garner Cheney, a senior Sigma Alpha Epsilon wearing a dark green hoodie, khaki pants and camouflage crocs with no socks, said when he gets dressed in the morning it depends on comfort and weather.
“99% of the time, it's gonna be ‘Am I going to be comfortable?’” Cheney said.
Weather:
What the weather feels like outside is a big indicator of what fraternity men are going to wear that day. Well, it is for the guys that actually check the weather.
Sweatshirts and hoodies are again a must but only are acceptable when the weather calls for it. Whether there they have the Mississippi States logo on them or their own fraternity letters, there is not a day that you will not see a sweatshirt or a hoodie walking from fraternity row when it's cold.
The most common outerwear that keeps these men warm is the classic Gildan sweatshirt worn proudly with their fraternity’s crest on the front and in the middle. You can always tell when the fraternity just received shipment of new jackets because you will see a million of them worn the day after.
When Luke Johnson, a Phi Gamma Delta or as most call it, “FIJI,” was asked what his “go to class outfit is,” said that he bases his outfit on the temperature.
“A short sleeve polo and jeans or shorts depending on the temperature,” Johnson said.
On the rare days that the Mississippi weather is extremely cold between the months of November and late February, you will not see any fraternity men. I am just kidding, they will be walking to class, but they will be head-to-toe in their hunting camouflage. The men of Clyde Q. Sheely Circle will pull their warm hunting clothes from their big trucks to make the long trek to class while also looking stylish in their gear.
Mississippi state senior and Sigma Chi, Davis Helton, said he normally looks into weather when he is getting dressed, but still tries to look nice.
Occasion:
For an even dressier look, khaki pants or jeans are the most universal bottoms that men can have in their closets. Both can go with almost everything and to almost any occasion. Guys wear them with t-shirts for class, collared shirts or even a button down for church. Both of these styles of pants are commonly paired with cowboy boots.
The most common brands of khaki pants are Mountain Khaki, Magellan and Columbia. Wrangler or Levi’s are the most common brand of jeans for men.
Mississippi State athletic events are the equivalent to a fashion show for fraternity men. Greek men always look their best at a football, baseball or basketball game. It is almost as if they believe dressing nicer will enhance our team's luck. Whether or not, State fans can count on a win, you can always count on seeing a collared maroon or white polo shirt paired with khaki or jean bottoms. Khaki bottoms can be shorts or pants, but jeans will only be pants. Thankfully, jean shorts or “jorts” are not in style for fraternity men.
Boots are a necessity for all occasions and weather in Starkville. It does not matter the size, the color, or the brand of a pair of cowboy boots, or the style, if you are in a frat, you have to have them. Guys wear them during a casual setting of class when it's cold or even these specific boots can be paired with a button down or collared shirt to dress them up.
A suit can obviously be worn to a formal event or a job interview. The crisp white collared shirt paired with a grey, navy or black suit will always be a classic look. Brown seems to be the common color for specific suit accessories, including belts and dress shoes. Some men wear cowboy boots with their suit. It is always smart to keep these pieces on hand so when the time calls for it, it can be easily thrown on.
Accessories:
Aside from the unconventional stereotypical added articles of clothing such as a cowbell and a cooler, the fraternity men at MSU keep accessories to a minimum. The bare minimum of a hat on a bad hair day that even a brush cannot fix or sunglasses on a sunny day. Sometimes to hide their face from a hangover.
Jewelry is almost obsolete on fraternity row. Watches are common, but not as common as you would expect. A chain, however, is a different story. The number of chains I saw around the necks of Chad and Brad could outnumber the number of squirrels there are on campus. The chains that wrap around the necks of Greek men on campus are specific. They are mostly silver, and they may or may not also include a cross. The one thing that is important when choosing a chain is whether or not it is water resistant.
While pointing to his silver chain without a cross, Tanner Marlar, a Phi Kappa Tau, said, “you can shower in this one.” Chains never leave the necks of the men that wear them so being able to shower in them is essential.
All jokes aside, the fraternity men at MSU have great style. Whether their girlfriends, their "situationships," their moms or they themselves picked out their clothes, they look good and truly make us women do a double take.