Alma mat(t)ers (sort of!)

I didn't know what to write about for Fashion Files because I have not been documenting what I've been wearing. Then on Saturday, inspo struck... I was trying to figure out what to wear to pick up Alyssa from college. It had to be comfortable because I would be going up and down stairs a lot to get her things from her room to my car. It was quite chilly out- not sure the exact temp but it had gotten down to the mid thirties overnight. I decided to wear a sweatshirt and comfy pants. 

Since I decided to wear a sweatshirt, I thought it would be delightfully devious of me- maybe a bit cheeky- to wear my Indiana University 2025 National Football Championship sweatshirt to Ohio State's campus to get Alyssa. Ohio State's dominance in football for decades juxtaposed with IU's recent foray into football success culminating in IU winning the national championship was too enticing to ignore. 

(If you live anywhere besides Ohio, it's probably impossible to understand how big Ohio State football is in Ohio and how annoying it is to anyone who lives in the state who isn't a fan. There's no good intrastate rivalry in Ohio. It's just OSU! OSU! OSU! I couldn't stand Ohio State football for many years but I'm glad to say that I don't dislike them like I used to. I seriously remember getting a pit in my stomach when I heard they made a comeback in some  random football game a few years ago. It wasn't even a big game- it was a regular season game but I hated that they had almost lost but then didn't. I mean, that's not emotionally healthy so I'm glad I don't dislike them as much as I used to!) 

Back to IU, my brother got this sweatshirt for me at a Costco near where he lives in Indiana. I love it! 

The leggings in the photo are oldies but goodies. They are from Athleta and I bought them online probably twelve  or thirteen years ago. Based on the size chart, I couldn't tell if I should order an XS or small. I bought two pairs, one in XS in black and one as a size mall in gray. As it turned out the XS ones were a little too short on me and the small pair was way too big on me. Nonetheless, I kept both pairs. Taking them back would be too much of a pain and I paid too much for them to give away 😆. I wore the black ones occasionally but not often. Then a few years ago, when flared leggings came back into style, Alyssa said she wished she had a pair of flared leggings. Well, who was it who had a pair of XS barely worn flare leggings?? Oh yes, I gave her the black XS pair and she was thrilled. And I was thrilled to get my money's worth out of them finally :). As for the gray leggings, I mentioned they were way too big. They were when I first got them. But then I got older and stopped running as much and just like that (seemingly) those leggings went from way too big to... not way too big! The moral of that story- hold on to things until well after the point that you think you won't wear them again. (Though don't do that with everything lest you become a hoarder...)

Putting on the IU sweatshirt reminded me of the many college sweatshirts that I have from various colleges. Abby graduated from Miami (of Ohio) just last year and I accumulated three Miami sweatshirts during her college years there. Of my own alma mater, I only have two sweatshirts but I have multiple tee-shirts including two long sleeve shirts. The college from which I have the most spirit gear by far is University of Cincinnati from where both Donnie and Jacob graduated. Jacob has had so many UC sweatshirts over the years. He outgrew some of them and some he just got tired of wearing so he'd put them in a give away pile. But I would take them out of the pile to keep for myself.

A sweatshirt and leggings or jegging is my mom-iform in the spring, fall and winter  if I'm not going anywhere. And so I'm thankful to have a variety. 

Then if I have to run an errand, I'll throw on a ball cap that matches the team whose sweatshirt I'm wearing and I don't have to worry about doing my hair! (I have a ton of ball caps with various college logos on them). 

This outfit looks put together in a very casual way- perfect for hauling items from a room to a car. I like how the gray of the cap and the pants sandwich the black of the sweatshirt. 

My Miami sweatshirts

UC ones

My only two IU ones. I think I need to get some more :).

Zero Ohio State ones but that's ok. I don't dislike OSU but I'm not ready to proclaim my fandom either!

Linking up with Amy and Marsha for Fashion Files

And Joanne for Talking About it Tuesday