It’s that time of year again. Fall is incoming, and with it, the buzz of hope and anticipation from a new season of college football.
I know, I know, it didn’t start out the way we all wanted last weekend for Fresno State. But it’s far too early in the season to start worrying – and besides, we aren’t fair-weather fans in Fresno, right?!
As your resident fashion girl, I am, of course, most concerned with what gear we’re all buying for the first home game – just a little over a week away! So I went around town and did a little legwork for you all so that you’ll know where to get the best stuff – both the stylish and the strange, haha.
The Clothes
For the ladies, my favorite shirts definitely came from Sports Station at Fashion Fair Mall. Because sparkles and sequins belong on almost everything, right? Of course, there was also cute stuff at the Bulldog Shop and Bulldog Fan Zone, a new store that has taken up half of what used to just be Sequoia Textbooks on Shaw across from Fresno State.
For the guys, Bulldog Shop definitely had the biggest selection of both shirts and hats, but Sports Station has a good variety of caps as well.
And for the little ones, there’s an entire room of gear at The Bulldog Shop. Most of the places I visited had some version of the mini cheerleader outfit, but the one at Sports Station was by far my favorite!
If you’re looking for a bargain, Target, Wal-Mart and Walgreens are all pretty comparable at about $8 for a basic t-shirt, and each store has several options to choose from. Walgreens also has hats for only $9.99, by far the cheapest option!
Other Spirit Stuff
I love to accessorize when I go to a game, so I was super excited to see the all the jewelry at Bulldog Fan Zone. I’m thinking a bracelet AND necklace (and if you want some earrings, too, go for it)! Or if you want to save a little money, head to Walmart, where they have fan beads, buttons, temporary tattoos and even nail art.
Another thing I decided was a must-have during my shopping spree was a cozy blanket. I know that seems crazy in this heat right now, but you know you’ll love it by the end of the season! What’s better than being cuddled up under a comfy blanket on a crisp fall day in the stadium? I’m totally obsessed with this patchwork quilt at The Bulldog Shop, but since it was a little pricey at $120, I was glad to see they had some less expensive options, including an uber-soft sherpa blanket at $48 and a great sweatshirt blanket for about $30.
Since tailgating is definitely an essential part of Fresno State football, I made sure to check out what the stores had to offer on that front. Again, Bulldog Fan Zone was the winner here, with a huge selection of cups and glasses, barbecuing supplies and drink coolers. And then there is the lightweight furniture made of of foam board – yes, you read that right, haha, including tables and corn hole boards. For the record, a fully-grown sales clerk sat in the tailgate chair to prove to me that it would hold him up without breaking.
And Everything Else…
OK, this last section is basically just an ode to all the other odd things I found at Bulldog Fan Zone.If you haven’t figured it out yet, you should definitely pay this place a visit. The first thing I noticed when I walked in was a Hello Kitty dressed as a Fresno State cheerleader. Next to a sock monkey wearing a Fresno State sweater. Followed by an entire section of Fresno State/Hello Kitty hybrid shirts. So for those of you ladies who are fans of both Hello Kitty and Fresno State, this is definitely your happy place.
Oh, and these cowboy boots are also there. Please be sure to send me a picture if you buy one of these pairs of cowboy boots. Because honestly, they’re kind of awesome…
Are you ready for the season?
How about now?
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Thank you so much for your piece and for shining such a nice light on our store and the merchandise we carry.