This post is sponsored by Opry Mills. As always, all opinions are my own.  // Photos by Jayda Iye

It’s finally football season!!! I am a fall girl through and through. I firmly believe you can’t beat a crisp fall day, far enough from the summer to have lost the heat and not close enough to winter to have that bite of cold.

Some of my favorite memories of college at Ole Miss revolve around an Autumn Saturday in The Grove. There is truly nothing like a tailgate experience in Oxford. There are flat screen TV’s and chandeliers in every direction, and I’ve seen drinks served out of fountains and sandwiches served on silver trays. The word “tailgating” doesn’t do it justice. There’s a saying that we may not win every game, but we never lose a party.

Ole Miss is playing Vanderbilt in Nashville this fall, and I’m so excited to bring a little slice of that Ole Miss tailgate experience to Nashville! I ran out to Opry Mills to find all of the essentials. If you’re not familiar with Opry Mills, it’s the largest outlet and value retail mall in Nashville located between I-40 and I-65 on Briley Parkway. Just a quick drive from downtown Nashville, it has always been a go-to shopping spot of mine for years and it’s truly a one-stop shop for the perfect tailgate.

I wanted to find a fun, not-so-basic tailgate outfit so I headed to Saks Off 5th. This is one of my favorite spots to find brands like Free People and Wildfox for half the price. Y’all know my love for matching sets, and I scored this adorable lattice detail denim skirt and jacket set for almost half off. I paired it with a lace mockneck top and gorgeous suede block heel booties. I spent under $300 on the whole designer outfit and saved around $400 from the original prices. If I could go back and do one thing differently during my college years, I would’ve embraced my own unique style a little more. My best advice to any girls out there in college would be to embrace your style and don’t worry so much about trying to fit in. After a successful trip to Saks, I headed to Francesca’s for accessories. I found the most adorable floral scarf that will be great to pair with sweaters for fall. It gave the look the vintage western flare I was going for.

After I found my tailgate outfit, I was on the hunt for gear. I was able to grab everything I needed from only 3 stores: Bed Bath & Beyond, Sun & Ski Sports and Bass Pro. (Yes Cameron I voluntarily went shopping at Bass Pro without you.) I got everything from a Yeti cooler to Ole Miss themed cups, to lawn chairs and more. I also picked up a beautiful boho Kantha quilt from Molly Green, another adorable boutique in the mall.

Everyone knows you can’t show up to a tailgate or a football party empty handed, so below I’m sharing my cousin Ambie’s recipe for a family favorite fall dip. Whether you’re hosting a football party at your house or heading to a game, Opry Mills has you covered. Which team are you rooting for this season? Let me know in the comments below and Hotty Toddy!

---

LACE-UP DENIM SKIRT – SAKS OFF 5TH // LACE-UP DENIM JACKET – SAKS OFF 5TH

BEIGE BLOCK HEEL BOOTIES – SAKS OFF 5TH // LACE TOP – SAKS OFF 5TH

RED BANDANA – FRANCESCA’S // YETI COOLER – SUN AND SKI SPORTS

OLE MISS TUMBLER – BED BETH & BEYOND // KANTHA QUILT – MOLLY GREEN