What to Wednesday

Game Day Entertaining: 10 Amazon Finds + What to Wear

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Fall in Athens means football — on a home-game Saturday, the whole town hums, and you can feel it in the traffic on Lumpkin and in the smell of somebody’s grill drifting down the street. Whether you’re headed to the stadium or staying put, game day entertaining at home is one of my favorite ways to welcome the season, so today I’m doing a little double duty, Grit & Glammers: a What to Wear Wednesday built around pattern mixing (with the Game Day outfit I’d host in), plus ten Amazon finds that make a football watch party so much easier. If you missed them, my fall Amazon decor finds are the perfect finishing touches to set the stage.

Key Takeaways

  • Game day entertaining comes down to three things: keep the food warm, keep the drinks cold, and make sure everyone can see the game — a warming mat, mini slow cooker, beverage tub, and rolling TV stand cover all of it.
  • Pattern mixing works when the two prints share a color and differ in scale — navy gingham with olive camo, a fine pinstripe with a tiny floral — and matching cognac accessories tie it together.
  • The easiest Game Day outfit for hosting is a matching track set with a fun graphic tee and sneakers — pulled together, comfortable, and made for running the kitchen all afternoon.

What Do You Need for Game Day Entertaining at Home?

Honestly, less than you’d think. You need a way to keep food warm, so you’re not running back and forth to the oven, a big tub of ice for drinks, a good view of the game from wherever your guests land, and one or two festive touches for the table. Add an outfit you can host in from kickoff to the final whistle, and you get to actually enjoy your own party.

What to Wear Wednesday: Pattern Mixing for Fall

Y’all know I love a pattern mix, and I’ve broken down my whole approach in how to mix patterns over 50. The short version? Let one color run through both prints (here it’s navy), pair a smaller pattern with a larger or softer one, and keep your accessories in one calm color family. I wore the same cognac bag and suede loafers with both of these looks — that’s the glue that makes the prints feel intentional.

Look 1: Gingham + Camo

What I’m wearing: Oversized Navy Blazer (limited sizes — similar Navy Blazer and this one) · Gingham Popover · Camo Stretch Twill Pants · similar Suede Loafers (or these) · T Lock Handbag

Gingham and camo on paper? Not the first pairing you’d reach for. But the navy check is small and tidy while the camo is soft and loose, so they don’t fight each other — and the Oversized Navy Blazer pulls the navy right out of the shirt. A Cognac Leather Belt with a touch of gold hardware, the T Lock Handbag, and the Suede Loafers all speak the same warm cognac, which warms up the olive and keeps the whole thing grounded.

  • The outfit formula: navy blazer + small-check shirt + camo pant + cognac bag + suede loafer

Look 2: Pinstripe + Floral

What I’m wearing: Pinstripe Blazer · Floral Blouse · Straight Leg Jeans · Leather Belt · Bee Brooch · Solara Earrings · the same Suede Loafers and T Lock Handbag

If gingham and camo feel like a leap, start here. A fine pinstripe blazer reads almost like a solid from a few feet away, so pairing it with a tiny dark floral looks polished rather than busy. Dark straight-leg jeans keep it easy, and of course I couldn’t resist pinning a Bee Brooch on the lapel — you know I have a soft spot for bees.

  • The outfit formula: pinstripe blazer + small dark floral blouse + dark straight jeans + brown belt + one brooch

✨ Beth’s Style Tip: When you mix prints, keep everything else quiet. One bag, one shoe, one color family for your accessories — and let the patterns do all the talking.

Start Small with Accessories

Not ready for two prints at once? Start with one patterned accessory against a solid outfit. I LOVE Kurt Geiger handbags and shoes, and they do pattern so well — and if leopard is calling your name this fall, my guide to how to wear leopard print has five easy ways in.

The Perfect Game Day Outfit

And since we’re talking game day, here’s the outfit I’d host in. A matching track set with jacket and pants looks pulled together with zero effort; the Game Day Tee brings the fun, and a pair of sneakers means I can refill the queso, answer the door, and still catch the big play. Wear the jacket open so the tee shows, and you’re ready for kickoff.

What I’m wearing: Game Day Tee · Track Jacket · Track Pants · Sneakers 

  • The outfit formula: graphic tee + track jacket worn open + wide track pant + metallic sneaker

Or Try This: A Frank and Eileen Game Day Outfit

If a track set isn’t your style, here’s another way to do game day. You know how much I love Frank and Eileen, and this trio is just as comfortable, with a little more texture. Layer the Relaxed Corduroy Button Up under the Sweatshirt Utility Jacket, and finish with the Favorite Sweatpant. It’s relaxed enough to host in all afternoon but still looks pulled together when guests walk in the door. Add your favorite sneakers, and you’re set.

My Everyday Makeup Look

You’re always asking about my makeup, so here’s my everyday look, and it’s simpler than you might think. Armani Foundation goes on first. It’s light and even, so my skin still looks like skin. Then a sweep of Urban Decay Eyeshadow, a line of Laura Mercier Eyeliner, and Notorious Mascara, in black when I want a little drama and brown when I want softer. A touch of Nudestix Blush brings the color back to my cheeks. Then I finish with Laura Mercier Lip Liner and Lipstick, because a lip is the quickest way to look finished. Ten minutes, seven products, and out the door.

Game Day Entertaining: 10 Amazon Finds to Kick Off the Seaso

Last week I shared Amazon finds to make life a little easier in the kitchen. What I’m Wearing Now – Style at a Certain Age, and this week we’re taking that kitchen to the party. Fall is a celebration of so many things — falling leaves, pumpkins, cooler weather, and a brand-new football season — and these finds range from serving pieces and festive decor to a stand that lets you roll the TV right out to the porch. Best of all, most of them earn their keep year-round, which is always a win in my book.

Football-Themed Fun

  • Green Artificial Grass Table Runner (12″×36″) — Bring the football field right onto your table. It rolls up and tucks into a closet until next season.
  • Ceramic 2-Tier Football Chip And Dip Set — How fun is this? It holds plenty and looks so festive on the table.
  • Giant Football Charcuterie Board (23.5″×14″) — Doesn’t every party need a charcuterie board? This one is solid acacia wood and looks great sitting on the turf runner, piled with your favorite meats and cheeses.
  • Steel Chill Cups (16 oz.) — Durable reusable party cups that chill fast and keep drinks cold longer — and they’re 100% recyclable.

Patio & Porch Picks

  • Rolling TV Stand (fits 32–83″ screens) — A must, so guests can watch the game anywhere in the house or out on the porch. It comes in handy long after football season, too.
  • Fretech Fly Fans For Tables (4-pack) — If the party moves outdoors, these keep pesky flies away from the food and your guests.

Year-Round Hosting Must-Haves

  • Large Galvanized Beverage Tub — Holds a whole variety of drinks and works on a countertop, a table, or out on the patio.
  • Mini Slow Cooker (0.65 qt) — Just the right size for queso or a hot dip, holding it at a steady temperature all afternoon.
  • FEPPO Food Warming Mat — Multiple heat settings, warms the full surface, and rolls up for easy storage.
  • Gold Chafing Dishes (4-pack, 6 qt) — Another easy way to keep food warm and within reach, and the gold looks so pretty on a buffet.

Closing Thoughts

Here’s what I keep coming back to: the best gatherings are rarely the fanciest ones. It’s the queso staying warm, the drinks staying cold, the TV rolled out to the porch as the evening cools, and the people you love crowded around it — whether they care about the score or just came for the company. Football is a wonderful excuse to get together, but so is simply welcoming a new season. And the same goes for getting dressed — a leopard bag, a little gingham with your camo, a track set you can live in all day. Keep it easy, keep it you, and enjoy the people in front of you.

Style has no expiration date — and neither do you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do I need for game day entertaining at home?

Plan for warm food, cold drinks, and a good view of the game. A food warming mat or mini slow cooker, a large beverage tub, and a rolling TV stand cover the essentials, and a turf table runner or football charcuterie board adds the festive touch.

How do you keep food warm during a football watch party?

Use a food warming mat for platters, a mini slow cooker for dips like queso, and chafing dishes for bigger buffet dishes. Everything stays warm on the table, so you’re not running back and forth to the oven.

What should a woman over 50 wear on game day?

A matching track set with a fun graphic tee and sneakers is comfortable, easy to move in, and still looks put together. Wear the jacket open so the tee shows, and it works whether you’re hosting or heading out.

Can you mix gingham and camo?

Yes — it works because the gingham is small and crisp while the camo is soft and larger in scale. A navy blazer that picks up the gingham’s navy and cognac accessories that warm up the olive pull the two prints together.

What’s the easiest way to start mixing patterns?

Start with one patterned accessory, like a leopard or tweed handbag, shoe, or belt, against a solid outfit. Once that feels natural, try a subtle pair like a fine pinstripe with a small floral.

Shop the Post

Everything I’m wearing and loving is linked below — and you can always browse my full ShopMy storefront for outfits, home, and more.

Before You Go

Are you a pattern mixer, or more of a one-print-at-a-time gal? And what’s the one thing you always serve on game day? Tell me in the comments.

About The Author

Beth Djalali

is the Founder and CEO of Style at a Certain Age. She writes Sundays-Fridays on all topics ranging from fashion, health, wellness, home design and more.

She’s 67, 5’8, and size 8.

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