2020 Gumbo Final - Book - Page 45
Out with the Old,
in with the New
Story: Perla Rodriquez
Photo: Reveille Photographer
Design: Kacey Buercklin
S
LSU color guard gets newly designed
uniforms after nearly 20 years
titched with tradition and worn with confidence,
the LSU color guard is strutting the field with
their new and improved uniforms.
Although color guard members get custom
tailored outfits every year, this is the first time
in nearly 20 years the outfit design has been
updated. Kelvin Jones, the director of Tiger
Band, said designing new color guard outfits
was a three-year process. The goal was to
design a color guard uniform that was visually
similar to the uniforms worn by the Golden
Girls, the University’s dance team, to appear as
symmetrical as possible.
“We wanted to update the uniform, so we
took out the sequins from the older model
and replaced them with stones throughout the
uniform for some shine and dazzle when under
the Tiger Stadium lights,” Jones said. Color
guard captain Alexandra Freeman expressed
how highly anticipated the new uniforms were
by the team.
“I personally am absolutely in love with our new
uniforms,” Freeman said. “This is something that
we have been working on for quite some time.
Our directors and costume designers have done
an amazing job of making sure that the uniforms
are modern, that we are comfortable in them,
and that they look absolutely amazing on all
members of our team given our wide variety of
body types.”
The uniforms are made of stretchy, breathable,
and sweat resistant material, which Freeman
said was a crucial part of the uniforms’ design.
“With the amount of spinning and dancing we
do, comfort was definitely a requirement in the
process of finding a design and fabric for the
uniform,” Freeman said. “I can say they definitely
are comfortable and similar to athletic wear.”
Freeman said the new uniforms helped the team
feel not only comfortable but also confident
while performing.
“We are absolutely in love with the way the
purple pops in the sunlight and the way the
rhinestones dazzle in the stadium lights and
truly represents that sparkle of pride we love to
show with being part of Tiger Band,” Freeman
said. “One of our favorite ‘hidden’ features is the
gold underneath the skirt that when the wind
hits, shows a little more sass and flare.”One of
the most unique aspects about the uniforms is
the rich tradition behind them. The iconic Fleur
de Lis from the previous uniforms was kept and
improved.
New uniforms don’t come often for the color
guard team, but when they do, they are
definitely worth the wait, according to Freeman.
“I feel extremely honored and privileged to be
able to carry on such a huge tradition by doing
something that I love and wearing something I
feel confident in,” Freeman said.
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