Products featured on EBONY are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. However, when you buy something through our retail links, EBONY may earn an affiliate commission.
Homecoming season is a very big deal for HBCU students and alumni.
The homecoming group chat has several departments. Somebody is handling the hotel. Somebody is collecting money for the section. And somebody has been asking, “What are we wearing?” since the last homecoming ended.
That last person understands the assignment.
At an HBCU, homecoming means packing for several versions of yourself. There’s the airport look, the Friday-night outfit, the tailgate fit and a few additional looks for those last-minute functions that pop up throughout the weekend.
Call it Black Fashion Week, with a marching band and considerably more people who knew you freshman year.
Homecoming for Alumni
Homecoming is rooted in student life, but students are hardly the only ones getting dressed.
Alumni return with their own itineraries and traditions. The line anniversary calls for one look. The alumni reception calls for another. Then there’s the tailgate, where an old Greek chapter shirt might get styled with a bag that definitely wasn’t in the undergraduate budget.
Students bring the energy of what’s happening on campus now. Alumni bring memories, old rivalries and a very specific understanding of how things were done when they were there. Put them on the same yard and the style conversation gets good.
You can see how people have changed without losing the parts of themselves that brought them back.
Never Underestimate the Power of “The Yard”
The audience isn’t always limited to people who know you.
In 2017, Anok Yai attended Howard University’s homecoming while studying biochemistry at Plymouth State University. Photographer Steven Hall captured her image and shared it on Instagram, where it went viral, drawing attention from modeling agencies and helping launch her career. She was visiting Howard, not enrolled there, which makes her story an especially fitting example of how far homecoming’s reach can extend.
Most people will leave homecoming with photographs, sore feet and a promise to book next year’s hotel earlier, not a modeling contract. Still, Yai’s story illustrates something familiar: At homecoming, a look can travel well beyond the person wearing it.
That’s no reason to dress for a discovery that may never happen. Dress for yourself, your friends and the pictures you’ll still be pulling up years from now.
The Homecoming Beauty Survival Kit
We’ve talked a lot about how to show up on the yard looking your best, but the truth is that all of it takes work. Between the hair appointments, fresh cuts, makeup routines and outfit changes, preparing for homecoming can feel like a full-time job. And to make it through the weekend looking as good as you did when you arrived, you’ll need a beauty survival kit.
You don’t need to pack your entire bathroom. These seven picks cover makeup, hair, fragrance and everyday grooming, with purposes specific enough to earn their suitcase space.
ONE/SIZE On ‘Til Dawn Mattifying Waterproof Setting Spray
Price: $34
If you’re fortunate enough to book a makeup artist for a beat that you want to last throughout the day, this waterproof, mattifying setting spray makes sense for a packed itinerary with limited time for touch-ups. One of the best things about this product is that it’s available in a travel size, making it easy to pack in your carry-on or keep in your bag whenever your makeup needs a little refresh.
The Lip Bar Gloss Up Sheer Finish Gloss
You can never go wrong with a sheer gloss. It’s an easy way to bring a look back together after eating or before taking a photograph. Keep this one within reach rather than at the bottom of your overnight bag. Wear it alone or pair it with your favorite lip liner, depending on the occasion.
PATTERN Beauty Edge Control
Whether you’re strolling at Yardfest or catching up with friends, those baby hairs can start acting up if you’re not careful. Thankfully, PATTERN’s edge control is designed to smooth edges and add shine, with a formula featuring beeswax and mango seed butter.
Pack it alongside your edge brush if detailing your hairline is part of your routine. After all, the morning of the tailgate is not the time to experiment with a completely new styling technique.
The Doux MOUSSE DEF Texture Foam
If you’re trying to keep your curls picture-ready throughout the weekend, this styling foam offers medium-to-firm hold and curl definition, making it a useful option for anyone whose regular hair routine includes mousse. Just remember, this is the product that belongs in your getting-ready kit rather than your stadium bag.
BROWN GIRL Jane CARNIVALE Travel Spray
This is the scent that’ll have your ex from freshman year doing a double take. Notes of Caribbean mango, vanilla and sandalwood give this fragrance a fruity, warm profile that’s perfect for making an impression. Its 10-milliliter travel size also makes it convenient to pack for a weekend away.
Bevel Aluminum-Free Deodorant
For the fellas, we know you may be reliving your undergraduate days and catching up with old dorm or chapter brothers, but we still need you to stay fresh. Bevel’s aluminum-free deodorant is designed to help you do just that. The stick goes on clear and provides odor protection, making it a practical addition to your grooming routine when you’re spending hours on campus doing all the things.
Black Girl Sunscreen Make It Matte SPF 45
You always need sunscreen, especially when you’re spending hours outside enjoying the homecoming festivities. Don’t let all that time on the yard leave you with a sunburn. This broad-spectrum facial sunscreen features a gel formula and matte finish, and the brand recommends it for wear under makeup. Apply as directed before outdoor events and reapply according to the label, including after sweating. Looking good at the tailgate should always include protecting your skin.