Almost anything goes for school fashions

By Marinell Scott Thornburg, Journal staff | Wednesday, August 20, 2008

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Like a radio station that plays hits from the ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s and whatever, back-to-school fashions are all over the charts.

While there are no obvious fashion must-haves this season, what is clear is that free expression among teens and tweens is what their wardrobes are all about. And parents outfitting their kids for school may recognize a lot of the trends as familiar from their own school days.

Students are mixing and matching. Making a statement. “Going green.”

Jessica Higgins, 11, has a smart approach to her style for sixth grade at Sturgis Williams Middle School.

“You want to stand out, but you want friends, still,” Higgins said, explaining her guideline for back-to-school shopping. “You want something cool and not too little-kiddish for middle school.”

Higgins was looking for clothes that were not the same as those worn by the elementary-school set.  “You want something sophisticated, but with a little fun in them,” she said.

She found her must-have for this fall was baby-doll shirts without the puffy sleeve.

A T-shirt that reads “I’m a star” was one gem Higgins snatched up “because everybody is,” she said.

But for parents facing rising prices for everything, back-to-school belt-tightening may mean fewer new purchases and calls for a careful inventory of what’s already in the closet and wearable for this fall.

This is where layering comes in. Last year’s T-shirts and tanks (layered, two or three at a time) or polos for boys (again, layered) will be on-trend, according to Kat Stark, marketing manager at Rushmore Mall.  

”With fall’s temperatures hot one minute and cold the next, layering is the best defense against the elements,” Stark said.  “Layering can take you through the temperature gamut, building a day’s wardrobe from chilly morning to warm afternoon with just the right sweaters, jackets and tops.”

Sixteen-year-old Cassie Rickertsen, who will be a junior at Stevens High School, has her eye on the styles, yet this fall, she has not noticed a stand-out trendy item. She tries to be patient and spends smart when it comes to her school wardrobe.

“I find a few things, but then wait until after school starts and things go on clearance,” she said.

She is thinking the must-have for fall is “a good pair of jeans that go with everything.  Just a good base.”

Rickertsen also is looking within her existing wardrobe for what will take her back to school in style. And as for the good pair of jeans, there are a lot of options there. “There’s a wide variety, with wide leg or skinny. There’s a free-for-all for styles, so you’re probably good to go with your jeans,” she said.

The past three decades are influencing fashions this fall with familiar icons from cartoons, comic books and Hollywood appearing on much of the merchandise, according to Stark. T-shirts emblazoned with Star Wars, Batman and Indiana Jones for kids and toddlers are hot this season, in graphic tees, book bags, folders and accessories. Hot and hip for everyone are eco-conscious “green”-theme tees and totes, bohemian blouses, halter tops and accessories, with designs such as the peace sign from the ‘70s, upturned collars and argyle from the big ‘80s and flannel shirts in plaids from the ‘90s grunge era.

Erin Higgins, 13, a seventh-grader at Sturgis Williams Middle School, was quick to say her favorite find for fall fashion was “really cool patterned shirts in bright colors” such as hot pink and vibrant blue. Her favorite fall finds were “big bright colors and cute patterns on pants, like flower designs on jeans and shorts.”

Besides clothes, Higgins’ eye was drawn to a jazzy backpack. “It’s bright pink and has stripes, and you carry it on the side like a purse,” she said.

Higgins managed her back-to-school shopping budget just fine because she shopped a big sale at JCPenney. Stark notes how retailers generally offer incentives and deep discounts for back-to-school shoppers.

Parents may be more willing to pay for new tops and tees this fall if their kids can get by with last spring’s jeans, skirts or shoes. Extending the wardrobe will be the true test for fashion-conscious teens this year.  

Middle-school boys, far more hesitant to discuss their fashion choices than girls, do care about what they wear even if they won’t say so. Young guys are looking for cool T-shirts and polos, hoodies, plaid or khaki shorts, jeans and shoes from brands such as Adio, DC and Etnies. Guys can’t go wrong with layering just like the girls, according to Stark.  “Back-to-school looks for guys include long-sleeved thermals layered under T-shirts, hoodies featuring prints and designs, screen-print tees that are more fitted with a ton of details, and thick-striped rugby polos.”

“These popular looks include layering for the season with long-sleeved tees under short-sleeved polos,” Stark said.

Elementary classrooms will be populated with kids clad in mini versions of the teen trends, but plenty of kids will stick with the standard jeans and T-shirts. Colored and patterned jeans and denim decorated with embroidery or studded motifs will entice parents to buy new jeans for their little girls. Boys can’t go wrong with graphic T-shirts in short and long sleeves – and the requisite hoodie.

Hand-me-downs may be more in demand than ever in this era of budget tightening.  Resale shops are good places to look for denim, menswear vests and tote bags to replace the typical backpack or to cart a laptop.

The best thing about back-to-school shopping?

“When you find that really great bargain, like the pair of $2.50 pair of skinny jeans that I found,” Rickertsen said. “When you find that perfect thing that you’ve been wanting for a while at that perfect price.”

“I might get one wear out of them, but they pretty much pay for themselves at that price.”

How to create a signature look

Even though most of fall’s fashion is made up of plenty of what we’ve seen before, it’s possible to mix it up and make it fresh. All the “new” looks are really takes on old favorites. Here are some tips from fall fashion trend watchers:

y Pick your style from preppy, retro or bohemian and add tops and accessories to create a unique look to go with wardrobe basics of jeans, skirts, shorts, polo shirts and T-shirts.

y Try adding a menswear vest, unbuttoned, over last year’s long T-shirt, and pair with a busy skirt if you’re a girl; add a vest from a suit over a graphic T-shirt if you are a guy.

y Mix prints and patterns to create a signature style. Mixing prints, whether it’s plaid, stripes, dots or the fun paisley, is always easier on the eye when confined to the same color family. Pair blues and greens together, or keep reds, pinks and oranges confined to the same outfit and you can pull it off. Just don’t try pairing the turquoise plaid shorts with the red and white argyle sweater vest — it will be too jarring.

y Wide rugby stripes are showing up in sweaters and tees. Pair with patterns but keep to the same colors and you can get away with it.

Argyle with plaid? Seriously? Oh yeah.

If you go

What: Back-to-school style show

When: 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23

Where: Rushmore Mall, in the skylight near J.C. Penney

The show will feature fashions from Aeropostale, Claire’s, Christopher & Banks, Deb, The Icing, J.C. Penney, Maurices, Old Navy and Vanity.

Contact Marinell Scott Thornburg at 394-8280 or marinell.thornburg@rapidcityjournal.com.