Back-to-School Shopping Trends

I recently read something about the back-to-school season, and an expert commented that b-t-s used to be considered the teen's Christmas as far as shopping goes. I remember girls would go shopping at the beginning of August like clockwork, stocking up on everything they might need for the upcoming year. No matter that the temperatures were still in the 90s; they would buy jeans, boots, coats, scarves - essentially a whole new winter wardrobe. The economy doesn't allow such enormous shopping hauls these days, but at the same time, the constantly-updated store merchandise seems to encourage short, frequent trips instead of one big spree. This is what tweens and teens will be eying and buying this season.

Legwear
My fourth grade cousin - who isn't particularly fashion-forward, but then again, what 10 year-old really is? - wears leggings with the same regularity that college students wear jeans. The trend still has legs, though, because the cozy anti-pants are just too comfortable and practical to stop. They can be tossed on under favorite fall dresses to transition into winter, and a few layered leggings can be a nice alternative to sweatpants when it's too cold to think of anything else.

Lindsay Lohan just launched a collection solely devoted to tights and leggings, and it has been surprisingly successful. Since the summer debut, certain styles have already sold out, and the weather hasn't been cold enough to call for legwear.

Uniform Chic
"Gossip Girl" can be considered a trend in itself, since half of the viewers are only tuning in just to catch the costumes, but inventive uniform-inspired fashion that the Upper East Siders sport to school is a hit for private and public school students. All of the staples of a ritzy school's uniform, regardless of dress code, are musts: plaid, argyle, piped blazers, cable knits, tailored oxfords, pleated minis.

Because there is so much layering and mix-matching on GG, it really is accessible to the average schoolgirl. The costume designer, Eric Daman, recently told WWD "I use stuff from Forever 21 and H&M all the time. I always want to make kids feel like they can look at what the characters are wearing and they can afford to go out and buy something for themselves." While I don't believe that Blair is outfitted in too much H&M, her looks are easy to recreate with basics from stores like Gap, Old Navy, and uniform supply stores.

Vintage Denim
Designers are really pushing highwaisted denim, a huge throwback to the '70s, but celebrities are still wearing their skinny jeans and teens are still buying them. Skinny jeans used to be just as jarring on the eye as highwaisted denim is at the moment, but we eventually became accustomed to the tapered-ankle silhouette. If the tummy-tuckers stick around long enough, they might soon be just as ubiquitous.

Wide-leg jeans are slowly making their way back on the scene, but with a frugal back-to-school season, parents are more likely to buy a tried-and-true fit - like a straight leg or slight bootcut - instead of investing in a new trend.

Ladylike Skirts
While highrise denim isn't exactly in demand, higher-waisted skirts and waist-nipping dresses are. I was in New York this summer, and I would have been hard pressed to find the low-waisted line that was so popular just a few summers ago. Returning to Missouri, I assumed that the trend wouldn't be making it to the Midwest for a few more seasons; surprisingly, it's just as prevalent here as it was on the East Coast.

It's no wonder the trend caught on so quickly; highwaisted skirts call for tucked-in tops, creating the most sophisticated silhouette I've seen in years. It's a complete 180 from the tunic-and-leggings duo that was everywhere last season, but maybe that's why everyone is embracing it with opened arms.

Frills
From ruffled collars to bow-emblazoned headbands to tier-ruffle dresses to bow-toe ballerina flats, bows and ruffles add a little girlish sophistication to any outfit. Frills bring a big impact, no matter what the size of the embellishment is; itty-bitty bow trims are every bit as in-demand as oversized bodice-bows.

The fashion industry's favorite shoe designers seem to be moving away from ballet flats, but the sweet trend just makes too much sense to pass up. They look just as adorable on an 8 year-old as they do on an 18 year-old, and can be worn with nearly everything in a closet. They look just as nice for a fancy night out as towering heels - all of the style and none of the suffering.

Want more? Check out this cool New York Times slideshow that profiles designer offspring about their back-to-school musts (adorable 7 year-old boy: "skinny jeans" - seriously!).

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