Top Trends for Back to School in 2009

So what do kids really want for back to school?

All Kids, All Ages:

Jeans Get Skinny
Filtering down from InStyle, Glamour, and every fashion periodical this past year, the must-have jean is dark wash and the silhouette is lean. Denim is not going away and the skinny jean—in destructed finish and bolder colors are hot. Levi Strauss has the 524™ Too Superlow Women’s Skinny jean and the Eco 545™ that retail at Kohl’s, while the Signature Women’s Premium is being restocked daily at Walmarts. Men are jumping into the Super Skinny 510™ Rigid Stretch Levis, popular in black dye.

Elementary Age Fashion

Costume Styles
Cookie, an upscale mag calling itself the “stylish parenting magazine,” likes the Biker Punk look. But punk may not make the cut. Mothers are concerned their little girls will look trashy in skinny jeans with black leather jackets and patent Doc Maarten boots. The boys don’t fair much better with yellow jeans, a skull scarf and chains. (Schools have a tendency to frown on chains.) The Buffalo plaid fleece jacket will remain however, and influence all those other plaids showing up on everything.

Stick with the nostalgic look of Varsity Sports for both sexes—a 50’s cheerleader skirt and ballet flats for little girls—and boys can wear the “jock style” with numbered letter sweaters, varsity baseball jackets and saddle shoes that are selling at Payless.

Does the First Family have fashion? Retailers like J Crew are counting on classic dresses in updated florals in hot colors to appeal to Malia & Sacha Obama followers. Most dresses pair with a slouchy fit cardigan. J Crew was integral in designing the girls inaugural outfits. Boys look like little politicians in their khakis and blue striped Oxford shirts under classic navy blazers, (although you might have to get elected to pay the $79.50 that Nautica wants for its young men’s version of jacket).

College Bound

The college set takes fashion that filters down from fashion week. The runway culture has given us metallics and adornments, and gray will be a new color for fall. Young women will continue to wear cropped jackets, empire waistlines, tops with rushing, folds and shoulder interest. Strappy sandals and the gladiator shoe are still heating up. Too, Converse Shoe Company spent big money on a website where young buyer’s can create their own individual shoe. As cooler weather sets in, expect to see vests and faux fur details on scarves and layering pieces.

Accouterments
Backpacks are the die-hard workhorse and designer versions from Hatley have matching rain boots. Lands’ End has the ClassMate StudyHall for 8-14 year olds at a thrifty $29.50. The ClassMate Big Haul however, is pricey at $59.50, but they do run sales. Another version is the Eco-friendly backpack made from recycled products. Lands’ End marketers are really trying hard with a Packland fantasy blog kids can visit online to create techno bags. Say, WALL-E anyone?