Back-to-School Clothes for Teens

If you've been hard at work this summer, it may be time to spend some of your hard-earned money on clothes  for fall.  Maybe your parents are going to kick in some financial support to enhance your wardrobe.  Either way, you're going to want to make smart purchases to make the most of your money. This guide aims to make back-to-school shopping relatively painless and maybe even a little fun. Let's face it, if you're still living at home, Mom and Dad get to chime in their two cents about what you wear. Why not take our advice and make this the easiest back-to-school shopping season ever? There's nothing to loose so, read on

Getting Started

1. Set a budget. Remember you don't want to buy a year's worth of clothes all at once. The weather (and styles) are bound to change. Sit down and come up with a number that's reasonable for the year, then divide by three. The first portion of the clothing budget will be what you use for back-to-school shopping.
2. Contact your school to see if any rules have changed when it comes to your dress code. Things may have changed over the summer and it's best to be prepared before you head out to the mall or get online.
3. Read up on the styles. Log on to Seventeen, Cosmogirl or Teen Vogue to find out what trends will be hot this fall.
4. Make a list of all the items you or will need in the upcoming year. Include clothes for gym classes and any other special activities you may be participating in (soccer, cheerleading, band, etc.).
5. Before you whip out the credit card, give last years clothes a review. See the list below for ideas on cleaning and organizing your closet.
6. Once you are sure you have the list prepared, tear out pictures from magazines or print images from the Internet to show your parents. There's no need buying items they are just going to make you return. Save everyone some aggravation and agree to approved styles before you plunk down your cash.
7. Save your receipts until you've tried everything on and made sure the clothes fit properly.

Getting Organized

Set aside an afternoon to sort through your closet. You may want to enlist a fashion-savvy friend to help you weed through the options. Crank up some inspiring tunes and get busy organizing. Bring three bags or plastic storage containers  with you. Mark the containers: Give: These clothes are in good shape but no longer fit your body or your fashion sense. You can give them to charity or sell on them on Craigslist or eBay -- it's your choice. Maybe you can even organize a clothing swap with your friends. Other cast-offs may be snatched up by younger siblings. Keep: Clothes that fit and still meet your fashion standards. Toss: If the clothes are stained, torn or otherwise damaged, add them to the rag pile for cleaning or toss them with the trash. For more tips on getting organized visit onlineorganizing. Ikea, Hold Everything,  and The Container Store  products designed to help keep your closet under control.

Spring Fashion Trends

Girls: Jeans  are skinny and continue to be low-rise.  Pleated skirts  cropped cardigans  are making a splash - look for fun and bold colors to make a statement, or a neutral or pastel color to compliment an outfit. Flat and bright shoes are hot -- like colorful ballet slippers.  Bags with lots of pockets and zippers (Marc Jacobs  makes the pricey version, but Old Navy makes similar styles ones for less). Victorian -inspired tops and blouses. Sundresses  and colorful shorts  are a great look for spring and summer.

Guys: What's new in denim? Think skinny legs  (like the classic punk rock band the Ramones) or boot cut. Low rise  is also popular. Horizontal striped polo shirts  layered under light sweaters or over tees are cool. Plain Ts  are a great staple - they can be worn under dress shirts and polos, or worn with jeans and brown shoes.  World Cup mania is going strong: Look for soccer jerseys  and logo gear from Adidas, Puma  and Nike.  Vintage-looking t-shirts  & rugbys  (or the real deal -- vintage clothes from your Dad's closet). Belts and shoes are also inspired form vintage collections. Converse sneaks  are still hot.

Top Teen Clothing Companies

Lovetoknow.com lists the following as the top ten brands for teen fashion.

1. American Eagle Outfitters : Good basics, think tees, jeans and hoodies. Wide range of sizes.
2. Abercrombie & Fitch:  Classic and clean lines. Excellent selection of tanks and polos.
3. Old Navy:  Fun well-priced fashions. Wait for sales or discount offers.
4. Pacsun:  Inspired by laid-back California surf styles. The spot to find surf and skate tee's.
5. Urban Outfitters:  Fashion forward looks. A great place to spot trends. Romantic and vintage in feel and attitude.
6. LL Bean:  Durable, reliable and affordable. Nothing will offend your parents from this site, but most likely nothing will make you stand out as a fashion maven.
7. Fashionmall.com: Brings many brand favorites all to one location. Gap, J. Crew, Fossil and more. Shop by brand or department.
8. delias.com:  Girls-only site big on fashion and style. Check out the what's new page to see of you're up on the latest looks.
9. gojane.com:  Inexpensive and colorful clothes for girls.
10. Torrid:  Plus-sized clothes for the fashion-conscious teen.

Shopping Advice

Shopping can be a minefield for teens. It's hard to make your parents understand that you have a unique style that differs from what they want to wear. Here are a few ideas to make the shopping easier.

• Involve your parents in making the shopping list.
• Once you've agreed to a budget, stick to it! Your parents will be impressed with your maturity and who knows this may be the next step to even more freedom.
• Look for bargains and promotions before you buy. Many retailers offer back-to-school savings and specials.
• Remember:
• Don't shop when you are tired or hungry -- you're bound to make some bad decisions.
• Don't give into peer pressure. Buy clothes that you feel comfortable in and that will make getting dressed fun.
• Don't shop with friends who have unlimited clothing budgets, you'll only get frustrated by your own monetary limits.

Budget Friendly Ideas

• Check out your local resale shop.
• Organize a clothing swap with friends.
• Use online resources like eBay and Craigslist for gently worn clothing.
• For more tips on staying on a budget when Back to School shopping read.
• Consider a part-time job at your favorite clothing store: You'll gain valuable work experience, received a discount on clothing and be able to sock away some cash. Groovejob.com is a good resource to locate potential employers.

Additional Back-to-School Items
School Supplies	Sneakers	Backpacks	Computers	Calculators

External Links

• About.com has general tips for starting the school year off on the right foot, like ways to improve your time management and study habits.
• Capitate has a clothing budget format right on their Web site.
• About.com's Teen Fashion Team provides advice for what to wear on the first day of school.