School Year’s 1st Question: What To Wear?

By Nancy K. Crevier

Fashion is a little bit like New England weather — if you don’t like it, wait a minute. Wide leg pants become narrow and tight, then loose again; tight sweaters become baggy, baggy sweaters become fitted. Peasant blouses blossom, fade, and flower again. Ruffles give way to a tailored look that morphs into feminine poofs, and flat little skimmer shoes skyrocket into platforms and collapse once more into earthbound ballet flats. Waistlines go from cinched to empire to high to low and back to form-fitting once again.

But even though the echo of previous decades can be heard in a new year’s styles, each generation manages to give a different twist to fashion that stamps it with a seal all its own, and no one is better at making fashion fashionable than the young women who populate the halls of high schools.

The fall issues of popular fashion magazines feature tights and tunics (hello 1980s), wide leg jeans (remember elephant bells of the 70s?) and cardigans buttoned over tailored shirts, reminiscent of the 1950s. Big graphic patterns were the rage in the 1960s and are back again, the bright, hot colors a toned-down version of 60s psychedelic. The early 70s heralded the expansion of purses from conventional clutches to oversized shoulder bags. This autumn, big soft bags are again the rage, taking on the workload of dull backpacks and stodgy briefcases.

The styles are only vaguely familiar, though, in their new incarnations. Skinny tops paired with wide leg jeans, cropped jackets over skimpy tanks, and patterned footless tights beneath mini-skirts with tall, tall boots make a fashion statement that is all 2008.

Sam Kent, an incoming junior at Newtown High School, sees sweater fashion this fall drifting more toward the button-down cardigan look worn alone or over a tank top, and flouncy, ruffly shirts steering away from the super-fitted look that has reigned the past few years. “Girls are getting shirts that fit properly or are even a little baggier than before and my friends are trying a lot of new things this fall,” said Sam.

New darker colors like purples and ruby reds and vibrantly colored jeans hold a lot of appeal, she said. The skinny jean is still popular, especially with the “in” tall boots, but a wide variety of jeans styles means that the various body styles are going to find a good fit this fall, said Sam. “A lot of people like the skinny jean thing, but realize that not everyone looks good in it. Girls are going to dress in what makes them look good, individually,” predicted Sam.

Where does that leave last year’s must-have Crocs and Uggs? “They’re a fast-fading fad,” said Sam. “Now people wear them just to be comfortable, not so much for fashion.”

The newest Urban Outfitters catalog shows flimsy, extra-long shirt/dresses over high-waisted skinny jeans or tights and worn with clunky boots or chunky-heeled oxfords. But Morgan D’Avola, a sophomore this fall at NHS, does not see that as the trend for herself or her friends.

Some Things Are Not For Everyone

“The high-waisted look is hard to wear unless you’re a stick, really thin with a flat stomach,” said Morgan. “It might not be for everyone. I have seen a lot of dark-wash skinny jeans in the stores though, and I do like that look. Wide leg jeans that are very flared are also big this fall. I picked up a pair that have the sailor buttons on the front panel. I think girls will be wearing both styles,” said Morgan. The colored jeans will be worn by the “edgier girls,” Morgan thinks, but dark denims will be seen everywhere — in jeans, in shorts, in skirts, and in dresses.

The higher heels are not practical for school, said Morgan, so she expects to see a lot of girls wearing ballet flats and Converse sneakers. “Boots are more for the winter. People will probably still be wearing the Uggs, maybe turned way down like ankle boots, and the taller boots when it gets colder out,” she predicted.

Patterns are a fashion plus this year, Morgan said, and plaids are definitely bigger this year than last. The other look that Morgan has noticed in stores is a trend toward “baby” patterns on shirts and blouses. “I’ve seen designs like teddy bears and other ‘little kid’ designs that are really cute,” she said. Ruffles are going to make a comeback, more than likely, along with the down-filled vest. “I like the poofy, zip-front vests that are in the stores,” said Morgan. “That’s good for going to the football games when you want something a little warm.”

Despite the fashion industry’s push to replace backpacks with big bags and messenger bags, Morgan said she learned her lesson last year when she tried substituting a tote for her books instead of the pack. “I got so twisted and my one shoulder hurt so much that I ended up at a chiropractor. The books are just too heavy for a bag. Using a backpack kind of balances things out, so I’m going to stick with that this year,” said Morgan, no matter what fashion dictates.

She has already picked out her first-day-of-school outfit, although it could be subject to change, said Morgan. “I think I’m going to wear my wide leg jeans with a plaid, button-down shirt, and either flats or flips flops.”

Bianca Crudo is willing to take her chances on carrying a bag. “I don’t use a backpack. I use an oversized bag. With a tote bag, I’m more careful about what I take in it than if I use a backpack. I go back to my locker more often, and using a bag forces me to clean it out more often and not lose stuff at the bottom,” she said. She sees her friends going after the brand name bags, like Longchamp of Paris or Coach. “They’re asking for them for their birthdays or Christmas, or saving up. I’m looking for a Marc by Marc Jacobs, which is slightly less expensive,” said Bianca.

Overall, Bianca thinks that the look at NHS this fall will be a little more dressed up and put together than previous years. “My friends and I watch Gossip Girls and some girls are going to be styling their look after Gossip Girls, I think,” said Bianca, with short dresses paired with brightly colored tights, and a heel or ballet flat. “The footless tights are pretty popular, too,” she said.

Working With A Budget

The other item Bianca and her friends are looking at is the colorful trench coat — but she is thinking twice about whether to buy one this year. “My mom gave me a clothing allowance for the school year and I have to use it to buy everything. I have to budget everything. My dad sat me down and had me write out a list of ‘wants’ and ‘needs’ and that helped me focus a lot when I went shopping. You discover you don’t really ‘need’ a lot of things,” Bianca said.

By visiting outlet shops, and seeking out vintage clothing stores or visiting the Fashion Exchange in town, Bianca said she has made her allowance go further this fall. “And on eBay you can sometimes find things cheaper and find stuff that you won’t anywhere else. I know a lot of kids are going on eBay to shop,” said the NHS junior.

Being aware that her choices need to get her through the whole school year has made her less apt to impulse buy and to select a more neutral palette for her basic wardrobe pieces, for the most part, said Bianca. Then she accents with color or sequins, both big this fall, and dresses up the look with a headband or gold jewelry. “So when I look at the brightly colored trench coat, I think it would be so fun, but will I want to wear that next year or the year after?” she said.

Jeans, of course, are a staple item for back-to-school, said Bianca. “People are experimenting with all kinds of jeans. The skinny jeans and the wide legged jeans are out there, and I love the high-waisted look of pants and shorts. They’re fun because you can play with what you do with your shirt and the type of shirt you wear with them. I have a pair of high-waisted shorts that I just love,” Bianca added.

Bright colors and big graphics, jeans with flare or jeans without, tall boots and low heels, and a look put together with care. It is a look that says,  “Newtown High School, 2008. Go, Nighthawks!”