With the new school year quickly approaching, tweens and teens all over are thinking about what they are going to wear the first day of school.   Our choice of clothing says alot about us and most kids want to say that they are hip and cool.   In some ways, dressing is the only way that some kids are truly allowed to express themselves.  While as a parent, while we don’t want kids dressing overly sexy, we do need to recognize their need to make their own statement. 

There are so many fashions available and at a low cost, I’m going to show you how to stretch your dollar and send your DS and DDs off to school looking fabulous. 

Firstly, lets start with the basics.  Jeans, jeans, jeans are a must.  There are so many different styles and cuts.  Find out from your child what color and cut they like best and then invest in a few pairs.  Consider this, many students wear jeans everyday, so its wise to buy them when you find them on sale, especially because you know they will get a great deal of use out of them.

This is one of my favorite looks.  I think this outfit makes Miley Cyrus look young and fresh.  You can never go wrong with jeans and a tee shirt.  In this pic, Miley opts for a pair of skinny jeans with a standard black tee.  Any tween or teen can make this outfit their own by adding different shoes, maybe instead of heels they can wear a funky pair of sneakers or a shimmery ballet flat.  Jewelry will really make this outfit pop.  Hoop earrings or a long necklace can be purchased for a couple of dollars.

Tee shirts are always useful, purchase multiple styles.  Again, this is a very popular item with kids, invest in several colors.  I like both plain tees and tees with graphics - find out what your child likes and buy them on sale.  I prefer a tee shirt that is a bit longer for girls because it will come all the way down to the top of their jeans.  Also, while a slim fit tee is great - we certainly don’t want to wear a tee shirt that is downright tight.  NOT CUTE!

The Jonas Brothers give a fine example of layering, which is a teenage standard.  Sometimes outfits are a bit more complex than jeans and a tee shirt.  I love that the Jonas Brothers mix unexpected pieces together to make something thats really hot.  A outgrown suit jacket goes perfectly with pair of jeans, to keep the outfit casual put a polo shirt underneath.  Maybe your DS has some dress shirts that are a bit small for him, put a graphic tee shirt over the dress shirt, the outfit is instantly cool and some older pieces of clothing have been utilized.  When the weather is cooler perhaps a fitted sweater or sweat shirt over the dress shirt along with a pair of jeans, again make a hip outfit. 

All of these outfits are based around two common pieces; Jeans and tee shirts.  Of course there are other things that you can put into the wardrobe, but these are the main things that tween/teens want in their wardrobe right now.  There are also the items that you’re going to get the best bang for your buck. 

 There are so many options out there.  Right now, begin asking your child what they like to wear, you’ll get a real sense of who they are becoming.  Allowing them to express themselves through their clothing gives them a real sense that you care about who they are becoming.  Happy Shopping!

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