Back-to-school season marks the return of the morning rush and the daily battle between parents and kids to get dressed and out the door on time.
For some children, fashion can be a motivator to get them excited about waking up in the morning and heading to school in style. Nancy Dennis, trend director for children’s wear at Sears, has some tips for fashion-conscious kids and their parents. This season, she says, children’s clothing is inspired by the city.
FOR GIRLS
The Parisian chic look takes style cues from fashion icon Coco Chanel. A classic tweed blazer paired with a sleeveless shift can be made more age appropriate with the addition of dainty details, such as bows, ruffles and Peter Pan collars. “Start with classic pieces and add pops of glam with hints of metallic or sparkle. Girls can sport a silver metallic ballet flat or a graphic tee with a Parisian theme,” Dennis suggests.
Another hot-for-fall item is printed denim. “It adds texture and appeal to an outfit when worn with a solid or graphic tee,” Dennis says. To achieve an edgy rock ’n’ roll look, she suggests girls pair their printed denim with a black moto boot accented with metal studs or buckles.
FOR BOYS
The urban preppy look is all the rage. “This look screams sophistication, helping these dapper dudes look wise beyond their years,” Dennis says. “Pairing more formal tops and jackets with casual bottoms like a pair of jeans or chinos is the uniform for the urban prepster.” To keep a preppy outfit modern, Dennis suggests adding an urban detail, such as a rolled cuff or a trendy boot.
The effortlessly cool skater look continues to be popular for boys. “Mixing prints, patterns, graphics and bold colours in the same outfit embodies the skater’s devil-may-care attitude,” Dennis says.
Fashion trends aside, she recommends parents work with their children to encourage them to express themselves so they are comfortable and confident in their clothes. “It is important to allow boys and girls to express their creativity and personality through their style,” she says.
