Fashion Savvy - Fashion, Beauty, & Style » Back to School Fashion

Tween and teen fashion trends make back-to-school fun and affordable

fashion — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:50:04 +0000

(ARA) – This year’s back-to-school clothing trends are all about expressing individual personality. Just as music allows the listener to express themselves, fashion is a way for tweens and teens to let their true personality shine through.

Actress and singer Selena Gomez has teamed up with Sears to share today’s hottest back-to-school teen trends. Here’s what the coolest kids in school will be wearing this year:

Trend 1 – Be inspired by music
“For me, music and fashion are two ways I really get to express myself,” says Gomez. Like many tweens and teens, the music she likes has become a huge influence on her taste in fashion. From rock to rap styles, this year will be the year of music-inspired clothing.

For example, skate-style outfits will feature bold colors and geometric patterns. Rocker styles are edgy and use dark or muted colors. Hip-hop styles have lots of flare and feature accessories such as cool hats and belts. Pop-styles tend to be trendy and mix and match lots of dressy elements with casual pieces.

Trend 2 – Accessorize!
Accessories are an easy and affordable way to transform any outfit and make it more unique and your own. For girls, this could include necklaces, bracelets, scarves and fun colored socks. For boys, watches, sunglasses and shoes top the list.

“Unique accessories are also great because they can add so much to an outfit and dress it up or create a totally different style,” says Gomez.

Trend 3 – Mix and match for style success
Get the most out of your back-to-school wardrobe. Consider new combinations, interesting patterns and mixing textures to find a style that is uniquely you.

Gomez suggests, “Try to mix up your wardrobe with a combination of trendy items as well those that are classic. For instance, everyone needs a great pair of skinny jeans that you can wear with anything, but look for unique pieces such as a cool jacket, vest or scarf that are perfect for back-to-school this year and really dress up your look.”

Trend 4 – Make your style your own
The golden rule of tween and teen fashion this year is to make your style all about you. “It’s so important for everyone, especially tweens and teens, to have their own sense of style. Even if that style is constantly changing, it’s an outlet for us to tell the world who we are and what we like,” says Gomez.

She suggests trying new things and creating a different look each day. The key is to find a style that gives you the confidence to walk in a room and feel really good about yourself. “What’s great is that Sears has all the top fashions to choose from and since it’s so affordable, you can always get the hottest new items and try a variety of looks,” says Gomez.

Do you have a fashion sense that stands out? Is music part of your unique personality? Visit www.Arrivelounge.com to view all the hot new fashion trends and check out the Sears Air Band Casting Call. You’ll also have a chance to help style the band, pick a name, design a logo and more. The winner will get great prizes like a Sears back-to-school wardrobe.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Back-to-school Fashion Tips for Parents

fashion — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 22:55:22 +0000

Back-to-school Fashion Tips for Parents

Keep Kids Looking Great on a Budget

(ARA) – How much will you spend on new clothes this fall? According to the U.S. Census, Americans spent $7.5 billion on back-to-school shopping in 2007, or roughly $140 per child. With prices everywhere on the rise in today’s economy, Americans are looking for ways to get more for their money from brand names they know and trust.

Shopping for back-to-school clothes is a proverbial tug-of-war between parents and their kids. Parents want great value from outfits that will last throughout the school year, while kids mostly just want to look “cool.”

From adjustable waistbands to shoes that are two sizes too big, parents are constantly looking for ways to stretch their back to school purchases so boys, especially, won’t outgrow their clothes too quickly.

In Spring 2008, Signature by Levi Strauss & Co. conducted focus groups involving 11 and 12 year old boys and their parents to find the driving factors in buying new jeans for fall. They have to be in style, fit well, and come in a variety of colors with functional details like zippers and cell phone pockets. More than anything else, parents just want to buy what boys like and will actually wear.

“If parents buy jeans their kids will ‘grow in to,’ chances are the jeans will sit in the back of their closet and be forgotten,” says Christine Chun, manager of consumer insights at Levi Strauss & Co. “Boys want to be accepted by their friends and classmates, and this means finding jeans that are stylish and fit well.”

Taking the results of the focus groups to heart, Signature by Levi Strauss & Co. designed boys’ jeans for fall with the durability parents are looking for, and the styles boys want too. Carpenter and loose fit jeans with sturdy construction, a comfortable baggy cut, and secure pockets for carrying anything from rocks to mp3 players are now available at Walmart, Kmart and Target stores. Parents will like the price too; all jeans retail for $15 to $18 each.

Girls on the other hand, tend to care more about what’s in fashion right now, not what will last throughout the year. This can pose an even greater challenge for parents to keep their daughters in style without buying a whole new wardrobe every season. In conjunction with purchasing back to school supplies, which according to the U.S. Census Americans spent over $2.3 billion in fall 2007 at stationary stores, new clothes in the fall are often the only option that fits the family budget.

“A parents’ best bet for girls is to buy a classic five-pocket style jean you can dress up,” says Claire Raiklen, licensing manager at Signature by Levi Strauss & Co. “With cute, feminine details like back pocket stitching, bootcut or flare leg openings, and other unique embellishments – girls will love them and they won’t go out of style.”

Girls jeans are available for under $20 at Kmart and Target stores. Parents can also purchase jeans for themselves for under $20, in traditional straight and relaxed fits for men and fashionable wide-leg trouser styles for women. For more information on Signature by Levi Strauss & Co., visit http://www.signaturebylevistrauss.com/.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Back-to-School Style 101

fashion — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 01:15:02 +0000

Back-to-School Style 101

This fall, lessons in fashion won’t just come from the runway. Style cues will originate from a less likely place – the school hallway. The dark, boring lockers and mono-chromatic supplies of yesteryear have been replaced with chic alternatives, making the school day more like a never-ending fashion show. It’s all in response to today’s generation of fashion drivers — tweens and teens.

“From iPod stickers to car fresheners to binders and backpacks, today’s teens are all about making a statement,” says Lori Conley, marketing director for MWV school products, which oversees the popular Mead and Five Star school supply brands. “That demand for personal expression is translating to every facet of their lives, especially at school.”

Increased demand for fashion-friendly products means companies targeting teens are being charged not only with producing high-quality, value-added products that parents approve of, but creating offerings teens view as an extension of personal style. This juxtaposition has brands like Mead doing their own homework, analyzing new fashion inspirations, consulting color-trend forecasts and holding countless conversations with tweens and teens.

The company’s research shows several impending style trends which will impact everything from school supplies to apparel this back-to-school season:

* Customized Offerings – Kids continue to demand new ways to personalize their stuff, and customized products take center stage this year. One savvy middle school student recently worked with her father’s magnet company to design a line of magnetic locker wallpaper that allows kids to customize their locker space with ease. It will be available for use this fall.

The Five Star brand also has expanded its offerings to include a new line of notebook customization stickers and binders, report covers and other tools that let students personalize the exteriors with photos, drawings and schedules.

* Retro-Chic – That’s right mom and dad, the styles of yesteryear are back and better than ever! The fashion symbols of the ‘70s and ‘80s will color wardrobes this year, as shows like VH1’s “I Love the ‘80s” and other drivers bring the styles of generations past full circle.

This year the Trapper Keeper, the iconic supply of the ‘70s and ‘80s, turns 30 and celebrates by adding Trapper folders, index card holders, a weekly assignment book full of ‘80s trivia and more.

* Playful Polka Dots, Geometrics – Polka dots took the fashion scene by storm this summer. This fall, dots will be seen in all sizes, from small French dots in bedding and accessories to large-scale dots in apparel. Graphic florals and geometric prints also will abound in everything from clothing to notebooks, binders and other school tools.

* Childhood Whimsy – They may want to be all grown up, but tweens and teens still seek out their favorites of yesteryear. Images and logos from childhood products like Candy Land, Mr. Potato Head, Battleship and Twister will appeal to kids of all ages with graphic T-shirts, notebooks and folders this fall.

* Saving Money – One thing that never goes out of style with parents or kids is saving money and getting something for nothing. Be sure to check out loyalty programs associated with retailers and manufacturers for everything you buy for back to school. At www.mead.com, kids and parents can earn points and prizes just for registering their school supply purchases.

Remember, the school hallway often doubles as a fashion runway. Letting kids express themselves through clothes, shoes, accessories and supplies goes a long way toward making them confident and comfortable, and that is a good way to start off a successful school year.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Back-to-school Fashions at a Fraction of the Cost

fashion — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 14:05:41 +0000

Fall means back-to-school shopping! When kids start paying attention to what’s in style, a parent’s budget can really take a hit. Instead of shopping at the mall, try finding basic items at a thrift or discount store to transform into designer look-alike clothes.

The experts at Pfaff Sewing Machines suggest embellishments and embroidery to create the hip styles kids want. Here are few ideas for transforming plain jeans into hip denim fashions:

Fashion Jeans
Quickly create a designer look by embellishing the pant leg or pocket of a pair of jeans. Embroider flowers, cats, swirls and curls and add crystals, rivets, beads or sequins for the perfect finishing touch. Hot-fix applicators heat up an adhesive backing to permanently adhere a variety of crystals, nail heads, pearls and more to every designer garment!

Denim Capris
The Capri pant goes from fall to spring and back. Measure a pair of jeans to the desired shortened length and cut off the bottom. Sew a floral print fabric or decorative trim to the bottom the pant leg for a decorative look. Or, try using an accent fabric and create a wide cuff. The Pfaff creative 2170 has superior piercing power and can easily sew through nine layers of denim — you will easily be able to create the unique designer look you are looking for. Pick a favorite embroidery design to add to one cuff and a back pocket.

Jean Skirt
Turn an old pair of jeans into a skirt! Open the seams on each leg, cut off to the desired length and sew in a decorative fabric or another piece of denim to create the front of the skirt. Then, use one of the gorgeous 9mm decorative stitches built in to the Pfaff creative 2170 to create sturdy, fashionable seams. Add embroidered butterflies, hearts or flowers in your favorite colors and finish with crystal or bead embellishments with your hot-fix tool. It’s a great look that works in the warmer temperatures of fall or to wear with a pair of matching tights for winter.

Denim Skirt and Blouse Set
Using a pair of jeans, split the seams of each pant leg and cuff off at mid thigh. Choose a favorite small-patterned, floral fabric to sew to the bottom of the denim, gathering the accent fabric while sewing to give the skirt a little flare. Make a matching blouse using the IDT found only on a Pfaff. The IDT ensures perfect straight seams by feeding the top and bottom layers of fabric at the same rate of speed, even slippery fabrics, so that you have flat, precise seams every time with out having to use a lot of pins. Creating a blouse will be a snap! If you sew for your kids, use their favorite patterns and colors and they can mix and match several outfits.

Hoody Jacket
Jeans aren’t the only thing you can dress up. Create a cute, comfy jacket out of a hooded sweatshirt. You can line the hood with a plaid or floral fabric (flannel for extra warmth) and add matching cuffs. Cut up the front to put in a zipper, and use embroidery designs or 9mm decorative stitches to stylize the seams. Another great idea is to cut off the hood to create a funky, matching purse.

Some designer jeans cost as much as $200 and more. For the price of a couple of pairs of jeans, you can buy a sewing machine and make lots of your own personalized, high-fashion jeans with out the high price tag!

If you’re a beginning sewer but would like to try creating your own individual, fashionable clothes — not to worry! The latest in sewing technology makes sewing and embroidery easier than ever before.

For more information about IDT and other exclusive Pfaff sewing technology, log on to www.pfaff.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

SIDEBAR

How to Shorten Jeans while Keeping the Original Look

Has this happened to you? Your new jeans look great … but they are a little too long. You could just cut them off and re-hem them, but the typical jeans’ look would be lost. There’s a better way to do it! We’ll show you how to save the original look.

1. Mark half the amount by which the jeans are to be shortened (= 2 cm/ 3/4” in our example) on the wrong side of the fabric of each pant leg, above the hem. Fold the pant leg along this marked line, with the right side of the fabric facing in, press, pin and baste. Make sure that each side seam is folded exactly back onto itself.

2. Attach your sewing machine’s zipper foot to the right of the presser foot bar and set the needle for the left position.

Tip: Use a jeans needle for denim. It’s made especially for sewing jeans.

3. Pull the pant leg over your machine’s free arm. Stitch right next to the inner fold edge of the existing hem. Tie-off the beginning and end of the seam with backstitching.

Now press the fold up, inside the pant leg. Tack the fold to the side seams by hand, if desired. Since the seam lies directly above the stitching line of the hem, it is virtually invisible from the outer side of the pant leg.

Tip: If your jeans need to be shortened considerably, you should trim the fabric to 1.5 cm – 2 cm (5/8” – 3/4”) from your stitching and then finish the cut edges. When finishing the cut edges, always lay the seam allowances of the side seams in the direction of the stitching. When you finish the edge, you can use either your sewing machine’s three-step zigzag stitch or an overedge serger seam.

To shorten flared pant legs, we recommend opening the side seam first. Shorten the pant leg as described above. When you re-stitch the side seam, you can even out differences in the width of the pant leg.