Summer Fashion for Teens

As the summer months draw to a close, it becomes difficult to walk into any store without being bombarded by back to school sales. Although the prospect of shopping for school clothes is exciting for many teens, it can be a major stressor for parents. With a bit of advance planning, however, every fashion conscious teen can come back to school with a wardrobe which makes them and their parents happy.

In order to make sure that the shopping excursion is pleasant for everyone, it is best to do a bit of planning ahead of time. One of the most important things to discuss in advance is the available budget for a new wardrobe. If teens know their budget starting out, they will not cause a scene when they are unable to get the hottest new sneakers that cost hundreds of dollars per pair.

Once the budget has been set, teens and their parents should sit down and look through magazines and catalogues together. Many parents do not understand their teens fashion choices, and seeing them validated in a fashion magazine may be helpful. Looking through fashion magazines will help parents understand their teens' style and will help teens get ideas as to what they want.

It is important to keep in mind that teens will needs clothes for both school and play, and to distinguish between the two. Before hitting the mall, be sure to look over the school's dress code and make sure that all school outfits are appropriate. Parents should remember, however, to give their teens a bit more freedom when it comes to choosing their clothes for after school hours.

Once the shopping trip begins, keep an eye out for basics that can be easily mixed and matched. For example, a teen could wear the same top with different bottoms and switch it up with their choices of accessories. Mixing and matching the basics is a great way to give teens many different options while saving their parents the expense of many different outfits.

Shopping for a fashion conscious teen can be stressful for parents, especially when they do not truly understand the trends of the younger generation. Do a bit of research beforehand and understand how important it is for teens to fit in with their peers. Set a budget and determine in advance which clothes will be acceptable for school and which need to be saved for the weekends.

Returning to school night bedtimes and wake-up times in the weeks before school begins is a good way to ease kids back into the proper rhythm for going back to school. Taking trips to the store to purchase school supplies like notebooks and pens can get the younger ones excited about returning to school because they are getting something, and that something needs school to start to be used. It's all simple psychology that parents can use to the benefit of their child. After all, don't we want them to love and to excel in school?

During the summer, it is normal to let them go to bed later and sleep later in the mornings. It's great to allow this relaxing of school year discipline, but there should be a gradual return to this as school approaches so that it's not a shock to their system when the first day and week of school arrive. A simple 15-20 minute earlier shift in their bedtime over a few weeks before school can accomplish this. It gets them into it without any of the shock or trauma, and it doesn't have the feeling of a punishment. We already talked about taking them to buy supplies, and they obviously have to be present to try on new school clothes, whether they go to the state school and get to wear individual clothes, or some sort of parochial or private school which usually require a standard uniform or outfit. Clothing should be laid out the night before to avoid morning confusion.

Already towards the end of July we are reminded that school is right around the corner and the stores are hoping for us to start planning what we are going to be wearing and buying for that first week of school.