Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Teen Scene Back to School

I don't know about the rest of the country, but here in Florida we're gearing up to head back to school next week.  There's a buzz in the air, an anticipation to return to those gossip-filled halls so thick you can almost taste it.  While parents run frenzied through the big box stores with mile-long supply lists to fill, the teens are hitting the malls in search of that perfect back to school wardrobe.

This past week I got to have this experience with my brother -- and fashion is oh so important.  You've got to get it right from the start or you're doomed.  At least, that's what he says.  ;)  So what are the kids wearing this year?  I'll tell you one thing, high school style sure has changed since I was there...


There seems to be a throwback trend yet again this year, but this one is a little on the softer side:



Lots of polka dots and plaids:



According to Elle, it's all about the tights and the floral prints:


 And, guys, these aren't the Nikes of our childhood:



Also, apart from what the Old Navy ads are spewing, skinny jeans still seem to be the "in" jean for the fall, and the more distressed, the better.

The point here, guys?  Pay attention to what you're dressing your characters in.  Trendy isn't what it used to be, and it is ever changing. 



5 comments:

Anonymous said...

That's very true--trendy has changed. I wasn't trendy back in the day, and I'm definitely not now.

Interestingly enough, when you read books that are even a few years old, what was cool in that book sounds wretched now. I think if I ever write a contemporary, my characters will just have to wear multi-era things, like jeans (no specification to size or cut) and t-shirts (ditto).

Cool post, Holly!

Meredith McCardle said...

Exactly what Sooz said. I always always stick to the generic. Jeans, a t-shirt and sneakers will never go out of style, whereas "I threw on my skinny jeans, plaid button-down and Chuck Taylors" will make you look soooooo dated in ten years!

Holly Hill said...

Absolutely right, guys. Kind-of goes hand in hand with slang of the day. While we may have said "off the chain" five billion times a day when we were young (I had to giggle typing that), if you read it in a book now it would sound horribly outdated and out of place.

Christine Murray said...

The fact that skinny jeans are still in has ME distressed. They were not designed with thighs like mine in mind. Love the polka-dot Nikes though.

Thanks for the heads up!

Anonymous said...

Great thoughts, but I agree with everyone else here about trends and slang going out in a few years.

And Christine, I think skinny jeans should be outlawed! There are too many NOT skinny people trying to pour themselves into them, which just makes for some awkward moments and sights I don't want to see. (Even though I secretly wish I could wear them!)