The first day of school was always exciting for me because I loved fashion. I took pride in styling my ensemble and could not wait to show it off. I will never forget sweltering while wearing Fall clothes (knit sweater and corduroy pants) — because one was forbidden to wear Summer white after Labor Day, even though it was officially still summer.
It was so much fun to shop for school clothes. Mother allowed all four of her children to purchase at least five outfits to start off the school year. I would mix and match my wardrobe to create new looks. My creative skills developed and were noticed by my peers and teachers. During my senior year, I was voted Best Dressed female. That superlative solidified years of being artistic and fashion-forward.
It is time to get equipped for the new school year. Whether you are a student getting ready for primary school, secondary school or higher education/college, shopping for clothes and supplies can be overwhelming. And remember, trends are not for everyone.
{BACK TO SCHOOL}
TEENS
Ugh! Back to school already! Getting your teens ready for the school year can be challenging. You want your teens to look forward to going to school, where they can evolve. Providing them with the basic essentials can ease anxiety and help build their confidence. Here are a few tips to get started.
CLASS ASSIGNMENT: Let’s start with a bonding exercise for you and your teenager. Together, pick out what to wear for the week. This will keep your student organized and on-time each morning. Create a digital look book using a smart device: Snap photos of your teen modeling each pre-selected ensemble. To expand the wardrobe, mix and match pieces, repeating each step and taking photos of the styled looks.
ORIENTATION DAY: Keep in mind: Adhere to the school dress code.
HOMEROOM: WARDROBE 101 (must-haves)
PERIOD 1: School spirit — proudly wear school mascot/logo attire
PERIOD 2: Jacket — Moto jacket, blazer, utility jacket, sleeveless trench coat, slouchy oversized sweater
PERIOD 3: Denim — white, dark, distressed, skinny jeans, black jeans, denim jacket, and denim overalls
PERIOD 4: Classic Tee — graphic tee [keep school dress code in mind], classic white tee, striped tee and neon, bold tee.
PERIOD 5: Dress — shirt dress that can be paired with Moto jacket, sweater, blazer
LUNCH: Tops — button-down shirt, sweater, blouse, sweatshirt
PERIOD 6: Bottoms — khaki pants, dress pants, skirt, shorts [keep school dress code in mind]
PERIOD 7: Footwear — loafers, sandals, stylish sneaker, athletic sneaker, vans sneakers, boots
ACTIVITIES: Athleisure — stylish workout clothes
STUDY GROUP: Accessories — Crossbody bag, non-prescription glasses
PREREQUISITES ESSENTIALS:
- Pens, pencils/lead refills, highlights, agenda/planner, flash drive, sticky notes, notebooks, three-ring binders, backpack, Wite-Out, glue/glue stick
- Locker lighting — chandelier
- Locker shelf — extra needed space
- Locker wallpaper — temporary peel wallpaper can dress up the inside of the locker
- Locker pocket — used to hold supplies and mirror for grooming
