Bieber, Bandz and Jeggings: Brookline's Back-to-School Trends

Summer is winding down and the Back-to-School season is upon us.  And as usual, the most popular styles this year revolve around trends that are filling kids with wonder, and leaving parents just wondering. 

 According to Kelly Rich, a district leader for Hair Cuttery hair salons, this year, the kids are looking for haircut cues from the stars.

"For many years with boys, the look was always short," Rich said.  "But thanks to Justin Bieber and the Jonas Brothers, more boys are wearing their hair longer and more tousled.  A Justin Bieber haircut can also look cute on a girl who wants her hair short, but not too short.  It's like a modified bob."

Rich says girls are entering salons with requests for long, soft layers like those sported by Disney television star, Selena Gomez.  But a service called "Mylights" is another favorite option.

"With 'Mylights' we put just a few soft highlights around the face," Rich explained.  "Nothing drastic and it's very affordable.  But on the other hand, we are getting requests for one vibrant streak of color in the hair from adventurous kids.  Streaks of bright pink, bright blue and bright red."

With new haircuts come new pieces to add to the wardrobe.  Sascha Wolf-Sorokin, a fifth grader at the Pierce School, has her personal autumn fashion lineup ready to go.

"I'm going to be wear my jeggings," Wolf-Sorokin said, referring to the increasingly popular jean leggings.  "And I have skinny jeans that I'm going to wear, but they aren't too skinny.  I have wider jeans and some sweats, too."

Sarah Diehl, brand manager at Brookline's GapKids, confirmed that many kids are demanding skinny jeans the year, but said a number of other looks have popped up this season as well.

"For boys, we have graphic tees and we are showing them with flannel shirts worn over them," Diehl said.  "They can be worn with skinny jeans.  And for the girls, we have printed baby doll shirts that they're really liking.  We also have a new line that's doing very well, 'An American in Paris.'  It features a lot of reds, blacks and whites with fun patterns."

"And we always sell uniforms," said Diehl.  "We carry your typical skirts, pants and shirts in khaki and navy blue but this year, we've added some more fashion component to the uniforms—pleats in the skirts and puffier sleeves in the girls' shirts."

No look would be complete without accessories, and sales associate Colleen (who requested her last name not be used) at Henry Bear's Park says Silly Bandz are at the top of everyone's "to-buy" list. 

"Lots of kids come in looking for and wearing Silly Bandz, and lots of parents come in complaining about them," Colleen joked.  "They're rubber bands and you wear them as bracelets.  They come in all sorts of colors and shapes.  We're now carrying glittery ones and ones that change color in the sun, which were really in-demand this summer."

Silly Bandz typically come in packs of 12 or 24 and feature shapes from various themes, including animals, instruments and beach gear.  Henry Bear Park now offers packages of 100 Silly Bandz, but according to Colleen, the big packs are labeled with shapes or themes and only come in basic colors.

Luckily, amidst haircuts and jeggings, kids are remembering the staples of back-to-school preparation.  Wolf-Sorokin has purchased several color-coded folders for her individual school subjects and a new lunchbox that flaunts a pink and purple flower pattern.  She's also remembered the necessities—pencils, erasers and scissors.

"It would be pretty embarrassing not to have all of the little things you need for your first day back at school," she said.