Student Perspective: Back-to-School Shopping on a High School Budget

As the summer heat quickly turns into autumn chill, students at Lakeland High School find themselves preparing for not only making the grade, but also looking good.

That's right, folks, it's back-to-school shopping time for teenagers. While most parents cringe at the thought of shelling out ridiculous amounts of cash for clothes, there are ways for parents and teens to save money while staying fashionable.

For most guys, fashion is a simple thing. I think I speak for most guys my age when I admit that dressing myself comes down to three basic questions: "Is it clean? "Is it stained?" and "Does it match?" If an outfit fits those three categories, we are good to go.

In all seriousness, there is a little bit more than that to picking out clothes for us teenaged guys. There are a few staples in our wardrobe that stay pretty consistent from season to season. 

For teenage guys, most outfits consist of some sort of t-shirt, jeans, and a hooded sweatshirt (hoodie). This basic template can be adapted by each student to fit his own personal style.

Guys who identify more with a "skater" style will usually lean more towards graphic tees with skateboarding logos and shop at stores such as PAC-SUN and Zumiez. Other students may lean more toward brand-name stores like Hollister, Aeropostale, and American Eagle. Additionally, more athletically inclined students might sport Under Armor, Nike, and Adidas brand shirts and may swap jeans for sweat or basketball pants.

A popular accessory for teenage guys is the fitted baseball cap. Guys usually leave the brims flat and the stickers on, occasionally. These can be loosely equated to the male answer to handbags, only less functional. Guys who do wear baseball caps can have large collections of the same basic item, but each one matches a different outfit or color.

While guy's fashion stays consistent for the most part, girl's fashion is more heavily influenced by trends and fads. 

Olivia Wilcox, a senior at Lakeland, said the one of the hottest new trends this fall is the cross-breed between jeans and leggings: "jeggings."

"They are über comfortable and they create a nice silhouette for your legs and elongate them," Olivia said. "Dark washes are better to buy because you wear them casual or you can wear them dress-up for events."

Boots have also been a staple in American fashion for both guys and girls with different incarnations of the footwear appearing throughout generations.

While last year furry Uggs dominated the fashion scene, "riding boots" is the latest trend in footwear according to Wilcox. These boots cover the entire calf.

But buyer beware, a poorly executed purchase can lead to unflattering results.

"You have to be careful to make sure they do not end at an awkward part on your calf or they can make your legs appear fatter," Olivia warned.

Finally, a good accessory for any season is a belt, which can spice up a normally plain outfit or tie together an already impressive look.

"One of the best accessories to have is a belt," Olivia said. "Skinny, colorful, leather...they all add a personal touch to your outfit."

Additionally, "the belt can accentuate your waist more," Olivia explained, "which creates a nice line."

With the less-than-robust economy students and their parents can easily have some trouble affording these new styles. But Hannah Orenstein, a senior at Needham High School in Massachusetts and fashion blogger has some tips to save money while looking your best.

"Keep an eye out for sales," Hannah said. "If you love an item but can't quite stomach the price tag, ask a sales associate when the next sale will be."

Hannah said you could join a store's e-mailing list for exclusive coupons and sales.

"Head straight for the sale rack and you'll save major money, too," she said.

There are some stores, however, that consistently offer great prices on a variety of pieces. Both Olivia and Hannah point out Forever 21 as a great place to get fashionable clothes for a reasonable price. Hannah noted that H&M, like Forever 21, has an impressive inventory with solid prices.

Additionally, certain stores will also give out student discounts.

"Show your student ID at the check-out counter and you can often get 10 – 15 percent off your total price," Hannah said.

TopShop offers a 10 percent discount and American Eagle offers a rewards program, she added.

"While it's obviously great to save money, it's okay to splurge every once in awhile when you truly love something," Hannah said. "If you're one hundred percent sure that you will wear a certain piece - a watch, a pair of jeans, a pair of shoes - over and over for years, then feel free to spend a little extra!"

However, the same rules do not apply to temporary delights.

"If you're just trying out a fad that will blow over by next season, your best bet is to shop conservatively," Hannah advised.

So with those tips in mind, it's time to hit the ground running and get ready to look your best for the year ahead.