5 Fall Fashion Trends for Teens

It’s hard to pinpoint what is important to kids these days. With children as young as 6 years old having smart phones and tablets, anything that has to be offline might as well have an embarrassing picture of that child’s parents on the cover.

In my day, kids had video games rather than gadgets, and most of those were played at home. There was at least one console you didn’t have, which required you to become friends with a classmate who did.

Too-cool-for-school trinkets were Nike and Puma folders (when they first started to tap into that market) and those foam pencil grips that looked like deformed jellybeans.

But if there was one thing that was important and remains important now, it is fashion. There is always a need for clothes. And while the frosted tips I rocked back in 2000 (not really) aren’t back in style, there seem to be some retro elements of what kids are wearing now. Also, the teenagers of today are growing up too fast (thank you, technology).

But before this introduction turns into a rant, I give you my presentation of 5 Fall Fashion Trends for Teens. Let’s see what Generation Z can do.

Trend #1: Boho Prep

The hipster look has been popular for a few years, but the whole ‘thrift store vomit’ thing isn’t for everybody. The people who despised it before are used to it now, and they will find a subtle way to utilize elements of that culture. This year, keep an eye out for style crossovers:

(Photo taken by Hannah Minkner, courtesy of Kennedy Stearns)

Why not add a couple of stereotypically hipster things to your modern wardrobe? It’s a great way to fight the societal labels that make high school the jungle it is.

The beige button-down shirt with the jean shorts makes for a relaxed but trendy outfit. Add the orange backpack (held or worn), and you have two strong autumn colors commanding the look.

Trend #2: Insta-greaser

Teen Vogue says a leather jacket and jeans combo is a go-to for guys again. Include a button-down underneath the jacket for what Style Features Editor Andrew Bevan calls the “rebellious prep” look.

This is low-maintenance and great for various outings (especially in high school). Picture day? Wear a leather jacket. Have to present a PowerPoint on Napoleon? Wear a leather jacket. Going on a date? Wear a leather jacket. It will be for you or her if she gets cold. Boom. I just dropped the microphone.

Trend #3: Miss John Doe

Boyfriend shorts are here. While longer than other shorts geared toward women, these puppies can be rolled up to fit the look of your choice. That kind of versatility will save you time and money. I would high-five you right now if I could.

Trend #4: Teen Office Posh

If the ‘90s are coming back, then “posh” is returning to my lexicon. I can most certainly use it when describing this charming number:

(Photo courtesy of Tom Ford)

The look above represents the on-the-go incarnation of the businessman. I may feel like Mad Men’s Roger Sterling when I hang this coat on the office rack, but teenagers benefit from this style too. The layers of jet black help to eclipse the loud colors of fall. You’ll be like the November night sky. A high school kid in Minnesota can get away with this because it’s too cold too soon. It’s also a way the 17-year-old preppy could look busy on his way back to Rye from his NYU algebra class.

Trend #5: Yoga, Girl!

Athleisure, the term for wearing sports apparel outside of the gym, is the boiling point of that yoga pants craze from a few years ago. The New York Post reported that denim sales plummeted because of the trend.

Teens are over leggings and on to Lululemon. This will be a thing until the weather gets really cold. Expect your high school to join the club.

So there you have it. Blend those hallway styles and borrow the fashions of your elders.

Display image via Shutterstock.