Styling in the classroom

Fourth-grader Emmie Gentry has to wear gray New Balance tennis shoes to school this year. It's not a school rule, said her mom, Angie Gentry. It's Emmie's rule. So the two spent last weekend searching for this must-have fashion for Emmie to wear to class.

"We went everywhere in town, and nobody had her size," Mrs. Gentry said, noting that she was hoping to purchase them in Tennessee because of last weekend's tax-free promotion. "But I finally found them at a store in Fort Oglethorpe (Georgia)."

Though shopping on a budget for back-to-school fashions is a priority for parents this year, they also feel it's important for their children to express their personalities in new clothes when heading back to class, according to a recent Lands' End and Parents Magazine survey.

Ninety-seven percent of the moms surveyed said they would purchase mix-and-match fashions for their daughters. The clothing choices would maximize their children's wardrobes and create more outfits, the survey revealed.

T-shirts (solids, graphics, stripes, tie-dye) top the list of must-haves for boys and girls, according to Lands' End.

"Emmie loves T-shirts, especially ones with small designs or animals," said Mrs. Gentry, of Chattanooga. "Especially now when the weather is so warm, T-shirts and nice shorts are the ideal outfits to wear to school."

Other popular trends, according to Lands' End are skorts, a combination skirt and shorts, for girls and hoodies (hooded sweatshirts) for boys and girls.

For young guys, the trend is graphic tees, jeans with a ragged touch and Nike tennis shoes, said Jennifer Nail, mother of 12-year-old Matt and 9-year-old Jo. Mrs. Nail, of Flintstone, Ga., said the boys favor T-shirts with a sports theme.

"(Matt) is an athletic kid, and all his friends dress like this," she said.

Emmie and Matt said Abercrombie & Fitch is one of their favorite stores.

"It's OK if Emmie has a few name-brand clothes, as long as we mix it with clothes we buy at places like Target," Mrs. Gentry said. "I understand the need to want trends because I did when I was a kid, and so did my mother."

What kids are wearing to school largely depends on "what type of kid you have," Mrs. Nail said, explaining that children typically wear attire that reflects their interests or hobbies.

"Emmie likes monkeys and frogs, so most of her T-shirts have monkeys and frogs on them," Mrs. Gentry said.

Also trendy this year are smaller backpacks, Mrs. Gentry said. "The roller backpacks and the larger bags are just too heavy," she said. "The smaller messenger bag is easier for the child to carry."