the best ways to be high school chic this fall

It’s time to head back to high school (or maybe to start). And the dreaded words “What are you wearing?” don’t have to be a part of your life this fall. Whether it’s coming from your parents, or from the mean kids at school, or from you as a parent addressed toward your own kid, no one wants to deal with an eye roll on the first day of school. Fear not. We got you.

Word to the parents out there: the days of carefully selecting your kids’ first day of school outfits, having laid them out on the bed the night before, are over. Let them go.

In their place is something potentially even more fun: you get to go shopping with a teenager filled with personality, personal style and serious ambitions. We know it can be hard to give up your desire to dress your kids in your own image. But if you show some curiosity, humor, and willingness to listen, your family can totally nail back to school fashion for high school this year. With no tears, slammed doors or hurt feelings. We promise.

We here at Dandelion Chandelier have done some digging to figure out what trends are on-point for high school right now. Explore and discuss them together, before you start shopping, and the whole family might actually emerge with a chic look and stronger emotional bonds this fall.

Where to begin?  If you like to shop online, check out Shopbop and its brother site Eastdane for selections from top brands like Rag & Bone, Marc Jacobs, Adidas and Kenzo.  Other online spots to check out include Net-A-Porter, Mr Porter and Opening Ceremony – all three have wide selections and fun collabs, too.

Feeling lucky? Check out street style favorite Supreme’s latest online drop, happening on August 20th – but don’t delay because it is sure to sell out fast.

But why do you all your shopping online? Wouldn’t it be fun to go to Nordstroms, Bergdorfs or Saks Fifth Avenue, where you can enjoy a couple of hours of retail therapy together? We love shopping with high-school and college-aged kids – they’re great company, and we learn a lot about their personalities by understanding their style choices. Plus the people-watching is great.

If they’ll allow it, you might even spring for a meal before, during or after your retail run. Or you can stage a fashion show at home when you get back. The important thing is that you’re doing something creative and fun together.

Without further ado, here’s our list of the top six trends for heading to high school in style this year:

1. 90’s Style: The 90’s were a revolutionary decade for style, with everything from the grungy combat boots and flannels to blazer and skirt sets from Clueless captivating teens around the world.  And love it or hate it, this hotly contested style period has returned for today’s teens.  This time around you will find modern and streamlined silhouettes and thankfully, a little less neon.

Our Picks:  Girls no longer have to shop the men’s section for great over-sized flannels.  Instead there are great options like the McQ Patched Tartan Shirt Dress ($495) that even has hidden pockets.  The windbreaker gets a modern makeover in colors that will stand the test of time with the Billionaire Boys Club Breaker Windbreaker ($170).  We love the simplicity of this Rag & Bone Fit 3 Beach Shirt in army plaid ($225) that is just a subtle nod to the grunge trend.  And in the event you didn’t save any of your childhood character apparel, you will find plenty of nostalgia in this Marc Jacobs Mickey Zip Up Hoodie ($550).  Who could forget Cher’s iconic yellow plaid blazer and skirt set from Clueless? Countless brands included matching patterns in their Fall/Winter ’18 collections, including this Versace Tartan Wool Blazer ($2,495).

2. Animal Prints:  Every few years the animal print trends rears its head acrossed fashion industry.  And this year it is everywhere and for everyone – male or female.  From bold colors to more understated takes on the look, there are plenty of ways to make this wild stye work for your teen.

Our picks:  If your kid is looking to stand out try the Kenzo Logo Windcheater ($445), Stussy Leopard Button Down ($80), LNA Leopard V Neck ($90) or the Versace Animalier Embroidered Polo ($775).  If their style is a little more subtle, they can dip their toe in with this super cool APL Phantom Sneakers in Leopard ($250) instead.

3. Jean jackets:  Nothing beats a good pair of vintage washed jeans expect maybe the long awaited return of the jean jacket.  Not only is it a great layering piece for expressing personal style through colors, patterns, pins and varying cuts, it’s a great way to ensure that your teen always has a coat ready for a chilly day – even if it’s just slouching off their shoulders.  This trend just helps us moms rest a little easier.

Our picks:  This classic style Rag & Bone Oversized Denim Jacket ($350) will make layering easy going into the winter months as will this Ksubi Oh G Jacket ($350) with its shearling lining and collar. If simple and straightforward is for your teen then you can’t go wrong with the AG Dart Jacket ($215), but if more is, well, more then consider this bold Versus Versace Floral Checkerboard Print Denim Jacket ($625) or this luscious over-sized Stella McCartney Anikka Denim Jacket ($1,975).

4. Elevated sport:  The athleisure trend is still going strong for teens, continuing to blur the lines between the locker rooms and everyday apparel.  Fortunately though this look is more about looking sleek instead of sloppy thanks in part to pairing your teens picks with the right accessories like hats and bags.

Our picks:  When you live in NYC it’s hard not to love this Gucci NY Yankees Baseball Hat ($530).  These Saint Laurent Court Classic Sneakers ($595) are versatile and would pair great with just about any look.  Whether carrying books or equipment, this Off White Camouflage Drawstring Backpack ($450) will make either activity look good.  These re-imagined slides from Adidas Originals by AW Adilette Slides ($140) are perfect for both the locker room and the classroom and when paired with socks they are both cold weather friendly and on trend too.  Another great pick from Adidas is the Adidas by Stella McCartney Neckwarmer ($55) which offers a finishing touch to any outfit and also some extra warth during the winter.

5. Graphics:  Back to school means going back to basics – homework, early mornings and sports practice.  Fortunately their t-shirts doesn’t need to be basic.  From repping favorite designer logos to fun whimsical images, we love the not so basic tees happening this fall.  So skip the basic tees in favor of a statement making top instead.

Our picks:  Stand out with this bright yellow McQ Rave Monster Shirt ($160) or cozy up to reading in this Moschino Bear Tee Dress ($725).  The Kenzo Spaced Out T-Shirt ($145) or this Vetements Printed Cotton T-Shirt ($240) will definitely make a fun first impression, while the Burberry Graffiti Rucksack in Vintage Check ($1,690) is a fun play on the classic Burberry Check pattern.

6. Shoes that move:  Teens are always on the go, so it’s important they have some comfortable shoes to take them places.  You can’t go wrong with some stylish sneakers whether for casual or for play and from Yeezy to Gucci to Adidas there are lots of great options.  That being said, we know kids can’t wear sneakers everyday, even though they would if they could.  So we’ve thrown in a couple boot options too to get them through those special occasions.

Our Picks:  The Yeezy Supply Thick Suede Desert Boot ($295) are great for everyday wear as are these classic Rag & Bone Walker Boots ($475).  For casual sneakers we like the Gucci Ace Leather Sneaker ($620) and which is available in both men’s and women’s styles.  But if you need something a little more sport ready consider the Nike Air VaporMax Flyknit Utility ($225) for guys and the Y-3 Harigane ($400) for the girls.

There you have it — six trends to discuss before heading into the shopping fray. Good luck! You got this.

Jillian Tangen is the Head of Research at Dandelion Chandelier and a former Senior Research Analyst at McKinsey & Co and Analyst at Shearman & Sterling. She is an avid fan of Nordic design, having owned an independent lifestyle store and sales agency focused on emerging Scandinavian design. Jillian lives in NYC and is married with three young children and loves cross country skiing, the New York Rangers, reading, travel and discovering new brands.

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