Aug 23, 2006 By Rebekah Sungala 4 min read

The ’80s are back in a big way when it comes to back-to-school fashions – leggings worn under mini skirts, long tanks, big belts and rows of colorful beads. Lynn Yancoskie, executive team leader in charge of ordering fashion merchandise at Uniontown’s Target, said leggings are the “hot item” this fall.

Teenage girls are crazy about them, she said.

At Target, the leggings come in a variety of styles and colors. Ranging in price from $6 to $10, they’re an affordable item for high-school age shoppers and can easily be incorporated into an outfit. For the most part, the leggings are opaque, but some have lace at the bottom, while others have stripes or designs.

“Girls wear them under their mini skirts with a long, belted shirt and flip flops,” Yancoskie said.

And, the must have accessory this fall? Beaded jewelry, and lots and lots of it.

Yancoskie said trendy teenagers everywhere will pile on layers of beaded necklaces and bracelets. The key to wearing the jewelry is to make sure it accentuates, but doesn’t exactly match the outfit one’s wearing it with, she said.

For example, black and white are hot colors this fall.

“If you’re wearing a black-and-white outfit, you’ll want to wear bright colors of beads with it. The more the merrier,” Yancoskie said. “You don’t watch to match perfectly.”

She said big, slouchy over-the-shoulder purses are also “in” this fall.

In addition to the ’80s look, Yancoskie said teenage girls shopping for back-to-school clothes are also going for the rock ‘n’ roll, vintage look.

“It’s a simpler, more basic look,” she said.

Distressed, frayed jeans and printed T-shirts have also been hot sellers among girls and guys, according to Yancoskie.

“Vintage tees are really popular,” she said, noting that the most popular colors for girls and guys are washed-out fall colors like red, green, orange and brown.

For those looking for more of a designer look, Yancoskie said Target currently offers an international designer called Paul & Joe. The label offers more sophisticated, streamline clothing for juniors, such as lacey camisoles, straight-legged pants and satin skirts. Most of the Paul & Joe clothing items range from $25 to $75.

“It’s for juniors who want more of a designer look,” Yancoskie said.

As for elementary-age children, Yancoskie said a lot of their clothing is similar to the styles found in the juniors’ and guys’ departments.

Leggings, Yancoskie said, are just as popular in the girls’ department as they are in the juniors’ department.

“Everyone’s going to be wearing them this fall,” she said.

Also popular this year: the preppy, collegiate look.

Samantha Critchell, a fashion writer for The Associated Press, said the ever-popular rugby look will be in demand once again, with people of all ages wearing colorful, striped shirts.

As always, Critchell said jeans will be popular. But this year, denim is expected to be darker and more form fitting.

For girls, she said short kilt skirts, long shorts and gauchos worn with boots will be in.

As for the ’80s look, Critchell predicted legwarmers to leave the dance floor behind and make a splash on the social scene.

Cargo pants will be the “must have” clothing item for boys, she said, noting that the sporty, clean-cut look will also make its presence known.

Both sexes will be piling on the layers, Critchell said, with the focus being on color and accessories.

However, lots of layers and accessories mean more “must have” items, which means a bigger bill for mom and dad. Fortunately, many of this season’s trendy pieces can be found at discount retail chains.

Like Target, Wal-Mart offers a variety of pocket-friendly trendy clothing and accessories.

Based on a visit to the local store and online, shoppers can expect to see everything from preppy plaids to jewel-toned bohemian pieces on the shelves. In the juniors’ department, Wal-Mart also has a variety of historical, Victorian pieces available, offering romantic blouses, cropped cardigans, and embellished denim, camisoles and vests.

Most stores are offering back-to-school sales, and some items have already hit the clearance rack, so parents of trendy teenagers and kids won’t have to clutch their wallets too tight.

“We have a sales flyer every week, and a lot of our back-to-school items are on clearance,” Yancoskie said. “People can really find some good deals.”