Fall Fashion:

The tardy bell ringing, footsteps shuffling down the hallways, and laughter and giggles between friends. Those are the sounds of back to school. The return to school means learning more, making friends and having fun. Back to school also means making a statement and setting a great impression for the school year. As a parent, you may be feeling out of touch when it comes to fashion. Don’t worry about a thing. The latest style trends are all gathered here to aid you and your child in picking out back-to-school outfits that are sure to impress. If your kids attend schools where uniforms are enforced, these tips may come in handy for those “Free Dress” days. But we’re not stopping at clothing for cool kids. We’ve included the gadgets that will make everyone eager to go back to class.

Fierce and Fun Girls

This back-to-school season, expect to see a lot of bold and vibrant prints for girls. Think of dresses and blouses covered in oversized flowers and foliage in rich colors. Anything tribal or earthy will turn heads. For the tween in your life, expect to see large, vibrant prints as well. Metallic accessories and accents to clothing items are blowing up. Statement pieces like graphic tees and cropped sweatshirts are also very popular for tweens this season.

Cool, Calm, and Collected Guys

For your awesome young man, consider comfy layers. This back-to-school season calls for clothing that can move well. Puffer vests, beanies and joggers are where it’s at. Don’t be surprised if you see more shades of pink on the shelves in the boys’ section as well. Look to the younger Beckham boys, Romeo and Cruz, for style inspiration. I mean with stylish parents like David and Victoria Beckham, it’s hard to go wrong.

Break the Style Mold

The fashion world is evolving and that includes kids’ fashion. Girls will be wearing sporty styles and graphics that in the past were exclusive to boys. Think dinosaur and truck prints in a variety of colors. Don’t forget high- and low-top sneakers, like Converse. Also, the aforementioned pink hues — you should find more clothing items in a shade of pink for boys this school year.

Earth-Conscious Clothing

Over the years there has been a huge shift in sustainability for the sake of the planet. There will be more options for sustainable and nature-friendly clothing. You should see more organic fabrics and clothing made of natural cotton on the shelves. Dresses and sweaters made of terry cloth will be popular. Blouses, button down shirts, and dresses made of linen will be on the rise. I stopped by the local clothing store, STASH, to get their opinion on the fashion trends for the upcoming school year. I was surprised to find they carry several pieces that are eco-friendly and fashionable. One of the shoe brands they carry is Mini Melissa. Haven’t heard of them? Neither had I before I visited STASH. Mini Melissa shoes are 100 percent recyclable, hypoallergenic, and the best thing of all, they’re odorless. In fact, the shoes actually smell really good. These shoes are a perfect choice to begin the school year.

Cool Kid Gadgets

No kid wants to return to school and feel behind on the latest trends in technology. Some of the coolest tech out there was designed to either enhance your child’s learning ability or make play more exciting. Consider STEM robots for educational fun. For the tweens, there are easy to set up tablets and laptops, like the Asus Chromebook. When it’s time to unwind, the Nintendo Switch is perfect for the gamers in your home. Also drones and virtual reality headsets are perfect for family fun. Don’t forget the popular wireless earbuds, like the AirPods from Apple. Since wireless earbuds have grown in popularity, they have become more affordable. Brands that make affordable versions include JBud and Samsung.

Don’t pull your hair out over back to school clothes. Keep these style trends in mind as you shop. You’ll be a fashion aficionado. I mean what parent doesn’t want cool points?