Back-to-school FASHION
Prepare for a season of throwback looks this fall
If you’re a parent with a child headed back to school this fall, well, you may be in for a good chuckle.
The hottest fashion trends to hit the hallways this season are throwback styles inspired by decades that many moms and dads will remember very well.
“The ’90s, ’80s and ’70s,” Jenna Tuazon, marketing and ecommerce manager for the Canadian retailer Plenty, says of the sartorial throwbacks. “You can probably pull something from any era and make it work.
“I’ve seen some denim in acid wash that definitely brings me back to Saved By The Bell.”
And, like it or not, hemlines are staying a bit shorter for the backto-school season, too.
“Cropped styles — whether it be a T-shirt, sweater or jeans,” Tuazon says when asked of the top trend of fall 2018.
According to style insiders, we can expect to see the inspiration translated into elements such as metallic fabrics, fun florals, plaids, and leopard-print details.
“Checks have been trending for some time now and we will see them evolve from summertime ginghams into ‘micro’ and ’heritage checks,’ once again to be worn with a soft tailoring esthetic,” says Carolyn Mackenzie, the brand director for Australian fashion brand Ever New.
“Animal prints will continue into the fall season, especially leopard and snake print.”
Key colours for the fall season include warm reds and rusts, as wells as burgundy, replacing basic black.
“Red is best this fall,” Tuazon says. “And not to be so ketchupand-mustard, but there’s still a lot of yellow showing for the season too.”
Those looking to embrace another area of the colour spectrum should consider all things jewelinspired.
“Other key call-outs are shades of teal, fuchsia pink and magenta,” Mackenzie suggests.
The rich hues will add a vibrant element to even the most grey day.
The silhouettes and styles of said printed and coloured pieces will further the throwback feel.
“We see the return of expressive shoulders such as puff sleeves, wider shoulder lines and the one shoulder,” Mackenzie says of the familiar fashions. “Plunging necklines soften this trend with ruched and draped accents, giving a softer and more paired-back elegance.”
The aforementioned top designs look effortless when paired with denim, a style staple for any tween and teen.
“Styling wise, these pieces can easily be mixed with denim,” Mackenzie says.
“Shape denim is the newest development and leading the way is the must-have high-waisted skinny jeans.”
Straight-leg cuts that boast a seriously vintage appeal are another option for those who want to forgo the skinny-jean styles.
“We’re seeing a lot of nonstretch, vintage-inspired straight leg styles, which is a nice break from the jegging trend,” Tuazon confirms.
Fashion fans who embraced, wholeheartedly, the athleisure movement of wearing sporty styles beyond the gym, are in luck.
The trend is most definitely here to stay, but it’s getting a bit more dressed up than it was before.
“Athleisure isn’t going anywhere, but adding sneakers to a pair of tailored, cropped trousers is a great way to step away from the usual leggings,” Tuazon says.
Those who prefer to keep it fully casual — or who simply can’t let go of their go-to, all-way stretch leggings — can opt for an effortless topper to quickly elevate their laid-back look.
“If you can’t drop the leggings, a classic Mac jacket with a hoody layer is a good look for running errands,” she says.
Or, of course, running to class.
You can probably pull something from any era and make it work. I’ve seen some denim in acid wash that definitely brings me back to Saved By The Bell.