Back to School

Remember the 80's? Good, it's back in all of it's horrific glory and now you get to send little Johnny back to School in the latest take on fashion disaster reinvented by modern retailers, some of whom have been around since the material girl age.

In keeping with trends you'll see technicolour brights, graphic tees and prints, plaids (synonymous with BTS) and argyles likely on the season's most versatile accessory, the cardigan which will temporarily replace the hoodie as the staple du jour. With the 40th anniversary of Woodstock gone past you will also see the Haute Hippie look with a lot of distressed denim which will leave you wondering, 'why am I paying so much for already ripped jeans?' Solve that problem and head to Value Village for the supreme authority on authentic hippie chic and give your wallet a break. Add lots of rock and roll accents in the form of antiqued chains and pendants and Janie is good to go. Try the Avery Chains Necklace and Crest Pendant on a 30" Silver Chain to achieve this.

Girls and boys will share the trend this year with the Boyfriend look. From jeans to rolled up blazers and menswear vests paired with the LWT, Little White Tank (please stop calling it a beater) kids can nail the Gossip Girl preppy chic look. The Sweet Orange Clothing company in Valley Fair Mall for teens and Monkey Business for young children have all of these essentials at reasonable prices if you're interested in supporting your small local businesses therefore putting money back into your community. Winners is also a great stop if you want designer labels at reasonable prices and Joe Fresh at Superstore for trend on a dime.

Spend less money by evaluating your child's closet, and yours for that matter. Select new items that coordinate with the key pieces in your existing closet. Save time by pre-shopping and selecting stores that match your lifestyle, taste, and budget. Bring clothing to your home as required (check the return policy first) to see if it coordinates with your wardrobe so you have what you need with the fewest possible pieces.

Remember to have fun and stay on course when shopping with the kids. It's easy to give in when you're being overpowered by whining. Get yourself a nice hot latte from Starbucks, take a deep breath, and if you've followed the rules for BTS preparedness you'll be fine.