Back to school clothing is a big deal, and kids this year are going for more sophisticated, more dressed-up clothes. The layered look is big for both sexes and leggings under short skirts and dresses are what girls want. And the older kids especially are clamoring for skinny jeans.
washingtonpost.com Fashion and Beauty Editor Janet Bennett Kelly a nswered your questions about what's big this year and what's reasonable.
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washingtonpost.com:
Hi, everyone and thanks for joining us on this lovely late-summer day to talk about back-to-school fashions. What will the kids be wearing? Have you started shopping? What are you finding out there? Let's talk!
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Maryland:
This chat is probably for school-age children. I'll be entering grad school this fall; can I wear the same thing I wore for undergrad? Can I continue to live in jeans?
Janet: Jeans are a great standby. You can dress them up for the evening or dress them down for the library.
Darker washes are more in style this year and so are skinny jeans. Get a pair if they're flattering to your body shape; otherwise, stay away. Good luck in grad school.
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Anonymous:
Hi, Janet, I have a question for you. I would like to know what is the style for people over forty and older? I am tall, with beautiful olive skin, brown eyes, great legs, nice bust line and I would like to compliment all of my good qualities with really nice clothing that fit well. I did some modeling in the '60s. But, times have changed and I am older. Times have changed and so have I. Please help.
Janet: It sounds like you have a great figure, and you can wear almost anything you like. And I think this fall there's going to be a lot for you to like. Tailored suits, for example, are a good look for day, and with a change of blouse, also work for the evening. Low-rise jeans and bare midriffs are pretty much a thing of the past, if that's what you're concerned about having to deal with when you visit the stores.
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Tallahassee, Florida:
What are some of the primary reasons why kids are wearing clothing that is so sexually revealing these past ten years or so? Is it a loosening of attitudes about the body? Or is it the cultural industry of explicit videos, music, and TV? Have parents talked about this in any public forum? Where could one find more practical information?
Janet Bennett Kelly: I'm not a sociologist but kids have been and are influenced by celebrities, football players and the like. So, yes, low-rise jeans and bare midriffs have been very popular in the past, but this fall, the new byword is layering, which means bodies will be much more covered up.
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Washington, D.C.:
For the eco-conscious mother, there is a great organic children's clothing store in Georgetown called Yiro (it's at Wisconsin and P). They have buttery soft, colorful clothing. I heard the owner is launching her own label this fall and all items will be Swiss-made.
Janet Bennett Kelly: I've heard about Yiro and am looking forward to going. Thanks for the info.
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Burke, Va.:
I know the chat is about back-to-school clothes but I'm hoping you'll take a minute to solve one of the biggest fashion mysteries of the modern world. Why is it so hard to find petite clothes, particularly business suits? There's only a handful of places (Talbots, Banana, Ann Taylor) and then they have limited selection at $300 or more. For a 5-foot woman who wears suits everyday, it's incredibly frustrating not to easily find petite clothes. Thoughts?
Janet Bennett Kelly: I think one reason for the dearth of store sections devoted to petites is that people in general are just getting larger. When was the last time you could find a size-5 shoe?
That said, I thought I heard that Saks Fifth Avenue was bringing back its petite department. Hope that's true. I do agree with you that it's frustrating not to be able to find clothes for your proportions. At least Banana, A Taylor and Talbot's still have your size. Know a good tailor?
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Skinny jeans:
I'm horrified by the new tight, skinny jeans with the layered, unflattering tops. I'm in decent shape, but I have thick thighs and prefer to wear skinny tops or cropped jackets with looser "boyfriend" jeans. I'm also short, and the long tops make me look dumpy. What can I do besides wear skirts for the next few years?
Janet Bennett Kelly: Given the unforgiving nature of skinny jeans, I suspect that a lot of people will balk at wearing them. So, go ahead and wear the jeans that look good on you!
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Washington, D.C.: Low rise jeans are a thing of the past? Are the waisted jeans from the 90's coming back?
Janet Bennett Kelly: Clothing always comes back but not exactly in the same way. But, yes, waists on jeans are rising to cover more of the tummy.