One of the most prominent questions in most teenagers’ minds each new school year is, “What am I going to wear?” Teenagers want to make a strong impression on their fellow classmates, and their clothing goes a long way. Unfortunately, clothing can be rather expensive, and a lot of teenagers or their parents have tight budgets.
The key to dressing well for school while keeping costs down is selecting the right wardrobe-essentials. Below, we’ll highlight the key essentials every student should have in their wardrobe before a new school year and how to keep the costs down.
Pairs of Pants
A good place to start is with some good pairs of pants. A few pairs of pants can mix with your other outfit elements, allowing you to get more mileage out of them. Some blue jeans are a common selection, along with jeans in a few other colors.
At the store, look specifically for teen jeans for styles that are popular among younger buyers. Jeans can be rather expensive compared to other outfit elements, but they are typically worth the investment since they last a long time, remain in style, and you’ll wear them throughout the year.
Basic Tops
After you grab some jeans, it’s time to move on to the tops. Choose tops that go with the jeans you selected in terms of style and color. You’ll also want to choose styles that you can wear throughout the year.
In many stores, you can find affordable tops when you buy multiple from the same brand, so be sure to look for those sales. When in doubt, simple tee shirts in a solid color are a great choice for both men and women.
A Warm Hoodie
No matter where you live, a good hooded sweatshirt is a great addition to any teenage wardrobe. It’s a comfortable item that works for much of the year. A hoodie will keep you warm on chilly mornings or rainy days. You can also combine a hoodie with a jacket if you have colder winter months.
When searching for a hoodie, find one that’s made from quality materials, as you’ll want something that can stand up to the elements. Also, since a hoodie is outerwear, you may want one that’s a size larger than you typically wear.
Gym Clothes
Most high schools have gym classes that require a separate set of clothing. It’s a good idea to stock up on gym supplies before the year so that you never have to miss class. For gym class, you’ll likely want a few pairs of shorts along with some tee shirts.
You should also stock up on socks that are comfortable with your gym shoes. Finally, women will also want to grab some sports bras. When shopping for gym clothes, make sure you can work up a sweat in them and that they’re easy to store in your bag for transport to school.
Comfortable Shoes
As you’ll be walking around school all day, comfortable shoes are a must. If you’re only going to have one pair of shoes for school, we recommend investing in quality sneakers. After that, you may wish to also get a pair of boots for the winter or when it’s raining.
Look for shoes and boots in neutral colors so that they can easily pair with your other wardrobe elements. It’s always a good idea to test out any shoes you’re considering before buying them to ensure they’re comfortable while walking.
Other Options
Finally, there may be a few other options that you’ll want to add to your school clothes collection. For instance, men might want to get a light bomber jacket that they can wear in the spring or fall. Baseball caps are also another popular option for wearing to and from school, but most schools won’t allow you to wear them inside.
As for women, you can add some dresses to your collection for warmer days when you don’t want to wear pants. Shorts can also serve you well in warm weather areas for both men and women. Women will also likely want to find a purse that can fit all their daily necessities and match their outfits.
The next time you go shopping for school clothes, keep longevity and versatility in mind. Choose items that mix and match well with one another, and that will last a long time. Doing so will help you keep your outfits looking fresh while still remaining within a budget. We hope that this guide was able to help you select your back-to-school outfits and that you’ll have an easy time finding what to wear this school year.
