Back-to-School Style 101

(ARA) - This fall, lessons in fashion won't just come from the runway. Style cues will originate from a less likely place - the school hallway. The dark, boring lockers and mono-chromatic supplies of yesteryear have been replaced with chic alternatives, making the school day more like a never-ending fashion show. It's all in response to today's generation of fashion drivers -- tweens and teens.

"From iPod stickers to car fresheners to binders and backpacks, today's teens are all about making a statement," says Lori Conley, marketing director for MWV school products, which oversees the popular Mead and Five Star school supply brands. "That demand for personal expression is translating to every facet of their lives, especially at school."

Increased demand for fashion-friendly products means companies targeting teens are being charged not only with producing high-quality, value-added products that parents approve of, but creating offerings teens view as an extension of personal style. This juxtaposition has brands like Mead doing their own homework, analyzing new fashion inspirations, consulting color-trend forecasts and holding countless conversations with tweens and teens.

The company's research shows several impending style trends which will impact everything from school supplies to apparel this back-to-school season:

* Customized Offerings - Kids continue to demand new ways to personalize their stuff, and customized products take center stage this year. One savvy middle school student recently worked with her father's magnet company to design a line of magnetic locker wallpaper that allows kids to customize their locker space with ease. It will be available for use this fall.

The Five Star brand also has expanded its offerings to include a new line of notebook customization stickers and binders, report covers and other tools that let students personalize the exteriors with photos, drawings and schedules.

* Retro-Chic - That's right mom and dad, the styles of yesteryear are back and better than ever! The fashion symbols of the '70s and '80s will color wardrobes this year, as shows like VH1's "I Love the '80s" and other drivers bring the styles of generations past full circle.

This year the Trapper Keeper, the iconic supply of the '70s and '80s, turns 30 and celebrates by adding Trapper folders, index card holders, a weekly assignment book full of '80s trivia and more.

* Playful Polka Dots, Geometrics - Polka dots took the fashion scene by storm this summer. This fall, dots will be seen in all sizes, from small French dots in bedding and accessories to large-scale dots in apparel. Graphic florals and geometric prints also will abound in everything from clothing to notebooks, binders and other school tools.

* Childhood Whimsy - They may want to be all grown up, but tweens and teens still seek out their favorites of yesteryear. Images and logos from childhood products like Candy Land, Mr. Potato Head, Battleship and Twister will appeal to kids of all ages with graphic T-shirts, notebooks and folders this fall.

* Saving Money - One thing that never goes out of style with parents or kids is saving money and getting something for nothing. Be sure to check out loyalty programs associated with retailers and manufacturers for everything you buy for back to school. At www.mead.com, kids and parents can earn points and prizes just for registering their school supply purchases.

Remember, the school hallway often doubles as a fashion runway. Letting kids express themselves through clothes, shoes, accessories and supplies goes a long way toward making them confident and comfortable, and that is a good way to start off a successful school year.

Courtesy of ARAcontent