033: First Day of School Jitters
Back-to-school shopping is in session!
It should come as a shock to absolutely no one that back-to-school shopping was a favorite era of our lives. The anticipation, the possibilities, the opportunity to completely redefine oneself, what’s not to love?
It’s Back to School Baby!
CM: Ahhhh back-to-school. How very American of us to have created an entire capitalistic holiday-adjacent time of year to shop and spend! Nonetheless, I can’t help but miss that first-day-of-school skirt feeling. I was someone who planned my first week of outfits and relished that creative burst of energy almost as much as the empty-notebook ambition I felt at the beginning of the school year.
AB: I actually went back-to-school shopping, not on purpose of course, it was just made very evident while I was shopping next to all the mom and pre-teen duos. I went back to my roots and visited A&F, Hollister, and American Eagle just like old times. Because visiting Bottega Veneta just didn't make sense (check out this $2k back to school folder!). Some things will never change, but there were surprising things to find in each that gave me a new perspective on what is trending for actual back to schoolers. I found items that were popular when I was going back to school (is it sad or a scientific fact that what comes around goes around?). Here's my biggest takeaways:
Academic vests are here to stay. I found plenty in my shopping adventures. They stopped my bestie and I in our tracks and had us reminiscing of the days we used to pick up the same vest and buy it for back-to-school circa 2009. Here is the exact one we first saw in American Eagle last weekend, and last decade. The styling options are truly endless and can go from season to season so not a bad purchase!
Comfort is king. One thing I noticed with today's younger generation is the daily choice to wear baggy pants (i.e. sweats) with anything and everything. Every single teen I saw was wearing sweats and a cute top (or baggy top to match, for a more hallway street wear look;)). This is an obvious trickle down effect of the baggy jean trend we've been seeing for the last few years. Which has led me to a similar outfit formula that I have gone to often in my own closet. However, with the itch to move closer to skinny jeans (I know I have it!) we will see the shift back into tighter denim (or highschool equivalent leggings?). My suggestion is to invest in the everyday basic type tops and let the bottoms do all the talking. At least that's what the kids are doing. Keep it simple, and oh so BTS, and go to GAP. It is tried and truuuuuu. They keep it streamlined in color and silhouettes.
baggy back-to-school or Kim Possible??
CM: Back-to-school will always be synonymous with plaid skirts, collared shirts and sweaters. It’s the peak of prep! And if we recall back to Miu Miu’s Spring 2024 collection, prep is back in a big way. BUT I really think BTS is synonymous with pre-fall trends, how ironic that we look to tweens, teens and twenty-somethings to inform our future. To AB’s point, baggy has been in for a MIN and will definitely be sticking around, in fact I see ultra-baggy mostly sported by teens, tweens and in-betweens and then I see a much more tailored version of baggy (ie. barrel jeans) showcased by the 25+ crowd. I mostly just see edgy layering and the opportunity to really make the first day of school a hard launch into the ‘new me’ era with some unique outfit—or maybe that’s just me cringing at all my past BTS outfits.
AB: I found myself particularly interested in the mens section. For a modern man, but also for me! We know I love oversized and something they really give the guys is the best prints! I am talking cool camo, graphic tees and linen pants galore! It was giving Love Island meets high school jock. I did purchase a button down for the husband and lived vicariously through him but if it were me, if I was a man, I would purchase these baggy linen trousers, this cropped camo hoodie (also peep the matching sweats), and a pair of classic sweat-shorts.
CM: Three things I know for sure. If you haven’t hopped on the Birkenstock Boston Clog trend, you still have time to opt-in—maybe choose these ones to be like a little bit different? Thing two: if you want to be prep but you don’t know how follow this formula, crew neck sweater/sweatshirt + collared shirt + bottoms of choice (could be a baggy jean, bermuda short, hell a g-dang skirt) + low-top sneaker (if you want to be ‘cool’ Sambas are the move, if you want to *actually* be cool , a sustainable alternative is better. Last but not least, it’s the season of Mary Jane!!! Not the green MJ, but these Mary Janes! Perfect for BTS, add a sock when it’s chilly, trade them for your new low-top leather sneaks for some femininity, live your best life!!!
AB: In my back-to-school adventures I stumbled on a humble little place called Aritzia. Oh. You've heard of it?!?! Most of us probably have. It speaks for us ALL! It was my first time ever shopping here physically and it did not disappoint. I am not one to fall into the hype, but I GET IT AND GOT IT IMMEDIATELY. Guarantee every single one of you could walk in there and find something that works in your wardrobe. It is modern and stylish with comfort at the forefront. Here are three of my top fav pieces there that are giving back to school staples that I did actually buy. Micro sweat shorts for P.E. of course. Everyday athletic jumpsuit. Ribbed one shoulder knit top (that I can't stop wearing). See styled here.
CM: My back-to-school shopping is almost nonexistent over here!!!!! But there are two things on my mind, my friends at Reformation are having an up to 50% off sale! I deeply love these jeans I bought last summer, and they made A CROPPED VERSION [insert gasps of awe here], I immediately saw visions of ballet flats, tall boots paired with sweaters, general joy all around if we’re being honest. The other is this version of a barrel jean in white from Everlane, I love the color, the shape, the VIBE. My closet is a little desperado for a sweater swap, but I’ll wait until something truly delicious comes around.
Honorable Mentions
AB: Double layered tank tops. Shhhheeee’s baaaaaack. Oh it's so nostalgic, but one I remember with love and affection. One I invite back with open arms, because I would consider myself an expert in this area since I’ve been doing it for well… ten years now. This one from ASOS caught my eye, but for a more grown, Carrie Bradshaw look, try this one from Reformation. As seen on modern day Carrie Bradshaw, Talia Hubble. Lastly, this second hand Courreges asymmetric camisole for my modern girls.
CM: Tbh every fall Sezane knocks my socks off when they style their fall collection. And to NO ONE’S surprise, they did it again. Hide the credit cards!!!!
Deep Cuts
AB: A mini skirt and cardi combo is a treat for the nice weather but the type that's getting the cooler air of fall. Paired with a very early year 2010 ballet flat. Preferably a rounded point toe. I get this from the great Margherita Missoni. Who may be in her 40’s but making back to school looks good at every age.
CM: I saw this drop waist dress, and I feel like “need” isn’t strong enough of a word? It goes from end-of-summer to fall to SPRING and back again, yum.
AB: Can I look like Lindsay Lohan in her comeback era at my TEN YEAR HIGHSCHOOL ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR?!?! Yes it's real and it is in September. Okay, obviously I won’t look like Lindsay, but I could try with a toned down version in this epic Christopher Esber top on sale. (:
CM: It’s hard for me to talk about my girl Talia, without mentioning her twin fashion flame Ella Miller, their Rhode Island vacay fits were literally perfection. Ella’s sailor fit? All aboard!! Talia’s bloomers? R U KIDDING.
Before You Go
CM: When AB and I first tossed this back-to-school idea around I was caught in thoughts of poplin collars and pleated mini skirts, but honestly I think it’s that feeling of nostalgia I’m missing. Knowing that an entire year of possibility awaits in which you could be anyone! August always brought ambition to my life, whether the follow through was there is another story entirely, but the empty notebooks and clear calendars waiting to be filled? What a special feeling.
AB: Couldn’t relate to it more CM!
See you next semester!! Ciao for now. xx