By Abigail Smith
After a year of oversized sweatshirts, roomy jeans, and soft graphic tees, store owners and local shoppers say something a little more dressed-up is what local students are craving for back to school.
“Customers who were wearing strictly sweats and athletic wear are now showing interest in soft and lacy staples of skirts and dresses,” said Kelly A. Farley, owner of Aly & Joshua on Purdy Street. Two pieces are really driving that shift, Farley said: a black lace skort, which “looks like a skirt and feels like athletic shorts” and a short beige lace dress, also sold in a full-length version.
That renewed interest in dresses and skirts might be originating with a tradition at Rye High School: Senior girls at Rye High always wear “cute” dresses on the first day of school, and local shops plan their stock around it. Mixology in Rye Brook carries mini dresses for the occasion in the $80 to $120 range, while Shoes ‘N’ More keeps dresses on the floor all the way through September.
Shari Sklar, the corporate manager for Shoes ‘N’ More, said, “Many of our high school girls love a pretty dress from many of the fashionable brands we carry.”
Of course, jeans haven’t gone anywhere — but the fabric is changing. One of the season’s staples at Mixology is a $120 pair of jeans from Brooklyn Karma, made from 100 percent cotton, giving them a sweatpant-like softness while still looking polished. It’s a hybrid built for people who want the look of jeans without giving up the comfort of sweatpants. Similarly, Lioness sells low-rise jeans retailing for $110, and Just Black Denim sells a similar version for $130.
Farley is seeing something similar in outerwear and knits, as shoppers pick open-weave crochet cardigans and cotton pullover sweaters, ranging from $60 to $110, to wear over both jeans and skirts.
The palette this year skews toward soft neutrals, terracotta, and light tan, alongside coastal blue and pale pink, colors that stretch summer pastels into fall. Aly & Joshua also launched on Aug. 3 a limited-edition, 100 percent cotton “Rye” Sweater for back to school and to celebrate its second anniversary in town.
Comfort hasn’t disappeared this school year; it’s just gotten a little more dressed up. Mixology’s sweatshirts and sweatpants, ranging from $60 to $100, remain a go-to, but the styling has gotten more intentional: a $40 tank top from Z Supply layered underneath, with matching sweatpants, completes the look and makes the whole outfit feel more elevated.
Footwear is the one category not chasing a big reinvention.
“We’re not seeing any major footwear trends fall out of favor this season,” Sklar said. “Customers continue to embrace a variety of styles.”
The Birkenstock Boston Clog remains the store’s top seller, running $150 to $170, with the classic Taupe still the most requested, even as new colors including Stone Blue, Stone Coin, Dark Tea, and Thyme, arrive for fall.
Gola sneakers, priced at $75 to $175, and Back 70 are steady sellers across all ages. The one real newcomer is ballet flats and fur-trimmed loafers, going for $100 to $160.
“They offer a fresh take on classic silhouettes, combining timeless style with warmth and a touch of whimsy,” Sklar said.
As for when the shopping actually happens: Sklar says the real rush doesn’t start until after the first bell rings, with mother-daughter duos coming in to get ready for fall, and moms, more often than not, walking out with something for themselves.
