-By Jessica Mehrara and Clare Nemsick
As the days become shorter and crisper, and your school schedule arrives, you realize your beloved summer is coming to an end. Though the return of school can be stressful, there is one fun thing kids get to do: back-to-school shopping.
Rye students are entering the school year in style with the help of some of Rye’s local stores: Mixology, Lester’s, Vanilla Sky, and Havana Jeans. Each has a wide assortment of clothes to equip students for tackling another school year and keeping up with new fashion trends.
Rye High School’s senior girls have a tradition of wearing summer dresses on the first day of school. This once-a-year rarity has girls of all ages falling in love with Lester’s fun summer floral dresses. But now, students can be spotted in the halls wearing these mini-dresses on a weekly basis.
As the school days become more taxing, however, girls often revert to their soft sweatsuits.
Rye High Schooler Kendall Bahl put it this way: “After four days, I usually return to my comfy clothes.”
If you’re like Kendall and love wearing sweatshirts and sweatpants, put your mini-dress into hibernation. In 2023, teens frequently wore brands like Aviator Nation and Free City, but for this 2024 school year check out Mixology’s classic cozy Lazy Day sweatpants and sweatshirts, along with Vanilla Sky’s Boys Who Lie collection. Those sweatsuits are the epitome of elevated comfort, which is perfect for a rushed morning when you’re trying to be on time for class.
On days when you don’t have gym and want to give your leggings a rest, you may opt for throwing on a pair of denim jeans. Vanilla Sky’s Assistant Manager Ayana Rivers said, “I’d recommend for everyone to try on jeans, because everyone needs jeans for back to school.”
When going into this new school year, one thing is for sure: jeans are not going to be short, tight, or ripped. Teens nowadays prefer to keep things comfortable and airy with styles like flare, barrel, cargo, and straight leg. Additionally, the stiff, high, and tight waistbands have been replaced with loose and lower bands that leave teens feeling fashionable and free.
Contributed photo
These new cuts of denim can be worn many different ways, allowing students to play around with aesthetics. If you prefer a sleek look, you can pair your jeans with a basic baby tee or a tight, fitted long-sleeve crewneck. Or if you favor something more relaxed, you can dress it down with an oversized sweater or distressed band t-shirts.
Sometimes, your wide-leg jeans and long-sleeve top need an extra layer against autumn’s chill. If you’re not ready to bring your heavy winter coat or thick wool sweaters out of storage, stores have begun selling the perfect solution – vests. With styles from puffy to leather to cozy sweater material, vests are the newest craze for back to school. Mixology Assistant Manager, Bree Brossman, said, “Vests are trending for everybody!”
Keeping up with the latest back-to-school fashions comes at a high cost. At Mixology, most people spend from $300 to $500, and at Vanilla Sky people spend an estimated $200 to $250 (excluding shoes), store managers said. Luckily, there is a solution. In both downtown Rye and Rye Ridge shopping center, stores hold sidewalk sales, which are perfect for buying expensive items at big markdowns. If you missed those sales, however, you can find less expensive examples of these trends at stores like American Eagle Outfitter, J.Crew Outlet, and Urban Outfitters.
Havana Jeans Assistant Manager Samantha Licursi described back-to-school shopping best: “It’s the season of whatever you like. And whatever looks good on you, go for it.”
While it can be fun to try out popular items and experiment with current fads, being happy, confident, and wearing the clothes you enjoy is a trend that will never go out of style.