THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, August 22, 1995 TAG: 9508220050
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DIANE TENNANT, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 52 lines
BIG OL' SHOES and little, teeny backpacks for girls. Colored jeans and rugby shirts for boys.
For an even better peer fit, toss in ``Pocahontas'' accessories and Licensed Character socks.
All in all, this year's really fashionable look for back-to-elementary-school is pretty classic. Boys in rugby and polo shirts. Little girls with dainty plaid backpacks and matching plaid caps. (OK, there are those work-boot-soled penny loafers, but they're more classic than, say, the hiking boots of years past.)
Store clerks from Wal-Mart to tony department stores to catalog shops are saying that this year's look is a little more dress-up than last year's. Nary a one told us anything about boys' pants having to droop around their hips and show off their boxers. (That particular fad, though, still has plenty of life with older kids.)
The In Look for girls is short pleats, whether denim or plaid, skirt or skort. Skinny little tops and sweatshirts top 'em off. The Limited Too reports brisk sales of matching ball caps and floppy denim hats. Also popular are corduroy bibs and jumpers, and flannel shirts for cooler weather.
J.C. Penney says dresses with vests are popular. But the sunflower motif that was so hot for summer is starting to, well, wither a little for fall.
Boys are choosing colored jeans at Wal-Mart, mostly antique white, burgundy or green. Batman shirts are still popular with younger kids, but they're being nudged out by striped rugbies, henleys or flannel shirts for older kids.
Batman, though, faces a tough fight even among younger kids. He's being passed over for Gargoyles merchandise. What's a Gargoyle? It's an animated character. Yeah, another one.
Pocahontas. Need we say more? You can find her on pants, panties, skirts, shirts, headbands and watchbands.
Shoes. Boys still prefer sneakers, and you know how many of those there are to choose from. Girls are going for classic dress-up styles topped, er, bottomed with big lug soles. They come in patent or plain leather.
All in all, this year's look is easier on adult eyes than early '90s grunge. And what parent can't be happy with that? ILLUSTRATION: Color photos by Mark Mitchell, Stafgf
Anne Randolph Powell...
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