DATE: Friday, August 22, 1997               TAG: 9708221060

SECTION: DAILY BREAK             PAGE: E1   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY KIM WADSWORTH, CORRESPONDENT 

                                            LENGTH:  161 lines

LAID BACK TO SCHOOL FALL FASHIONS CALL FOR CASUAL CHIC

HERE'S THE reality check: There are only a few precious days left before the summer of '97 slips away forever.

But making it a laid-back-to-school season should be no problem. That's if you ease some of the latest fall fashions into the wear-it-all-the-time basics you already have. Plus, plenty of last year's fashions are still hot. The added benefit of using this strategy is that it might also keep your parents' patience in check.

An easy way to start is by upgrading your wardrobe with some of the coolest looks. Think of the 3 R's for color: real, red and retro.

Real means vibrant tones - purples, plums, blues.

Red is punching up everything from plaids to prints.

And retro covers tie-dye, English beat florals and shades of fruits and berries carried over from summer.

No hazy shades of winter floating down school hallways this fall.

Wondering where pants are going this fall? Fat - and I mean phat - leg widths make a big statement, just as they did last year. For guys, legs go wider than wide at 32 inches, and denim is the fabric of choice. Girls will shift to slim, stretch-fit bell-bottoms.

Jeans topped the ``must-have'' list of 76 percent of teens in a recent American Express survey of students. The fail-proof denim wardrobe builder goes darker this year, almost to navy at times. Newer styles will rule, including carpenter pants and bib overalls.

Many junior girls are going for comfort and a flattering fit in the lines they buy. The look is sleek and body-conscious.

Sweaters include ``ski'' and sleek ``scuba'' looks or longer ``boyfriend'' oversize styles. Cables, ribs, crochets and anything resembling a knit will be popular.

Fabrics have a lot of texture and weave. Chenille, velvet, corduroy, velour, fleece and pleather - a fabric that looks and feels like leather but is vinyl - will steal the scene.

Combine any of these with some of the poly/satin tops from last season to make a new look. Like last year, zip-front anything is still hot. In jackets, a touch of fake fur on collar and cuff makes a '70s look a '90s craze.

For plus-size girls, work with basic button-down shirts and flat-front pants, then add trendier pieces to pump up the look. Don't be afraid of prints and wild colors, but add them in places where they'll look the most flattering.

Let's hear it for the boys. Because of the influence of such extreme sports as skateboarding, snowboarding and in-line skating, fashion trends that began on boards will dominate many back-to-school looks with ``street active'' apparel.

Bold geometric stripes and strong color blocks will appear on oversize sweaters and jackets, and hip logos and graphics will make statements on shirts and hats. Corduroy pants go wide-whale.

Flannel shirts and polar fleece tops over T-shirts with every possible sports insignia are always cool. Zipper-front details remain a strong accent for guys, too.

What necessary accessories are in the forecast?

For girls, silver jewelry, stacking rings and lots of bracelets will work. Belts get shiny, featuring links and mesh detail.

Neck scarves add a pop of inexpensive color. And purses take the form of everything from small backpacks to patent leather totes to leather messenger bags.

Shoes shouldn't pose a problem for those on a strict back-to-school budget. Heels stay chunky and funky, with platforms still popular. Those strappy platform sandals from summer can walk right into fall, paired with wild socks and tights. Head bands go really skinny or really fat, and hair clips take a crazy twist from pompons to patent leather flowers.

For guys, sneakers - the shoe that rules - remain thick soled and will carry sports and street logos. Wallets with chains are still hot, although most schools forbid them for safety reasons.

The coolest fashion finds are out there, but they also might be right inside your closet. Check it out, make it work, and save your parents' generosity for another time. MONEY VS. STYLE

TIS THE SEASON when parents dread what's in store.

``Each fall, parents have the same debate with their children, particularly fashion-conscious teens, on back-to-school- wardrobing,'' explains T.J. Maxx fashion spokesperson Laura Cervone. ``With teens insisting on new trends, a parent's focus becomes, `How do we agree on clothing the kids will wear at prices we can afford?' ''

The old money vs. style debate is a common one, according to the national American Express Retail Index Back-to-School Survey of nearly 1,000 parents and students. Two-thirds of the parents of high schoolers in the survey described their child as ``extremely'' style conscious.

According to the survey, parents will spend an average of $307 per child and teens will contribute an average of $89 to the budget. The survey also found that:

Thirty-two percent of all back-to-school shoppers will gravitate to a mall.

Most teens begin shopping weeks in advance, although 60 percent will also shop after school begins because of time constraints or to wait to see what's hot at school or because they are waiting for cooler weather. ILLUSTRATION: Color photos

Vicki Cronis/The Virginian-Pilot

Fashion Coordination and styling: Kim Wadsworth for Wadsworth

Style

Fashion Assistant: Hunter Wadsworth

Location: Maury High School in Norfolk

Head of the Class

Senior Kathryn Arandela, 16, of Hickory High, runs the Mod Squad

wearing coco brown shirt ($24.95), layered with print shirt

($36.95), both by Rusty from Above Board. Rusty hip pants with bell

bottom flair from Funky Beat ($49.95). Aziz fake fur coat from

Gadzooks ($64).

School Zone

The yellow bus signals the start of the school year. Thysha

Shabazz, 16, a junior at Indian River High School, knows how to

dress smart by wearing layered knits in chartreuse by Jonathan

Martin ($30), with chocolate brown top by Takeout ($28), paired with

a Tracy Evans flower print skirt ($48). All from Dillard's.

Patchwork purse by Chateau from Gadzook's ($14). Roxie sunglasses

from Funky Beat ($48).

Milton Moss, 14, a sophomore at Hickory High, goes khaki wearing

Dickies 75th anniversary limited edition zip-front work jacket

($34.99), paired with painter pants ($21.99), plaid shirt ($16.99)

and red T-shirt ($8.99). All fashions available at JCPenney and

Wal-Mart. Oakley eye jacket glasses ($90) from Funky Beat.

Senior Status

Brent Stackhouse, 16, a senior at Tallwood, gets in the

back-to-school mood wearing shades of green. US Expedition shirt

($28), is layered with zip front print shirt by BC Ethic ($38).

Wide-whale cords by Big Mouth ($44). Corduroy hat, $20. All from

Gadzook's.

Senior Deepak Thomas, 17, of Norfolk Academy, wears a navy stripe

sweater ($69.95) and corduroy zip-front jacket ($59.95) by Gotcha.

Raw Edge cord pants ($44) and Quicksilver backpack ($29.95). All

fashions available at Above Board.

Photos

UpGrade

Milton Moss eases into fall wearing a logo T-shirt by Dragon

($15.95) with a Rusty jacket ($57.95). Rusty Pumphouse indigo jean

takes a baggy fit at $47.95. All fashions from Funky Beat.

Style Scoop

Senior Kathleen Kelly, 17, a senior at Maury High, wears the easy

fit of polyester in a tri-color top ($26.95) and matching skirt

($29.95) by Greed Girl. Available at Above Board.

Time Out

Rory McDonnell, 14, a freshman at Maury High, takes a break at

Zero's in Ghent wearing the latest look by XOXO. Mad about plaid,

her red skirt ($28) and matching halter ($28) get the layered look

with white shirt ($32) and pleather jacket ($52). Black 9 & Co.

clogs, $49. All fashions from Dillard's.

Freshman Julian Wadsworth, 14, of Maury High, wears Alien jeans

($63.95) available at Funky Beat and Gadzooks, with World Industries

T-shirt ($17.99) from Above Board.

Blinded By Science

Rory McDonnell experiments with fashion combining the punch of

purple. Chenille sweater by MY ($34) is paired with pleated skirt by

Swing ($26). Pleather jacket with fake fur trim by B&B Dakota ($48).

Hair clips, $3. Fur book, $12, feather pen $4. All fashions from

Gadzooks. Lava lamps from Above Board.

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