Simple Sophistication Audrey Hepburn And Grace Kelly Are The Unlikely Stars To Emulate When Making Fall Fashion Choices

The main styles for middle school and high school girls are reminiscent of what Audrey Hepburn or Grace Kelly might have worn — sophisticated in their simplicity.

The key element is the long skirt, either straight or pleated but definitely below the knees and even to the ankles in some cases. You’ll find this style in all the stores at prices starting around $28 for woven polyester versions and as much as $90 for the finer knit wool numbers. For the most versatile look choose one in a neutral tone of black or charcoal.

To top the skirt pick a standard white men’s dress shirt. Don’t go too large, just big enough to be comfortable. These can be had for as little as $18 or you can pay well over $40. Pick one in bright white cotton with French cuffs.

Sweaters can be worn in place of the shirt or with it, depending on the temperature.

Big, bulky turtlenecks in winter white and heather gray are the ones to grab first. The best quality designs at Nordstrom and The Bon Marche come in soft lambswool in the $60 to $80 price range.

Avoid sweaters made of 100 percent acrylic. They may be less expensive but they don’t hold their shape. Wool blends are good and usually less expensive than the 100 percent wool variety. Look for the blended versions at Kmart, Fred Meyer, ShopKo and Target starting at $25.

Another option to top the skirt is an adorable twin set. Sears, JCPenney, and J. Jacobs all carry cute numbers starting at $20 per piece. For an exotic look choose a cardigan with a faux fur collar, available for $40 to $60.

On those days you just have to wear pants, you have some very interesting styles to choose from.

The cargo styles are loose fitting and comfortable with lots of roomy pockets and an easy fit. Top them off with a feel-good turtleneck for comfort beyond belief.

Denim will be popular as long as civilization as we know it continues to exist. The big difference this year is in the color. Gone are the days of washed out, faded, sandblasted pale blues. Hard denim, the color of Levi’s 501s before they’re washed, is the new hue. Look for Bugle Boy, Tommy Girl and Union Bay for the bluest of the blue.

And when those jeans start to fade there’s a new product on the market designed to help restore the look. It’s called Agent; just add a little to the wash and watch those jeans miraculously turn dark blue again. An $8 packet revives four items.

Another word about jeans — they fit, as in straight legs and narrow hips. Those ultra wide legs and saggy waistbands Jnco made so popular last year are gone, gone, gone. (That noise you hear in the background is your mother shouting for joy at the demise of droopy denims.)

Capri pants and hip-hugging bell-bottoms will still be available for a few weeks but these styles are on their way out, too. They were great summer fads but they’ll quickly lose their appeal as the weather changes.

Camouflage, a big trend with the male market last year, has spilled over into juniors. Watch for T-shirts ($18), cargo pants ($35) and jackets ($70) in traditional tan or green and not-so-traditional blue, orange and pink at stores like Hot Topic, Zumiez and Wet Seal.

Shoes will start out with the chunky, platform look we’ve been seeing for several seasons but those styles have reached their limits and will eventually give way to styles as flat as pancakes.

You can spend a fortune for one pair, but if you want a variety to choose from each morning check out the selection at Payless Shoe Source. They have really cute styles starting around $12. At that price you can have flats, platforms and Mary Janes plus a pair of boots to boot.

So where’s the color in all this drab mix? Just check out the makeup counter for the answer.

Raisin, Bordeaux, cinnamon and mocha are just a few of the lush colors for lips, cheeks and nails that will liven up these neutral outfits. Wet and Wild, Jane, and Maybelline all have sets at most variety and drugstores starting under $15.

To sum it up, the Suburban Chic look for fall is conservative, practical, and comfortable. Not such a bad thing, when you think about it.

Boys

Dark blue denim jeans with rolled cuffs, white T-shirts and V-necked sweaters. It all sounds a little like the styles you might find if you went hunting through Richie Cunningham’s closet. The Suburban Chic look so popular in junior apparel for fall will also be making its impact on young men’s styles.

The main shift is in pant leg width. We reached the extreme last spring with the 36-inch leg and now things are starting to turn around. Loose and relaxed styles will dominate the market for fall.

Jeans will have the new look called “hard denim.” It refers to a very dark blue pigment that is meant to hold its color, not fade out. These are functional, durable pants with a very retro look when you turn up the cuffs to reveal the red salvage on the seams, just like the original Levi’s. The Arizona brand at J.C. Penney is one of the best buys in this style with prices starting at $40.

Cargo pants are the other popular style being offered this season. In corduroy or twill, these trousers are designed to look like those worn by yesterday’s factory, mining and military workers. They’re big on loose fit and roomy pockets with flaps. An option to the cargo pant is the cargo short. It’s the same great look in a length that falls just below the knee. You’ll find these styles in the $50 range at any retailer that carries young men’s fashions including Zumiez, Mr. Raggs and Emporium.

For that true working man look pick up a set of Dickies khaki flat front pants and a matching work shirt at WalMart or Kmart for under $50. It’s the jiggy look worn by everyone from Snoop Doggy Dog to Will Smith.

Sweaters will be the main choice in tops for fall. These too have become much more moderate after years of going to the extreme. Those rustic handcrafted looks and the computer designed patterned graphics give way to quality knits that express themselves primarily through fit and color. They’re mainly seen in darker hues with special attention to striping on the chest, shoulders, or sleeves.

Wear them with a jacket or alone. They’ll look great either way. Choose wool or wool blends to get the longest use out of these classic styles. Nordstrom, The Bon, J.C. Penney and Hamer’s will all have a great selection starting at about $45.

Another key element that reflects this whole movement toward moderation is the popularity of the white shirt. Either an oxford cloth button-down collar or a finely-finished cotton one with French cuffs will look great with sweaters or on their own. Shop Lamonts, Sears and Mervyn’s for the best deals, around $25.

T-shirts are as popular as ever but the new twist is to wear them plain. Don’t advertise or campaign, just select white shirts with a chest pocket to wear alone or under a sweater or vest. The best buy in this category is Hane’s Beefy T, available at Kmart, WalMart, Fred Meyer and Target for about $7.

The shoes of choice have a couple of very interesting looks. Instead of only wearing athletic styles, young men in middle school and high school are beginning to want two or three different types of shoes to go with different styles in their wardrobes.

Vans, Air Walk and Nike will still fill the bill in the athletic department, but look for an increasing number of boys to show up for class wearing the comfortable fishermen’s sandals.

As the weather gets cooler and the chance of snow increases look for a surge in popularity of the practical utility boot.

The main themes in back-to-school fashions for the adolescent male are moderation and practicality. These clothes are big on comfort and long on style without going to the extreme in any direction.