Teen Fashion For Dummies

I admit it. I am out of the loop. Maybe some of you are too. After this crazy week in Oklahoma, it seemed like we needed diversion. We needed escape. We needed fashion.

You may have seen them on those entertainment shows. You may have noticed them at the mall. You most assuredly have been asked to pay for them. Here's a short and definitely adult point of view regarding current trends for teens.

Baby Doll
Empire waists are back in style. Whether on dresses or tops, the very feminine baby doll look is all the rage. Short puffy sleeves, sashes, patterns and colors...could it get any better? Mine was pink dotted swiss with a pink satin sash. I wore it with white patterned hose and Mary Jane Shoes. The time was somewhere in the sixties and the designer was Mary Quant. She's back but this time, bolder and bigger. Remember Carnaby Street?

Camo
Camo, or camouflage, is a type of print favored by the military and hunters. It comes in and out of style just like Alec Baldwin. It is really in now. Camo colors definitely do not blend into the shrubbery anymore. The green, brown and khaki pattern is accented with pink, purple and blue backgrounds. Ducks and deer would see a wearer coming a mile away. That's the point of course. Note: these are not camo's from the hunting section of Bass Pro. They are fitted, and tailored, and small, really small.

Shoulder Dusters
Shoulder Dusters are earrings that closely resemble mini chandeliers. They're long, sparkly, and fake . Nicole Kidman and Beyonce, among other leading ladies, are rarely seen without these mega-watt sparklers. Their's however, are not fake. 13 year-olds lack a certain sophistication as they sparkle at the mall but God love em', sparkle and dangle they do.

Floods
Floods are cropped pants that walk the fine line between "high waters" and "Capri's." They usually hit anywhere from right above the ankle to lower calf and are surprisingly flattering. They look great with everything from ballet slippers to flip flops.
Note: even in the ice storm, floods were everywhere, some even with rubber flip-flops.

BEATERS
Also known as "wife-beaters." A beater is a thin, ribbed tank originally worn by men as underwear. Men who wore it by itself as a shirt projected a low-class look (hence the "wife-beater" tag). Remember Marlon Brando in "A Streetcar Named Desire?" Now there was an undershirt. Umm. I digress. Although they started out as simple undershirts, slowly people began wearing them alone and they've become a favorite of celebs - like Paris Hilton. If you watched in alarm a year ago as your female child left the house with a large expanse of flesh between the top part and the bottom, appreciate wife beaters. Layering is in and the undershirt makes up the difference between the top and the jean.


Hoodies
Hoodies include any hooded top or jacket, but is normally used to describe hooded sweatshirts, particularly zip-front or drawstring. The hoodie's "throw-on-and-go" concept became increasingly popular with the rise of Juicy Couture sweats. Juicy Hoodies will set you back about $125.00. Gap $45.00 Wal-Mart $15.00. Hoodies are the uniform of 12-18 year olds. They are pretty comfortable and cozy.

Hip Hop
This is a popular look started by African American teens and now sported by fashionable youth everywhere. The low slung pants, untied shoes, ball caps sideways, jerseys and jewelery... Fubu, Southpole and SeanJean are successful brands of this urban style.

Kitten Heel
This shoe was popularized by Audrey Hepburn -- It is a little heel, usually 1/2 to 1 inch high, with a little curve to it. It's a perfect compromise between flats and high heels. If you have ever watched young fashionistas try to negotiate school stairs or tile halls in 3 inch stilettos, you would appreciate the wisdom of the "kitten heel". It gives the girls a little dignity!

L & L
This stands for leggings and layering. Once again, a positive fashion trend. Leggings are like we wore in the eighties, but now paired with those oh- so- short skirts. The layering is very popular and beaters, (see above) are paired with T's and vests or shirts and sweaters. Add a BIG belt and ballerina flats. Don't forget the headband or scarf -get this- holding their hair back! There is a God.

Old School
The term old-school applies to anything retro, vintage, or classic, but most often describes athletic wear (especially the long-lived Adidas side-stripe tracksuit) or sneakers (anything rappers or rock stars wear is sure to be in fashion). Will Ferrell's characters on Saturday Night Live were always "old school". Think tube socks. They'll be coming back. Just watch.
Also Known As: retro, vintage, classic

The Poof
The poof is the new hairstyle that requires parting the top of the head on both sides and pulling the hair back. The difference from a smooth top, anchored at the crown is that now, the hair is pushed back toward the forehead, thereby the poof. It is still caught with a tortoise barrette or clip but there is a little bump or wave on the top of the head. I didn't do a very good job describing this one. Ok...... Remember when you were growing your bangs out and you put the clip about halfway in the middle of your head to hold the hair back? It's sorta like that.

Prep
Preppy is no longer an attitude (privately educated upper crust WASP) but a style. Preppy clothing has never gone away, it has just evolved. The key is to mix prep-school staples (think plaid, polo tees, and pink & green) with fresh pieces for an unstuffy, downtown look. Prep now is really a mix, with layers of seemingly unrelated and unmatched things, but if there is a plaid, or pink, or an alligator, it's "prep". Sorta. Brooks Brothers it's not.

Skaters
Skater fashions are pretty main-stream now. (much to real skaters chagrin) It's about both style and 'tude. Skaters have a devil-may-care attitude to go along with their seemingly toss-it-on-and-go clothes - but in reality their look is more put together and creative then you'd think. It's a plan, Stan. Strategic layers (long and short sleeve Tees) and smart, yet grungy accessories (necklaces, etc.) are the basis of this look. Urban Outfitters is a good place to get the idea and see the popular brands of clothing. Van or Jack Purcell shoes, Dickies or Ben Davis pants, Anti-Hero or retro rock shirts such as AC/DC, North Face Jackets..it's tough work to look like you don't care how you look.

Trainers
Trainers are any type of athletic shoe, though usually refers to a hip, trendy sneaker (whether you're talking old school or high-tech). Trendy ones look like ballet shoes, are a variety of colors and pretty on the foot. Diesel is a good example. High Tech are anything from Nike to New Balance and are made for a purpose other than looking so precious on a sweet thing's feet.
Also Known As: Treads Tennies Sneaks Kicks

Trucker Hats are mesh caps (sort of like a baseball cap but stiffer and with a higher crown). These caps are collected by truck drivers from various stops along their driving routes, but after "Punk'd" star (and Demi's hubby) Ashton began sporting them, a serious craze started. Somehow these hats are so kitschy, they're cool. Originally, Von Dutch was the only way to go. It's out now but the trucker hats are still in.

This is definitely the short course from an over the hill point of view. (thanks to
www. fashion.about.com ) Young, trendy fashion setters- log on and add to the list!