MONDAY,AUGUST 16,2004
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN 7C
Aid
Toss in the totes and pull out the ponchos
Staples of'80s fashion are in for fall season
By Miranda Lenning
mlenning@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
The '80s are making a comeback; denim is always in style, scarves should be worn as belts and backpacks should be tossed and replaced with totes.
These are just a few things to keep in mind when doing back-to-school shopping. The transition from summer to fall is tricky because it is not entirely reflective of either season's, said Jessica Hunt, assistant manager at Abercrombie and Fitch, 647 Massachusetts St. But it is obvious designers can't get enough of the "flirty mini" for women, a term that refers to the
four inches of ruffled material sold as a skirt, and logo T-shirts for men. Store managers in downtown Lawrence said the "flirty mini" was the hottest selling summer item for women, and expected them to invade campus as long as the weather permits.
But as more of the fall lines start rolling into stores, the arrival of
ponchos, boatneck shirts and an array of denim set the stage for the women's fall look. Athletic apparel, logo T-shirts, basic khakis and more denim can be expected to be seen on men.
and Marianne and American Eagle have stocked their shelves with '80s apparel: boatneck shirts, layered knits and camisoles layered under T-shirts.
It's obvious designers can't get enough of the "flirty mini," a term that refers to four inches of ruffled material sold as a skirt. Store managers in downtown Lawrence expect the skirt to invade campus as long as weather permits.
Girls can't go wrong digging up their older sister's clothes from the '80s because the authentic look could easily be confused with clothes that will be crowding the racks at downtown stores. The Gap, Abercrombie & Fitch, Ginger
Kathy Mattan, manager at the Gap, 643 Massachusetts St. said, they offered wrinkle-free
Hunt said the store could hardly keep men's logo T-shirts and khakis on the shelves.
"We've even got leg-warmers," Hunt said.
Stores are making an effort to accommodate the lifestyle of the college-aged male. As if expecting men to wear clothes wrinkled, stores are selling them that way. Additionally, managers think the 100 percent cotton graphic T-shirts and the gym wear are conducive with the low-maintenance laundry lifestyle.
"It is so hard to predict what the guys are going to wear," she said. "They usually come to get their basic khakis and jeans."
Hunt said that ponchos have been the most popular selling item from the women's fall lines. Ponchos could be a good fall campus look because they provide the comfort element while remaining stylish. Most ponchos slide on over the head and cover the arms, but don't have arm holes, allowing for comfort and warmth when the weather gets cooler.
khakis and shirts.
Above all, managers said that denim was the best back-to-school option.
"We sold so many jeans yesterday and it was
This year, key to accessorizing women's denim will be to wear bright-colored belts and scarves around the waist. Designers seem to be encouraging women to hang up their plain, old belts and add some flavor to their denim. Gap, Abercrombie & Fitch, American Eagle, Urban Outfitters and Target stores all have an array of colorful belts and scarves.
Finally, the staple for the back-to-school wardrobe is the book bag. Here is some advice: ditch the bulky backpack for a trendy tote, or a clever one-strapped sling.
Mattan said their fall line would include a replica of a tote that "sold like hotcakes" in the spring. Sunflower Bike Shop said that men were buying more of the sling-style bags and less of the classic backpack.
Edited by Erik Johnson
Kansas Men's Club Soccer Tryouts
- Aug 16th,17th & 18th 8:00 am & 6:00 pm
@ Shenk Complex - 23rd & Iowa more info: bighomer@ku.edu
- Forming two teams for fall seasons