A princess on Monday, a punk on Tuesday and a prep on Wednesday.
Why not?
This back-to-school season is all about variety, personal style and the freedom to express the real you.
Fall '01 has so many trends -- everything from minis to military chic -- that you won't have much trouble playing around with different looks to keep from being bored.
Keep 'em guessing by rotating out the following looks (and when you really want to shake things up, mix and match across trends):
Get the blues
Denim is forever, but this fall it's on a real hot streak. Low-rise jeans, distressed denim, jackets and jumpsuits top the must-have list. Add a personal stamp of style with clusters of pins on jackets or patches on jeans.
Punk princess
Grownup styles have gone dark and edgy (smoky eyes, leather and spikes, razor-sharp bobbed hair) and it has trickled into teen fashion. Try small doses (maybe a single spiked bracelet) instead of going head-to-toe punk. Mix these components: skulls & crossbones, Union Jack flags, camouflage, leather or pleather, safety pins.
Modern prep
Twenty years ago the look called for monogrammed shirts and stuffy styles. Today, preppy is more of a relaxed trend that borrows heavily from casual standbys. Skip oversized men's preppy pieces and go for fitted, feminine looks: argyle vests, button-down shirts, ribbon belts and shetland sweaters.
Glam girl
Let your style speak for itself with Tshirts featuring crystal sayings and symbols. Perk up boring jeans with a crystal belt or stick on style with sparkly tattoos. Don't be afraid of going really girlie once in a while with hot pink, feathers, glitz and other frou-frou looks.
Prints, please
Solids take a back seat to great prints right now. Camouflage, graffiti, flags, animals (especially horses) and mod prints are cool in tops and accessories.
Borrowed from the boys
Tank tops, newsboy caps, ties and pinstripes look just right when mixed with something feminine (a mini, perhaps?)
Down to the last detail
For fall, snazzy fasteners make news: shirts that lace up, zippers on pants and safety pins. A great pair of boots -- ankle, mid-calf or knee-high -- add polish to everyday style. Try one of the new slouchy bags or newsboy caps for extra trendiness. The one thing to own this season is a big belt. Wear it low on the hips over jeans or over a trench.
Mature chic
Remember when jumpsuits were for little old ladies gambling in Vegas? Jennifer Lopez placed jumpsuits on everyone's "gotta have it" list (remember that Frankie B. denim jumpsuit she wore for the album cover?) Other formerly mature items such as corsets and sweater coats are popping up in stores like Bebe and Abercrombie. Pulling off these fringe trends requires finesse: a 13-year-old in a corset is pretty intense; an 18-year-old might pull it off for a dance.
