Cool school clothes for kids: Back to School Guide 2013

For our 2013 Back to School Guide, we looked at four of the hottest style trends for cool school clothes for kids and (a little painfully) pared them down to some of our very favorite pieces. Remember with back to school shopping, you don’t need to buy “outfits.” Sometimes all you need is one special new piece to pair with existing items, sale clothes or hand-me-downs to make an outfit feel totally fresh and fun.

BLACK AND WHITE
Shades of the 80’s, black and white is back and it’s big! From stripes to plaids to houndstooth and everything in between, you can hardly go wrong mixing and matching black and white together right now.

(Clockwise from top left)

Houndstooth leggings, ($35 polarn o. pyret); chuck taylor x high ($57, converse.com); Beret kitty shirt ($32, wunway); pleats and thank you dress ($46, hanna andersson); durham backpack ($65, with one donated to a child in need, state bags); Boys Barbour Int’l Jacket ($279, J Crew); block stripe top ($35, polarn o pyret)

COLORBLOCK STYLE

Yes, it’s back! The good news: if you own awesome colorblock items from last year, you get to use them again. If not…happy shopping.

Colorblock pocket tee ($29, Tea Collection); Elaina Flats for Girls ($55, Umi); Colorblock Stretch Leggings ($24, Tea Collection); Boys Colorblock Canvas Sneakers ($16.94, Old Navy); Purple Colorblock Scarf ($13.98 on sale, Target); Girls Colorblock Cardigan ($59.59, J Crew); Light Kids Polyfill Down Vest ($29.90, Uniqlo); Colorblock Ponte Dress ($18.50 on sale, Gymboree)

MOTORCYCLE STYLE
We’ve always loved the biker look on kids and it’s fun to see it playing out everywhere from pants to shoes to jackets that blend patterned fabrics and leather to keep it from looking too tough. Especially for those trips to the grandparents’.

Zipper Cargo Pants ($24.50, H&M); Street Racer Tee ($29, Tea Collection); Faux Leather Moto Vest ($48, Nordstrom); Motorcycle Necklace ($35, Girl Burke Studios); Girls Combination Leather Jacket ($59.90, Zara); Baffin Kids Flame Boots ($74.99, Zappos); Jimmy Rainboots ($50, Babesta)

STRIPES
Whether you stick with two colors or go nuts pairing patterns over patterns, we love hat stripes never seem to go out of style for kids. Here, just a few of the zillions of stripey options we’re seeing this season everywhere we look.

Stripes and flowers sweater dress ($66, Hanna Andersson); Sean White stripe tee($8.99, Target); Striped girls tights Set ($24/2, Boden USA); Striped sweater dress ($59, Tea Collection); Agile Kids rain boots ($59, zappos); Cotton/cashmere striped hat ($39, Jacadi US); Boys striped leather belt belt ($24.50 on sale, J Crew)