What Teenagers Want for Back to School Clothes

So you have a teenage daughter...and it's time for Back to School.

This time of year, there is always a mixture of emotions that occur for all moms. First, you're excited for a new school year and hopeful of what your daughter will learn! Then, you're so happy for life to get back on a regular schedule because it makes all moms jobs a little easier. Next you start to feel sad that a new school year means your baby girl is growing up. Then, as the emotions flood in and out of your mind your reality sets in and you realize it also means you have to go through the arduous process of buying Back to School clothes --- for a teenager. URGH.

We know....it's not fun for mom OR the teenage daughter. We hear it all the time....mom's want this or that for their daughter and the daughter just says "nope, nope, nope." So today on the blog, we thought we'd help all the moms of the world of teenage girls and quickly tell you what teenage girls WANT for Back to School.

As a mom myself, I find that I want my kids to be much more dressed up at school than they want to be. It's a little foreign that my kids want to wear athletic wear all the time, and I want to be able to buy them what my kids call "Church Clothes". My kids don't pick those clothes to wear to school except for the 1st day and picture day (HA). It turns out, all moms around the US feel the same way about the school attire and as a result, the past 3 years Sweet Elaine Boutique has had an exclusive "teenage" collection targeted just to this age group to make Back to School shopping easier for mom. The easiest way to describe this collection....simplicity.

I have a teenage niece whom I adore. Her name is Samantha and for the past few years she has helped me build the 'Back to School Teenage Collection' for the store. She's been spot on for the past several years about buying what most teenagers want and I'm amazed how simple the collections are. They always resonate with other young women when they shop in the store. 

Without further ado, this is Samantha's list to the must have items for Back to School for Teenagers:

1. First Day of School Outfit. Samantha says you have to have one outfit that makes your mom happy (for insta) and this outfit fits the bill.  This cargo skirt is very on trend and fits a smaller frame teenage body beautifully. She paired it with this high neck tank top that is incredibly soft and well made. Samantha says it's hard to find tank tops that don't show too much skin, AND fit under the arms. This tank is perfect for all the teenagers and it's available in three colors in sizes S-2x.

2. A sweatshirt. This concept cracks me up because our store and the majority of our customers are in Texas. School starts back up in August--- the hottest month of the year-- and Samantha puts a sweatshirt on her BTS list every single year. Why? The answer is so simple. The classrooms are always cold. This particular ribbed sweatshirt Samantha picked this year is incredibly soft and it's not fuzzy on the inside. It is available in 3 colors and only gets softer every time you wash it.

3. Graphic tees. Every teen I ask says the same thing when I ask what they want for Back to School. "Cool Graphic Tees" but not just any t-shirt but ones that are cute, AND simple. Teenagers want the colors to be muted so they go with just about anything and they often buy the shirts oversized so they can wear them with any bottoms. 

Shop this look: Austin, TX Graphic Tee, Dreamer Graphic Tee, Vintage Acid Wash Flower Tee, Keep Calm and Dream On Graphic Tee, and Howdy Twist Graphic Tee.

4. A tennis skirt. Samantha LOVES Lululemon like any teenage girl does, but like all moms we cannot spend $100 on a workout outfit for our teenager, especially when they aren't even wearing it for working out. So Samantha picked this emerald green tennis skirt as a compromise for moms and daughters. The skirt is actually a skort, the color is beautiful, and the fabric is so soft you will want to sleep in it. This skirt is available in sizes S-3x. This skirt is again paired with the high neck tank tops that all the teenagers are loving.

Shop this look: Ellie Butter Soft Tennis Skirt, High Neck Ribbed Tank and Halo Earrings.

5. Short Athletic Shorts. I spend a lot of time in the store with young girls, especially when they're moms bring them to shop. I often will have them try on shorts and 90% of the time the teenagers tell me they're just not short enough. It cracks me up, especially because we had to wear shorts that went past our fingertips upon standing when I was in school (I know, I'm OLD). School dress codes have lightened up considerably and the shorts Samantha picked for the store come in both navy and black AND they're short enough.

6. A Nice Dress. Samantha says every teenage girl needs a nice dress for school functions. The schools host banquets and other events that will require nicer clothes, so she asked me to put this dress in the collection. She said it has a nice neckline that is not too low and the backside covers enough where it doesn't show a bra. We think it's adorable.

Shop this look: Natalie Embroidered Smocking Ruffle Dress and Halo Earrings.

Guess what? That's it. Can you believe it? It is the simplest list EVER.

What's missing this year? A great pair of jeans. Jean styles are having a change moment and the teenagers haven't yet figured out what that looks like, so we didn't add any jeans to this collection; BUT jeans are always a favorite among teens.

Hopefully this list and collection help you minimize the complaints and eye rolls from your teenager. If you're local, you can always book an appointment to shop. For Back to School, we'll even do a model shoot with your teenager and the BTS Collection.

Sometimes letting your teenager have fun in the store, collect photos for Insta and just do things a little different than years past makes all the difference for making BTS fun again.