Hip Teen Clothing

Finding New Fashions

Where should you turn to learn about hot new fashions?

Magazines

Magazines are your best friend when it comes to discovering the season's top clothing trends. Titles like CosmoGIRL! and Teen Magazine will help you learn about the latest fashions designed for teens. Fashion magazines like Vogue can keep you informed of larger trends, and even celebrity magazines like People present great photos of current fashions.

Celebrities and the Media

Certain celebrities are always trendsetters. The Paris Hiltons and Lindsay Lohans of the world inspire teen fashion every time they step out on a red carpet. The hottest movies, music videos, and TV shows for teens can also lead to hot new styles.

Fashion Shows

While the looks presented on the runways are often too extreme for everyday wear, they do herald new trends. If Calvin Klein and Donna Karen send all their models out in metallic hues, gold and silver are sure to be big this season.

Stores

One of the best indicators of what's popular in teen fashion is what is currently being stocked in stores. If mini skirts are the style of the summer, you'll see rack after rack of them while knee-length styles will be virtually non-existent.

Buying Hip Teen Clothing

Whether you spend the day at your local mall or settle in your computer chair for some serious online shopping, the following stores are your source for hip teen clothing:

• Abercrombie & Fitch is a popular name for guys and girls who like to be on the cutting-edge of fashion.
• American Eagle Outfitters is another top clothing destination for teens.
• Torrid features plus size teen clothing.
• Hot Topic offers the latest in mainstream punk and Gothic Clothing.
• Deb stores are stocked with the latest styles at affordable prices.
• Alloy and dELiA*s are online teen clothing stores with similar selections for girls.
• Buckle sells the top name brands in jeans.
• Pacific Sunwear is a great source for stylish clothes with a laid-back vibe.
• The juniors' departments of retailers like Sears and JC Penney always stock an assortment of the latest styles. Head to high-end department stores like Nordstrom for designer goods.

Don't Break the Bank

Buying all the latest hip teen clothing can be an expensive proposition. Use these suggestions to stretch your fashion dollars:

• Get a part-time job at a clothing store to take advantage of the employee discount.
• Look for discount-store brands from favorite designers. For instance, Target often features exclusive lines of clothing from designers like Isaac Mizrahi.
• Shop outlet stores for name-brand clothing at a lower price. However, you won't be on the cutting-edge of fashion with this method because you'll only find clothes several months after they first hit stores.
• Shop the clearance racks. Again, this won't let you buy fashions the moment they come out, so you'll have to balance your desire to save money against your need to be on top of trends.
• Put fashion on your gift list. If you have a birthday, holiday, or graduation coming up, add this season's must-have item to your wish list, or a request a gift certificate from your favorite store.
• Start small. Buy one trendy piece that will go well with several classic looks, like a fashionable sweater to wear with skirts, slacks, and jeans.
• Create your own style. Why be a slave to fashion when you can wear what you like and make your own trends?