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Back to school with flair, style
BY BARBARA PASH
With Staff Reports
Special to The Jewish News
From Michael Jackson-inspired
parachute pants to preppy classics,
children's fashions offer something
for everyone this
Girls and boys will be going back
to .school in an assortment of pants.
The latest fashion pant is the
parachute pant, in "crushable" nylon
with lots of zippers. Silver grey is the
hit color although black is big, too.
Also on the pant scene; corduroy
slacks, and for girls, corduroy walk
shorts, to be worn at school and par-
ties. Denim jeans go from the plain
Levi and Lee brands to the fancy de-
signer styles, the latter with a
"washed out" look, in two tones of
denim, with stripes or checks, with
yokes and/or big pockets placed not
at the hip but lower -down, on the
knee.
Another trend in casual attire is
the "sweatshirt look," according to
Thelma Stalburg,, co-owner of New
Generation in Southfield. "Sweat-
shirt material, even on things like
pants and jackets, has really been
popular," she. said. -
Stalburg feels that dressing for
school isn't the clique-conscious
exercise that it was as recently as two
or three years ago. "Kids aren't af-
raid to be different any more. There's
a surprising amount of originality
and individuality."
Vests in leather or "looks like
leather" material -are important
items. In fact, leather and its fac-
similies will be strong in children's
clothes this season, in pants and ties,
to be worn by both girls and boys.
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Sweatpants may have drawstr-
ing or elasticized waists. Sweatshirts
may be crewneck-style. Girls also
like the newer "flashdance" look,
with loose-cut shoulders and
appliques of hearts, rainbows and
animals. Or they may choose to
"decorate" their sweatshirts with ac-
rylic paints.
Sweaters remain another popu-
lay item from last year. Boys prefer
the preppy crewneck, sometimes
boasting colorful geometric motifs.
Girls go for crewnecks and for fashion
sweaters in patterns like argyle or
plaid..
In fact, New Generation will
take special orders for custom=
designed, custom-made sweaters,
Stalburg said, adding that such items
have become popular for special fam-
ily events like bat mitzvahs and
birthdays. Most people'who order the 4,
custom-made sweaters want them in
hielh-quality fabrics such as wool or
angora, the store's co-owner reports.
Jumpers are back, newly popu-
lar in corduroy. They can be dressed
up with a pretty, feminine blouse or
dressed down with a turtleneck, for
'school wear. In separates, skirts
often have a dropped waist effect or
an interesting yoke treatment.
In girl's clothing "black is by far
the hottest color. Also big are the
bright, neon colors, in accessories
like socks and neon color accents on a
black background," one clothing ex-
pert said.
Big, bold "buffalo plaids," are a
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