What brands are cool among middle school girls?

[Anonymous]

It also depends on geography. We were in Alexandria City so most brands reflected what parents shopped for online and the brands at Target and the stores at Pentagon City which aren’t many. We purchased a lot of stuff at Nordstrom for ease of returns. I found that friends with kids farther out in the burbs had way more mall store brands. And there kids actually went to the mall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fashionistas in NY. Lol lol lol. Do you even hear yourself???!

It’s sarcasm to the pp who said her daughter was a “fashionista” who wore crocs and Lululemon and Nikes.

[Anonymous]

A pair of jeans that actually fit was a necessity when mine were 12. Abercrombie.

[Anonymous]

We’re in bethesda. My DD and her MS friends wear converse high tops, crocs, and sneakers — mine just does adidas as she’s not that into sneakers and the adidas fit well.
Like one shorts are cool but so are Nike sports shorts, AE jean shorts, aerie, and even the target in motion or jean shorts are totally fine.
Agree with PP about beach t-shirts (beach is apparently a cool vacation!) and slightly cropped shirts from basically anyplace. She ditched all of her shirts that had flowers or cute patterns on them and now wears mostly solid colors — like a black t shirt with black Nike shorts or jean shorts.

IMHO, by 8th grade they start to have a little more independent style. The ones her age who are “into clothes” look the same as the rest of them to me. My HS daughter has friends that wear all sorts of stuff though— sporty, funky/thrift, fem/floral, menswear, lots of different looks, often depending on the day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My self described “fashionista” 11yo rising 6th grader who attends a private school in NYC is currently very into crocs (as are all her friends), lululemon (but only the jackets and belt bag, no point in spending $$$$ on the other stuff), athleta and has recently gotten into “thrifting” thanks to her older sister. Just visited her at camp and every single kid there was wearing crocs. She also has Nikes (AF1 and Blazers) and Stan smiths for school. Sneakers are pretty much the only shoes tween girls wear now other than crocs and maybe flip flops in summer.

Dd is (to my dismay because I was the other end of the spectrum and I always worry about the mean girls aspect of the popular crew) quite popular and apparently known for her style among her friends who often ask to borrow her clothes.

Much more important than the clothes I think is the attitude. My kid (just this one, the older and younger are not at all like this) oozes self confidence and I think that makes others think she is cooler than she is. She’s also really kind and friendly and generally takes a more the merrier stance with friends so I’m not too worried about her being mean. We talk a lot about kindness and inclusion and how clothing and appearance are not actually important even though they seem to be. It can definitely be tough being a “new kid” but it sounds like lots of kids are coming from different schools and meeting up in a new school so your dd isn’t the only new person.

Help build up her confidence - model conversations, discuss how to handle particular situations, answer her questions about how to navigate middle school etc. Help her choose and outfit she feels great in to wear on the first day. If she’s due for a haircut or other regular grooming needs make sure those are taken care of right before school because as much as we’d all like to think otherwise, appearance makes the biggest first impression.

Fashionistas in NYC don’t wear crocs, if she’s wearing crocs she’s following the crowd. Lululemon is also following the crowd especially now that the 10 year olds wear it. It is ubiquitous and once something is ubiquitous fashionistas donate it. Same with Nikes. They are mainstream basic. Nothing wrong with that but it sounds like your daughter is one of the crowd. Again, nothing wrong with that.

So please do tell what “fashionista” middle schoolers wear then?

Ok,I’m not going to use the word fashionista again but the trendy clothes obsessed NYC middle schoolers (still kind of young) wear clothes of their own styles. No crocs but they do wear ugly Dolce & Gabbana mules, Nikes and also probably 10 different brands of sneakers, Marc Jacobs colorful backpack, Tory Burch bags. The artsier ones like their thrift shops and the unique designers. These are just the so called “popular” girls where clothes are everything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My self described “fashionista” 11yo rising 6th grader who attends a private school in NYC is currently very into crocs (as are all her friends), lululemon (but only the jackets and belt bag, no point in spending $$$$ on the other stuff), athleta and has recently gotten into “thrifting” thanks to her older sister. Just visited her at camp and every single kid there was wearing crocs. She also has Nikes (AF1 and Blazers) and Stan smiths for school. Sneakers are pretty much the only shoes tween girls wear now other than crocs and maybe flip flops in summer.

Dd is (to my dismay because I was the other end of the spectrum and I always worry about the mean girls aspect of the popular crew) quite popular and apparently known for her style among her friends who often ask to borrow her clothes.

Much more important than the clothes I think is the attitude. My kid (just this one, the older and younger are not at all like this) oozes self confidence and I think that makes others think she is cooler than she is. She’s also really kind and friendly and generally takes a more the merrier stance with friends so I’m not too worried about her being mean. We talk a lot about kindness and inclusion and how clothing and appearance are not actually important even though they seem to be. It can definitely be tough being a “new kid” but it sounds like lots of kids are coming from different schools and meeting up in a new school so your dd isn’t the only new person.

Help build up her confidence - model conversations, discuss how to handle particular situations, answer her questions about how to navigate middle school etc. Help her choose and outfit she feels great in to wear on the first day. If she’s due for a haircut or other regular grooming needs make sure those are taken care of right before school because as much as we’d all like to think otherwise, appearance makes the biggest first impression.

Fashionistas in NYC don’t wear crocs, if she’s wearing crocs she’s following the crowd. Lululemon is also following the crowd especially now that the 10 year olds wear it. It is ubiquitous and once something is ubiquitous fashionistas donate it. Same with Nikes. They are mainstream basic. Nothing wrong with that but it sounds like your daughter is one of the crowd. Again, nothing wrong with that.

So please do tell what “fashionista” middle schoolers wear then?

Ok,I’m not going to use the word fashionista again but the trendy clothes obsessed NYC middle schoolers (still kind of young) wear clothes of their own styles. No crocs but they do wear ugly Dolce & Gabbana mules, Nikes and also probably 10 different brands of sneakers, Marc Jacobs colorful backpack, Tory Burch bags. The artsier ones like their thrift shops and the unique designers. These are just the so called “popular” girls where clothes are everything.

I saw groups of girls like this last time I was in NY

[Anonymous]

We're DMV transplants now living in a NYC suburb which is, I suppose, pretty UMC for whatever context that's worth. Also as an FYI very few kids here go to private schools because our schools are at the township level and funded by the town's property taxes. Long explanation short, plenty of money and trendy styles in our public schools.

But to echo what most have said those trends are about the same. DD is now 12 in 7th grade and her Christmas list is a ton of Lululemon (more align leggings, belt bag, hoodies, hotty hots), black converses, and then some specific styles without brands/stores attached (i.e. "beige parachute pants" and "knit sweater").

Crocs are big with the boys here, not as big with the girls anymore. AF1s, chuck taylors, and slippers for that just rolled-out-of-bed look.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're DMV transplants now living in a NYC suburb which is, I suppose, pretty UMC for whatever context that's worth. Also as an FYI very few kids here go to private schools because our schools are at the township level and funded by the town's property taxes. Long explanation short, plenty of money and trendy styles in our public schools.

But to echo what most have said those trends are about the same. DD is now 12 in 7th grade and her Christmas list is a ton of Lululemon (more align leggings, belt bag, hoodies, hotty hots), black converses, and then some specific styles without brands/stores attached (i.e. "beige parachute pants" and "knit sweater").

Crocs are big with the boys here, not as big with the girls anymore. AF1s, chuck taylors, and slippers for that just rolled-out-of-bed look.

what parachute pants and slippers are you looking at?

[Anonymous]

Old thread but we are in portland Oregon at a fairly wealthy urban Public school and the shift this year has abruptly turned to flared low rise jeans (miss me, rock and republic, true religion, and 2000s thrifted styles), Ed hardy, juicy couture (vintage from Depop mostly), DC skate clothes, some JNCO but that’s last years look mostly, and fake designer stuff like Gucci, balenciaga, Dior (the boys are really into this look lol). It’s like 2004-2005 threw up on the high school.

The kids out in the burbs dress very differently other than everyone likes lululemon

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My self described “fashionista” 11yo rising 6th grader who attends a private school in NYC is currently very into crocs (as are all her friends), lululemon (but only the jackets and belt bag, no point in spending $$$$ on the other stuff), athleta and has recently gotten into “thrifting” thanks to her older sister. Just visited her at camp and every single kid there was wearing crocs. She also has Nikes (AF1 and Blazers) and Stan smiths for school. Sneakers are pretty much the only shoes tween girls wear now other than crocs and maybe flip flops in summer.

Dd is (to my dismay because I was the other end of the spectrum and I always worry about the mean girls aspect of the popular crew) quite popular and apparently known for her style among her friends who often ask to borrow her clothes.

Much more important than the clothes I think is the attitude. My kid (just this one, the older and younger are not at all like this) oozes self confidence and I think that makes others think she is cooler than she is. She’s also really kind and friendly and generally takes a more the merrier stance with friends so I’m not too worried about her being mean. We talk a lot about kindness and inclusion and how clothing and appearance are not actually important even though they seem to be. It can definitely be tough being a “new kid” but it sounds like lots of kids are coming from different schools and meeting up in a new school so your dd isn’t the only new person.

Help build up her confidence - model conversations, discuss how to handle particular situations, answer her questions about how to navigate middle school etc. Help her choose and outfit she feels great in to wear on the first day. If she’s due for a haircut or other regular grooming needs make sure those are taken care of right before school because as much as we’d all like to think otherwise, appearance makes the biggest first impression.

Fashionistas in NYC don’t wear crocs, if she’s wearing crocs she’s following the crowd. Lululemon is also following the crowd especially now that the 10 year olds wear it. It is ubiquitous and once something is ubiquitous fashionistas donate it. Same with Nikes. They are mainstream basic. Nothing wrong with that but it sounds like your daughter is one of the crowd. Again, nothing wrong with that.

So please do tell what “fashionista” middle schoolers wear then?

Ok,I’m not going to use the word fashionista again but the trendy clothes obsessed NYC middle schoolers (still kind of young) wear clothes of their own styles. No crocs but they do wear ugly Dolce & Gabbana mules, Nikes and also probably 10 different brands of sneakers, Marc Jacobs colorful backpack, Tory Burch bags. The artsier ones like their thrift shops and the unique designers. These are just the so called “popular” girls where clothes are everything.

What kind of Tory Burch bag do middle school girls use? Or just any if logo on it?

[Anonymous]

costco wholesale corp, bank of america, walgreens, trader joes, whole foods, fox, bill gates, trumpany

[Anonymous]

Lululemon, Aviator Nation, Ugg Slippers, Aerie, American Eagle, Nike Airmax 270's. Seems like Jordan's might be falling out of favor but I can't really tell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lululemon, Aviator Nation, Ugg Slippers, Aerie, American Eagle, Nike Airmax 270's. Seems like Jordan's might be falling out of favor but I can't really tell.

This!!! Very much this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lululemon, Aviator Nation, Ugg Slippers, Aerie, American Eagle, Nike Airmax 270's. Seems like Jordan's might be falling out of favor but I can't really tell.

These are not cool clothes. These are comfortable clothes which is important to most kids. A small group of girls might sacrifice for fashion but it’s mostly comfort - number one priority.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lululemon, Aviator Nation, Ugg Slippers, Aerie, American Eagle, Nike Airmax 270's. Seems like Jordan's might be falling out of favor but I can't really tell.

These are not cool clothes. These are comfortable clothes which is important to most kids. A small group of girls might sacrifice for fashion but it’s mostly comfort - number one priority.

Omg. Enough already. It's like one poster who just can't let up on the fact Lululemon isn't cool in her eyes or isn't high fashion. We all know this!!!! But yet, in this area, most teen girls love Lululemon and therefore, it's considered a "cool" brand. It's literally that simple.