My 12, almost 13 year old DD (7th) wears: sweatpants, leggings, jeans. Lots of very soft t-shirts. It's pretty hot in her MD suburban public MS so no need for many sweaters/sweatshirts. She just asked for a pair of Chuck Taylors (converse low tops). Brands: Under Armour, adidas, Nike (she's pretty sporty), avvivva (that's the lululemon tween brand but it's $$$$); jeans anywhere from Aqua/Bloomingdales or pricey premium denim from Nordstroms to JCrew Gap Old Navy or Zara...I swear she doesn't like them based on brand but on style, softness & fit. I think it will definitely depend on your kid.

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here: W feeder middle school. The "basic" look. Google it. Sweatshirts, leggings, Uggs or Hunters. In hot weather, tanks and shorts with flip flops. But insist she wear layers because I keep my classroom freezing year round. Cuts down on dress code violations.

Just FYI for the OP, tank tops were a dress code violation at our public middle school. No tanks (for either boys or girls, by the way) or camisole thin-strap tops on their own. Under something else, OK, but not on their own. OP should check her DD's school's code first.

My DD made it through MS with zero leggings, Uggs, or sweatshirts. In her MS, among her friends, it was jeans (never skinny jeans, only what was comfortable but not skin-tight) and t-shirts but not the shirts that advertise specific stores. There were plenty of leggings and jeans and Hollister-name-on-everything shirts etc. on some girls but this just isn't universal at every school among every group of kids.

OP, I would wait and see what kids are wearing at your DD's school before putting a lot of cash into anything. Get her some basic items to start with but don't get a whole trendy wardrobe until she's had time to scope things out. Get her to find some clubs and activities at school that interest her and where she'll meet kids who share her interests. That'll help her find friends and then she can dress however she feels most like herself around them.

Anonymous wrote:My 12 year old likes Hollister (nothing with the words Hollister though), Aeropostale (same deal), Forever 21, some H&M, some JCrew...

Labels are definitely verboten now.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is going to be a nightmare... my DD doesn't even know the names of Hollister and Aeropostale! She will not wear any jeans or leggings. Nothing tight.

Besides black yoga pants (which we just bought for the first time from Justice this year in 6th grade -- I thought we were finally moving into that from Children's Place and Target!)... I have no idea what my child will wear! Sounds like there is nothing that a girl who doesn't like boots and leggings can wear to fit in. Sigh... I hope she finds some equally fashion ambivalent friends!

I don't know if she doesn't like clothes that look tight or clothes that don't feel tight? The jeans and leggings these days don't feel tight -- everything is stretchy.

Does not like clothes that touch close to her skin. She won't even wear long sleeved shirts... but certainly not leggings or jeggings. And doesn't like jeans b/c they are too constricting.

short shirts that show their bellies.

sorry couldn't resist...

When DD started a new school in 7th the Admissions Director was kind enough to tell me what was trending with the girls. Yoga pants, leggings, Uggs, duck boots, toms, converse with quarter zips are popular. Stores are Aeropostale, Altered States (none in DC, look online) is a great store. Very trendy but modest clothes. Old Navy, Top Shop at Nordstrom, JCrew are also popular.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is going to be a nightmare... my DD doesn't even know the names of Hollister and Aeropostale! She will not wear any jeans or leggings. Nothing tight.

Besides black yoga pants (which we just bought for the first time from Justice this year in 6th grade -- I thought we were finally moving into that from Children's Place and Target!)... I have no idea what my child will wear! Sounds like there is nothing that a girl who doesn't like boots and leggings can wear to fit in. Sigh... I hope she finds some equally fashion ambivalent friends!

Dude, calm down. It won't be a nightmare. My daughter spent all of fourth and fifth grade in yoga pants. Then leggings, now skinny jeans in seventh grade. She'll figure out the fashions she wants to wear here, you'll figure out the stores that carry those fashions, and it'll all work out. Uggs are very ugly and very expensive, so I refuse to buy them for my daughter. She has black rain boots but they're not Hunters. She thrives despite that.

Agreed, it doesn't have to be a nightmare. My middle schooler still doesn't care about clothes, and that actually makes things easy. I bring stuff home from Gap or Zara (clothes that fit her well), and she approves most everything. I pay attention to the clothes that other girls at her middle school wear, and everything seems really low key. I offer clothes that seem that they would fit in. So far, so good.

Of course many of those middle-school girls would notice the subtle differences between brands, but it's not like they're saying anything to DD about it. And the day when my DD comes home and rejects all my clothing choices? At that point, it will be clear that she has developed her own style--or adopted the style of a group of her peers--and I'm sure she'll let me know where to shop!

Anonymous wrote:This is going to be a nightmare... my DD doesn't even know the names of Hollister and Aeropostale! She will not wear any jeans or leggings. Nothing tight.

Besides black yoga pants (which we just bought for the first time from Justice this year in 6th grade -- I thought we were finally moving into that from Children's Place and Target!)... I have no idea what my child will wear! Sounds like there is nothing that a girl who doesn't like boots and leggings can wear to fit in. Sigh... I hope she finds some equally fashion ambivalent friends!

I don't know if she doesn't like clothes that look tight or clothes that don't feel tight? The jeans and leggings these days don't feel tight -- everything is stretchy.

Anonymous wrote:It used to be Limited Too.

No way!!! Explains a lot.

Anonymous wrote:This is going to be a nightmare... my DD doesn't even know the names of Hollister and Aeropostale! She will not wear any jeans or leggings. Nothing tight.

Besides black yoga pants (which we just bought for the first time from Justice this year in 6th grade -- I thought we were finally moving into that from Children's Place and Target!)... I have no idea what my child will wear! Sounds like there is nothing that a girl who doesn't like boots and leggings can wear to fit in. Sigh... I hope she finds some equally fashion ambivalent friends!

Dude, calm down. It won't be a nightmare. My daughter spent all of fourth and fifth grade in yoga pants. Then leggings, now skinny jeans in seventh grade. She'll figure out the fashions she wants to wear here, you'll figure out the stores that carry those fashions, and it'll all work out. Uggs are very ugly and very expensive, so I refuse to buy them for my daughter. She has black rain boots but they're not Hunters. She thrives despite that.

Teacher here: W feeder middle school. The "basic" look. Google it. Sweatshirts, leggings, Uggs or Hunters. In hot weather, tanks and shorts with flip flops. But insist she wear layers because I keep my classroom freezing year round. Cuts down on dress code violations.

This is going to be a nightmare... my DD doesn't even know the names of Hollister and Aeropostale! She will not wear any jeans or leggings. Nothing tight.

Besides black yoga pants (which we just bought for the first time from Justice this year in 6th grade -- I thought we were finally moving into that from Children's Place and Target!)... I have no idea what my child will wear! Sounds like there is nothing that a girl who doesn't like boots and leggings can wear to fit in. Sigh... I hope she finds some equally fashion ambivalent friends!

Anonymous wrote:Forever 21 is the place to go for your daughter to get started.

The store is set up in style sections:

Each room or section at a F21 store is merchandised to cater to a certain type of girl. There’s typically a tribal and/or boho girl, a laid-back/sporty girl, a clubwear girl, an edgy girl, and a preppy/scholastic girl. The rest of the “girls” are compiled of whatever trends are popular or in season.

Clothes are cheap ($1.90 Camisoles), buy stylish. Have your daughter try on everything. Caveat returns are for in-store credit only.

Great starting point..

It used to be Limited Too.

Op again... I never heard of justice...