Back to School Series - Part 1

Even if the kids aren’t ready for it, stores are beginning to clearance out their shorts and tees to make room for fall’s crop of light-weight sweaters, jeans and long-sleeved tops. As a high school student, I both loved and dreaded this change of seasons. Loved it because there’s something incredibly fresh about starting a new school year. Dreaded it because Back to School shopping was always a disappointment.

At 16, all of my girlfriends would get together and go downtown to stock up on Lucky jeans and cute little Tommy Hilfiger polos. I had to rifle through Lane Bryant with my mom (no offensem Mom) for anything that didn’t look like it belonged on a 45 year old woman. My self esteem would be at rock bottom by the end of the day, and my mom would be ready to strangle me for morphing into a sullen, hateful teenager. Luckily for today's Bombshell teens, the back to school shopping experience can be fun, fun, fun.

If you're taking a teenager shopping, keep these tips in mind:

• Don’t make a big deal out of the fact that back to school shopping might be more challenging for a teen wearing sizes 14+. Focus on all the cute options available.
• Plan ahead; expect that you will have to order clothes online. Make sure they arrive in time for the big day back in the classroom!
• Go with the fashion flow; expect that your teenager will have different ideas about what she wants to wear. You focus on “appropriateness"( i.e. avoiding overt sexuality) and let her choose what’s “cool” or shows her personality.

Over the next few weeks, I'll be highlighting some of the most fun, age appropriate places to shop for size 14+ school clothes. Next Monday, I'll kick things off with clothes for middle schoolers. I have a lot of ideas to share with you, but would love to hear what you have to say about shopping for plus size teens. Any specific problems? Great shopping tips? Let me know!