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By Katie Pelech
Photographs by Katherine Bish
True success in high school is attained through academic achievement, admission to one’s college of choice and engagement in extracurricular activities that enhance one’s character and benefit the community, blah, blah, blah … Oh, who are we kidding? The fastest way to be a success in high school is to be cool. But cool is ambiguous and fluid; it is je ne sais quoi, and it doesn’t care; it is cutting edge, classic and effortless. Basically, you’ve either got it or you don’t—and if you don’t, well, at least you can dress the part. Here’s what the cool kids are wearing. Study up, brainiacs.
For girls: What’s good for the goose (twentysomething fashionistas) is good for the gosling. High-school girls are adopting the same trends as their hipper elders, thanks to the advent of the Internet and the ubiquity of fashion mags. Leggings are in, whether they’re worn under denim minis, flirty spring dresses or well-cut tunics. The approved shoe pairing is a flip-flop (Mella or Havaiana) or a flat, preferably metallic or animal print. These are also worn with skinny jeans, another favorite. Jeans, in dark washes for spring, are sporting big-name labels. Sevens are over; these days, brands like Paige Denim, Joe’s Jeans, True Religion and Goldsign (for starters) are the hallmarks of a true denim connoisseur. Oh, and backpacks are dowdy—books are nestling in Vera Bradley totes or oversize Coach purses.
For boys: Gadgets are no longer geeky. A kitted-out cellphone is de rigueur for today’s homecoming king. Easy texting is a must, and your phone had better be able to play real music. The popular LG Chocolate now comes in different flavors, including strawberry, white chocolate, mint and cherry. In other news, slimmer clothing is back for boys, too—low-hanging jeans and visible underwear are distant (traumatic) memories. The polo shirt remains a staple, but remember to pick stripes over solids, and make sure, once again, that a tiny animal is embroidered on the chest. Finally, boys no longer get a pass in the shoe department. Sneakers have become an art form, and the more over-the-top, rare and (parents, rejoice) squeaky-clean, the better.
