For boys, cargo shorts are appropriate for those first weeks of school when the Back-to-school shopping beckons families. Parents will soon be making those annual purchases to help ensure their kids make a stylish and practical return to the classroom and playground when the bell rings later this month or in early September. According to The NPD Group Inc. in Port Washington, N.Y., almost half of consumers are expected to spend less than $250 per child this year on school clothes. Dress codes and uniforms, of course, simplify shopping, while children’s preferences and growth spurts are factored into shopping decisions. “A lot of kids seem to be gravitating toward an ’80s look that’s obviously new to them. We’re seeing a lot of tunics, leggings and denim miniskirts for girls. For both teen boys and girls, we’re seeing layering, and, of course, jeans. And we’re seeing a lot of the same styles in versions for the younger kids, too,” says Heather Hannan, public relations manager for Macy’s. “Specifically for the younger boys, we’re seeing much more color and a preppy look with solid colors and plaids.” “Boys and girls are wanting to express themselves sooner, so there’s a real energy level seen in our designs through our prints, plaids, stripes, and even with our graphic T-shirts. We want to make sure it’s all safe and appropriate and that kids love it,” says Lisa Strubel, director of color and concept for The Children’s Place. We’ve compiled a selection of tips for parents to check out what’s in style for boys and girls in three age groups. Familiarize yourself with these styles, and your child might decide you have enough taste to choose an outfit or two. Or maybe that’s just wishful thinking. Styles for girls High school age :

Back to the future. “Back-to-school fashion this year is really about the ’80s revival — leggings, layers, chunky jewelry, oversized sweaters and skinny bottoms,” says Hannan, of Macy’s. Straight and skinny. “Darker, skinny-leg jeans, worn with flats or tucked into boots, are very big for fall back-to-school,” Hannan says. Minis with a twist. “The denim miniskirt is also extremely popular this season. In either a light or dark wash, you’re going to see it worn over leggings,” Hannan says. Bohemian rhapsody. “Included in a bohemian trend for fall at Target is Parisian designer Sophie Albou’s new Paul and Joe brand with culottes, camisoles and houndstooth minis. Layering is another thing that we see for both males and females, and from that standpoint she has chunky cashmere ponchos, leather motorcycle jackets and corduroy blazers,” says Cristi Arndt, spokeswoman for Target.

Middle school age :

Antique chic. “There’s a lot of talk about Victorian detailing in tops. We’ve interpreted the trend in a safe and appropriate way with our winter white story, showing a variety of tunic-length tops in knits that are easy for every day wear,” says The Children’s Place’s Strubel. Layered looks. “One of the emerging trends with tops at Limited Too stores is the cropped look with denim jackets. They’re not necessarily worn as piece of outerwear, but as a outer top in a layered look,” says Robert Atkinson, vice president of investor relations for Tween Brands Inc. “We think vests will be popular as well, in a layered look this fall.” Skinny, too. “We have skinny-leg jeans to wear as the weather gets colder. We also think girls might like to continue to wear the Bermuda short and shorter skirts with leggings and later in the year with legwarmers and cowboy boots,” Atkinson says.

Elementary school age :

Mini minis. “The miniskirt is coming on as a strong trend. We’ve done it as a skort. Girls are active; they’re going to be on the playground swinging on swings and going down slides. It’s a safe way to wear the trend. We did it in denim, khaki and in a pink twill camouflage print,” Strubel says. Comfortable style. “For girls we’re seeing a bohemian-inspired trend. It’s reflected in touches of embroidery on those key back-to-school essentials such as T-shirts, hoodies and jeans,” Molinari says. “Girls want to look cute but feel comfortable; so, it’s really about soft cotton knits. We have a cap-sleeved, knee-length polo dress in a soft stretch knit cotton. It comes in vibrant pink and purple stripes with a tiny rhinestone graphic embellishment on the chest.”

Styles for boys High school age :

All in the jeans. “For teen boys, the jeans will have a slimmer leg. They still have a slouchy look, but it’s less so,” Hannan says. New color combos. “We’re seeing a lot of striped polos and rugbies that are updated with interesting color combinations and variations on stripe patterns. It enables a guy to have a little more individuality,” Hannan says. “We’re seeing a lot of layering with graphic Ts and hoodies.”

Middle school age :

British invasion. “There’s a huge English-influenced moment going on now in fashion, and plaids are a big part of that. We’ve made our plaids in bright colors and with short sleeves for going back to school when it’s still hot out,” Strubel says. Rugged individualism. “A great rugged-looking pair of cargo shorts with a plaid short-sleeved shirt or knit polo shirt is a fabulous outfit to send your kid to school in on the first day. Boys love cargo pants,” Strubel says. Buttoned up. “For boys, we’re seeing in general a focus on that collegiate, kind of preppy look and feel. We’ve got soft T-shirts that can be worn under colorful polo shirts and rugby shirts in contrasting, varsity-inspired colors, such as purple with gold,” Molinari says.

Elementary school age :

Tough stuff. “Parents love our khakis — for boys and girls — because they’re treated with Gap Shield, which has a stain-resistant, Teflon-based formula,” Molinari says. Optical illusion. “To get that layered look that offers comfort for boys — because kids don’t really love to put on too many layers — we created a top that has long sleeves of different fabric sewn inside the short sleeves of a graphic T,” Strubel says. Classic fashion. “The Lacoste polos have made a strong comeback in new colors and classics. We’re carrying them for fall in boys’ sizes 8 to 16. Boys like them because they’re easy to wear, and parents like them because they look polished,” says Dennis Wolk, co-owner of London Dock in Squirrel Hill and Fox Chapel.

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