Study Haul Smart looks for everyone make it easy to ace back-to-school style

If only back-to-school were like “Grease.”

Ah, the summer lovin’ (happened so fast). The muscle cars. The fact that no one ever seemed to have any homework.

But here’s the best part: Everyone knew what to wear. The Pink Ladies had it easy – black pedal pushers and a pink satin jacket is a pretty simple look to pull off. Ditto for the T Birds, who knew the power – and the coolness factor – of basic black.

In real life, getting dressed for school is a little trickier than in the movies – Sandy never had to jockey with her father and her bratty little brother for bathroom time. Nor did she worry whether her Bohemian skirt matched her new beaded slippers. She had a stylist, for crying out loud.

Fortunately, you don’t need one, because this fall’s back-to-school trends make shopping easy for everyone, whether your style is preppy or punk, glamorous or goth, sporty or hippie.

“So many different things are in this year,” said Laura McDowell, fashion spokeswoman for T.J. Maxx. “The overall look and feel is a little more modest than in years past. We’re not seeing bellies. The jeans are back to a normal height. On boys, we’re seeing lots of layering.”

Yes, parents, you can breathe a sigh of relief because the plumber-butt trend for gals is on its way out. Trendsetters are taking the look a bit further, with skinny jeans tucked into boots (cowboy boots, that is) or high-waisted wide-leg jeans.

“There’s definitely an emphasis on the waist,” said Jane Keltner, fashion news editor at Teen Vogue.

Belts are huge, both literally and figuratively. A wide belt, worn on the waist, is showing up on everything from shift dresses to jeans. And yes, you read right. Dresses. With a fitted top and a flared bottom in lengths as low as the knee and as high as a mini.

“We’re definitely seeing a more dressed-up look at Teen Vogue,” Keltner said. “Girls are dressing in a more feminine and classic way.”

This fall’s fashion for teens is inspired by such stars as Lindsay Lohan and Nicole Ritchie, who both have traded jeans and sneakers for more polished duds. Keltner said lacy white shirts with a Victorian influence are an easy – and inexpensive – way to dress up jeans. You can find one at Gap or H&M. In eastern Maine, the look translates into flowing skirts, tailored corduroy and velvet blazers, and lace details on tops and jeans. Think Stevie Nicks meets flower child.

“The Bohemian look is the hottest look right now,” McDowell said.

Western-influenced styles aren’t far behind. This fall’s must-have shoe is the cowboy boot – pair it with a studded belt and a pair of embroidered jeans and you’re ready to ride (even if your “horse” is a scooter).

For guys and girls, preppy polos and khakis are as popular now as they were in the ’80s, but this time around, the tops are fitted and layered and the khakis are loose for guys and snug for gals – check out the selection at American Eagle Outfitters and Abercrombie & Fitch.

These flashbacks aren’t limited to the Boy George era, however. Shift dresses and bold prints from the ’60s are making a comeback while retro track jackets are the hottest trend for young men this fall – Filene’s and Burlington Coat Factory have a great selection.

“Men’s fashion definitely changes less than women’s,” Keltner said. “Guys are looking to Hollywood, as well.”

They may be taking cues from fashionable stars such as Adam Brody of “The O.C.,” Jake Gyllenhaal and Orlando Bloom, but the overall look is casual, effortless and comfortable – loose but not droopy jeans with rips and paint splatters, vintage corduroy blazers with an unbuttoned oxford and a rock ‘n’ roll T-shirt underneath, skater-boy shorts with a pair of layered waffle shirts.

“Surf and skateboarding – all these looks are influencing boys fashion,” McDowell said.

So is music, especially at Hot Topic (the black-clad Danny Zuko would’ve loved this place). For guys, the feel is a little dressier, a little more fitted, inspired by bands such as The Killers and, to a lesser extent, Green Day. The all-black ensemble is punctuated with subtle details in red and white. Look for skinny striped ties, studded belts and Converse One-Star shoes. For women, in addition to great T-shirts, you’ll find deep purple velvet blazers a la “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and sweet cherry-print dresses that are just ironic enough not to be cutesy.

And don’t forget the bag. You can find them everywhere, but a few stand out – Vera Bradley’s ultra-preppy quilted satchel is like the Cadillac of backpacks (with an $88 price tag to match). L.L. Bean’s “Illuminex” lighted Book Packs are perfect for kids who walk to school ($49 at LLBean.com). A high school-age friend totes his ridiculously heavy books in a padded skateboarding backpack from PacSun – some have wheels and stereos, too (www.ccs.com for more options).

McDowell says the most important thing to remember this season is your budget – parents and children should discuss needs versus wants and set some shopping guidelines before they leave the house to avoid temper tantrums in the dressing room.

When it comes to back-to-school, peace – not “Grease” – is the word.

Kristen Andresen can be reached at 990-8287 and kandresen@bangordailynews.net. Her weekly column, ShopGirl, returns next Saturday.

This needs to be boxed. Maybe screened?

The Bangor Daily News wishes to thank the following people for making this photo spread possible: the faculty and staff at Bangor High School; models Kailee Bradstreet and J.P. Stowe; photo assistants Linda Kamp and Rickey Montes; the staff at Abercrombie & Fitch, American Eagle Outfitters, Burlington Coat Factory, Hot Topic, Filene’s and T.J. Maxx ‘n More; and designer Diane Toepfer of Ferdinand Home Store in Portland.