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Top Teen Shopping Picks for the Week

I have a passion for teen clothes. Even though I'm past the point of bright short-shorts and spaghetti-strapped tank tops, I do love to buy them for others. And point everyone in the direction of great pieces! If you need a few ideas when shopping with a teen or if you are heading out for spring break vacation, you should take a look at some basic tops I hunted out at Wet Seal, with both "Dressing Up" and "Dressing Up" options for each!

My favorite tops this season are bright and fun. I love the extra patterns like checks, plaids, and even a little extra embroidery. With a simple skirt, your designs pop, and with something more refined, these bargain-rate pieces look a lot more costly. Take a look at what I've found for you.

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Surplus Plaid Babydoll Top, $15.50

The Plaid Babydoll Top from Wetseal is as stylish as it is affordable. It has a cool country flair but somehow manages to be at home with both denim and linen. Simple lines best complement this busy piece, so dig up some short shorts or a mini.

Dress It Up

Linen High Waist Shorts

These high-waisted shorts give your top a very blousy effect, which looks very cute with strappy sandals and an anklet! If you're the bikini type, this top works well with string types as well as your basic halters in plain coordinating colors.

Dress It Down

Perry Solid Short

Simple, fun shorts get you an "A+" every single time! Don't be afraid to push the envelope with some awesomely cool (and tiny) shorts that beg to be slipped on for pool lounging and couch lounging, too.

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Striped Bra Cup Cami, $15.50 How I adore this striped piece! If you're looking for something to maximize that bust or something to show off a little pre- spring break bronzing, I recommend this find from Wet Seal. It even has lightly padded bra cups for that extra boost!


Dress It Up

Satin Trim Trousers

There's no reason why something colorful shouldn't be paired with something very chic. You'll highlight the rainbow of colors in your top, while making it look like a little more refined. Perfect for hot nights out on spring break or layered underneath a wrap cardigan for work, with just the hem showing for a splash of color.

Dress It Down

Julie Skinny Jean

These jeans are basic and easy. Pull them on with flip flops on a day after the fun when you need to wing down. They're shapely but with a touch of stretch for ease.

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Embroidered Two-Pocket Tank Top, $22.50

Why not choose a top that's a little on the crunchy side this spring? This blue tank top comes encrusted with decorative designs and spells "F.U.N." It's definitely layering-worthy as well.


Dress It Up

High Waist Mini Thought that this top had a hippie vibe? Not anymore! You've joined the international jet-set crowd when you combine a bright white, trendy skirt with this soft pastel piece. Consider wearing it with a silk scarf, too.


Dress It Down

Brooklyn Bright Mini Rainbow bright, indeed! This skirt provides a welcome juxtaposition to your usual softer pastel wardrobe for springs. Take this top in another direction and see how things go.

Meieli Sawyer Detoni

Back to School (for the Over 22 Crowd)

It's around that time of year when advertisers really start to greedily rub their hand together and grin a Cheshire cat grin. To them, later summer means one thing and one thing only: back to school ads.

While the term "back to school" can elicit a collective groan from the under twenty-two crowd, it isn't so dreary for that group of over twenty-two individuals who no longer attend school. And don't think for a minute you can't partake in the back to school shopping just because you're no longer attending school.

In fact, when you've reached the point where your schooling has come to an end, "back to school" translates quite simply to "back to school shopping." Therefore, it means some downright fun fashion, such as the following looks…

-The Classic
What would schoolgirl fashion be without a white, button up collared shirt, a pleated plaid mini, and white knee high leggings. It's classic but somehow manages to stay sexy and fresh after all these years.
If you want a flirty variation on the look, try more adventuresome stockings. Think quirky patterns or bold colors (just make sure they work with the plaid!). Or match the safe skirt with some seriously dangerous stilettos.

Where to wear the look: Your look is conservative but downright sexy. It screams to be taken shopping.

-The Throwback
For a bit of nostalgic fun, celebrate the turning of the season with a back to school dress up session honoring the era you attended high school. Or, if that's too recent in the fashion books, go back to middle school, or even elementary school.
Adding these little throwback touches such as crimped hair or patchwork jeans can breath new life into your more recent purchases. Just look at how well the 80s have translated into current fashion. Who thought leggings would ever come back?

Where to wear the look: Depending on how far out you take the look, the outfit might be a bit gimmicky for out and about wear. Take it to the dance floor of a funky club. Grab all your girlfriends to dress "in character" as well.

-The Perennial Detention Attendee
You know you had them at your school. That gang of ominously dangerous girls who never seemed to be free of detention. Well, now that you're all grown up, and there's no one to throw you in the clink for a too-short mini, go ahead and indulge in a little bag girl fun.
The trick to this back to school look is to think dramatic at every turn. Starting with the makeup, it's got to be all about the eyes and lips. The eyes should be edged in thick, dark liner. If you're feeling particularly bad, you can even create a slight "wingtip" effect for that Egyptian goddess look. The lips should be red, red, red.
Next, think dramatic fabric. Leather works great, and pleather stands in as an affordable alternative. Leather jackets are always an option, but it's the leather skirts/dresses/pants that really turn heads.

Where to wear the look: You'll be downright too hot to handle in this look, so take it out to a low-lit, hole in the wall type restaurant, or even better yet, a coffeehouse. The look deserves a place where you never quite know where the evening is headed…

Good luck, and happy shopping!

by Liz Herrin