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Back-to-school Fashion Tips for Parents Courtesy of ARAcontent  |
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 (ARA) - How much will you spend on new clothes this fall? According to the U.S. Census, Americans spent $7.5 billion on back-to-school shopping in 2007, or roughly $140 per child. With prices everywhere on the rise in today’s economy, Americans are looking for ways to get more for their money from brand names they know and trust.
Shopping for back-to-school clothes is a proverbial tug-of-war between parents and their kids. Parents want great value from outfits that will last throughout the school year, while kids mostly just want to look “cool.”
From adjustable waistbands to shoes that are two sizes too big, parents are constantly looking for ways to stretch their back to school purchases so boys, especially, won’t outgrow their clothes too quickly.
In Spring 2008, Signature by Levi Strauss & Co. conducted focus groups involving 11 and 12 year old boys and their parents to find the driving factors in buying new jeans for fall. They have to be in style, fit well, and come in a variety of colors with functional details like zippers and cell phone pockets. More than anything else, parents just want to buy what boys like and will actually wear.
“If parents buy jeans their kids will ‘grow in to,’ chances are the jeans will sit in the back of their closet and be forgotten,” says Christine Chun, manager of consumer insights at Levi Strauss & Co. “Boys want to be accepted by their friends and classmates, and this means finding jeans that are stylish and fit well.”
Taking the results of the focus groups to heart, Signature by Levi Strauss & Co. designed boys’ jeans for fall with the durability parents are looking for, and the styles boys want too. Carpenter and loose fit jeans with sturdy construction, a comfortable baggy cut, and secure pockets for carrying anything from rocks to mp3 players are now available at Walmart, Kmart and Target stores. Parents will like the price too; all jeans retail for $15 to $18 each.
Girls on the other hand, tend to care more about what’s in fashion right now, not what will last throughout the year. This can pose an even greater challenge for parents to keep their daughters in style without buying a whole new wardrobe every season. In conjunction with purchasing back to school supplies, which according to the U.S. Census Americans spent over $2.3 billion in fall 2007 at stationary stores, new clothes in the fall are often the only option that fits the family budget.
“A parents’ best bet for girls is to buy a classic five-pocket style jean you can dress up,” says Claire Raiklen, licensing manager at Signature by Levi Strauss & Co. “With cute, feminine details like back pocket stitching, bootcut or flare leg openings, and other unique embellishments - girls will love them and they won’t go out of style.”
Girls jeans are available for under $20 at Kmart and Target stores. Parents can also purchase jeans for themselves for under $20, in traditional straight and relaxed fits for men and fashionable wide-leg trouser styles for women. For more information on Signature by Levi Strauss & Co., visit http://www.signaturebylevistrauss.com/.
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