Sneakers are stars when it comes to back-to-school fashion.
Though flip-flops rule in summer, fall ushers in sneaks from Converse and Vans to Nike and Diesel.
They are practical, comfortable and cool. Just ask eighth-grader Cydney Pickens, 13.
“You can wear them for a lot of things,” she said. “Sneakers don’t break like flip-flops, and they look cool with skirts and dresses. Some kids even wear them with decorative knee socks.”
Pickens says she’s been coveting a pair of Vans Classic that are “kinda like Converse but different.” She plans to wear the sneakers with skinny jeans, a T-shirt with a cardigan, lots of bracelets, a headband, a scarf and “nerdy” eyeglass frames.
Sneakers are the ultimate accessory in self-expression for teens this season.
“It’s about distinctive conformity,” said Marshal Cohen, chief industry analyst with NPD Group, a national market-research firm. “Teens want to conform, but they want to make a personal statement. Sneakers give them many options to do this. It’s the accessory of footwear.”
Converse and Nike styles in bold colors are among the most popular styles for back-to-school.
“Brightly colored sneakers are at the center of back-to-school fashions,” said David Hacker, vice president of trend and color for Kohl’s department stores. “Ease into this trend with a basic fashion athletic style accented with neon laces or try a monochromatic sneaker in a primary hue like red or blue.”
Most sneakers are worn for fashion, not function, Cohen said.
“Sixty-five percent or more of the people who wear sneakers have no intention of using them for an athletic purpose,” he said. “Teens are no exception. They want something cool and cute.”
Henry Ansah, 17, a high-school senior, is hoping to snag a pair of Nike Dunks before school starts. He already owns Nike Blazers and Nike Air Jordans. His priciest sneaker is a pair of $150 aqua- blue Nike SB Dunks he got during his sophomore year.
Henry is a loyal Nike customer because they’re fashionable shoes, he says, “and you can mix and match them with different things.” His ultimate sneaker look: a striped polo shirt, Levi’s jeans and a pair of Nike Dunks.
“For me, it’s about being cool and comfortable,” he said.
