Fall Children's Fashion Forecast

If you really want to know what's hot and what's not in children's clothing fashions this year, ignore the television commercials and go straight to the kids to get their own opinion. These days; what the marketers want you to believe is hot does not match what your children are thinking.

Denim is still as hot now as it was in the 70's, but the styles have changed. In fact, male 'tweens and teens have turned the children's clothing industry upside down by insisting that they shop for their jeans in the Girl's department! Today's fashion-conscious boys say that girl's jeans fit them better in the legs and hips, and the tight-fitting legs are safer to wear because they don't get caught in bicycle chains or drag on the ground when they're skateboarding.

Not to be left out in this new children's clothing trend, many young girls who are going through their final growth sprout before reaching puberty are flocking to the Boy's department to buy their jeans. According to one 12-year-old boy, "Boy's jeans are better made, cheaper, and the legs are long enough to fit me without having to roll up the cuffs." It seems that the jeans in the Juniors Department just don't make the grade.

The grunge look is fading in children's clothing this year as well, and children are all about dressing up for school. Faux fur and children's clothing accented with rhinestones or sequins are hot; and plaid skirts with dark-colored sweaters are on top of the girl's most wanted children's clothing list. Bright colors are also in vogue for party-wear and school, while camouflage pants and vests, both in traditional khaki as well as orange, blue and grey, are at the top of the list for casual and play wear.

Boys are going to be wearing sweater-vests over traditional button-down Oxford-style shirts, and pull-over crew neck sweaters with jeans or khaki pants top their children's clothing most-wanted list for fall and winter wear. Of course, camouflage pants are in for the guys as well as are linen pleated pants and double-pleated gabardine.