By Ja’Nala Horton
Photo by Ja’Nala Horton
New school year, new clothes, new style. As students head back into the classroom, fall fashion is already making its way through the hallways. From baggy pants to Uggs and jeans, students are finding different ways to make their back-to-school wardrobes fit their personalities. But where are students actually shopping, and what they are looking for?
According to the National Retail Federation (NFR), 62% of shoppers had already started back-to-school shopping as early as July 2026. The organization also found that clothing and accessories are one of the biggest parts of the K-12 back-to-school budget, with shoppers planning to spend an average of $250.29.
Freshman Tye Colin usually shops at Ross, while her favorite clothing store is Garage. When shopping for clothes, Colin looks for tanks and prefers going to stores rather than shopping online. She said she usually spends around $300 on back-to-school clothes. Her preference for loose-fitting clothes connects with current fall fashion trends. Teen Vogue describes one of the 2026 trends as “cool comfort,” highlighting loose and laid-back denim styles.
Junior Lauren Breaux has a different approach to back-to-school shipping. She shops at Zara, PacSun, and Depop, with Brandy Melville as her favorite clothing store. Breaux looks for clothes that are “tall girl-friendly,” showing that fit and comfort can be just as important as following trends. She spends around $200 and shops both online and in stores, although she prefers online. Breaux mentioned the TMA eye boots as a popular choice this season.
Breaux’s preference for online shopping also reflects the growing role of digital shopping in back-to-school purchases. The National Retail Federation reports that 50% of K-12 shoppers planned to purchase items online, only showing that shopping for school clothes is no longer limited to walking through a physical store.
Freshman Autumn McMilliman usually shops at Target, while PacSun is her favorite clothing store. She focuses on clothes that are practical and fit properly. One thing she specifically looks for is clothing that “won’t drag on the ground.” McMilliman shops in stores and says she spends about $100 per store when she is buying a lot of items. Like Breaux, she sees Uggs and jeans as popular fall choices.
Back-to-school shopping can also be a way for students to express themselves. Each student has different priorities when choosing what to wear, whether that means finding comfortable pieces, staying within a budget, following trends, or finding clothes that fit their body and personal style. The difference shows that there is no way to build the perfect fall wardrobe.
Price can be a significant factor when shopping the back-to-school shopping experience. The NRF reports that shoppers are keeping “value front and center” as they look for ways to make their money go further.
