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Whether school has already started where you are, or your kids are wringing every last drop out of summer like it’s the final Capri Sun in the fridge, one thing’s consistent: parents everywhere are cracking open their wallets for those back-to-school buys. And if you’ve got a teenager, you know the real must-haves aren’t the notebooks and pens. It’s the clothes. The shoes. The backpacks, bag charms, and water bottles. (Cha-ching!)
And wow, are we spending. According to a new press release from National Debt Relief, 39 percent of parents admitted to going into debt during back-to-school shopping. That’s right — nearly half of us are willing to swipe the credit card just so our kid can show up in the “right” sneakers or with the exact water bottle all their friends have. That might sound extreme, but it only underscores just how central fashion and accessories have become to teens’ sense of identity and belonging. For them, the “first day ‘fit” is more than an outfit: it’s a statement, a social currency, and a way of showing up confidently among their peers.
So what are today’s teens begging for? We combed through this year’s trend reports, TikTok “BTS hauls,” retailer stats, and shopping guides to track down the hottest back-to-school fashion must-haves for 2025. Think of this as your cheat sheet to what’s about to flood the hallways this fall … with no studying required.
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Wide-Leg Sweatpants
Image Credit: QVC. Athleisure still reigns supreme with teens, but with specifications: namely, ankle-squeezing cuffs are out and flowy wide-leg sweatpants, like these (from QVC!) are in. (And don’t you DARE buy them leggings, which are apparently for boomers. Who knew?!)
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Babydoll Tops
Image Credit: Hollister If there’s one overarching theme of 2025’s back-to-school fashion, it’s that 2000s mall brands are back in a big way — which is one reason why this adorable babydoll top from Hollister was one of the top items in BTS hauls on TikTok. Interestingly, Hollister recently overtook Lululemon as the top apparel brand among upper-income teen girls.
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Adidas Campus Shoes
Image Credit: DICK's Sporting Goods Adidas shoes are classics for a reason — but while the Adidas Samba was the “it-shoe” for a while, they’ve been dethroned this year by the Adidas Campus, which come in a ton of fun colors.
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Low Rise Baggy Jeans
Image Credit: Pacsun Ring, ring — it’s the ’90s calling! If you had a similar pair in your teenage years, this trend probably makes you feel either gleeful or old. Regardless, low rise baggy jeans are what the girlies are wearing for back-to-school 2025. And these — Pacsun’s Casey Low Rise Baggy Jeans — seem to be among the most popular picks.
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Dad Shoes
Image Credit: ASICS The ubiquitous “dad shoes” are selling out everywhere this season faster than you can say “lawn mower!” Clunky, practical, and beloved pairs like these from ASICS or these from New Balance are showing up in high school hallways everywhere.
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Micro Shorts
Image Credit: Hollister This style hits more than one trend. First: Hollister, as we’ve already discussed. Second: this particular Hollister camo print has been in high demand all year. And third: MICRO SHORTS. It doesn’t matter if it’s going to be 45 degrees out before we know it; these are still a staple item on teen girl fashion wishlists. In fact, when we played a “Bye or Buy” game with members of our SheKnows Teen Council, all the girls unanimously voted yes on the micro shorts trend. So there you have it!
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Status Backpacks
Image Credit: Jansport They’ve gotta have something to haul their haul in, right? And this year, it should be either the perennially-popular Jansport or a Lululemon New Crew backpack. Period.
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Non-Branded Shirts
Image Credit: Garage Surprisingly, one of the hottest trends isn’t a brand … it’s actually no brand, at least not a quickly-discernible one. Gone are the days of a brand logo or name splashed across the front of a sweatshirt; today’s teen picks are much more subtle and lowkey, like this one from Garage (the Sour Cherry color is particularly trendy this year) or this simple fave from Uniqlo.
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Number Shirts
It doesn’t matter if your teen is a 76, a 14, a 35 … she’ll feel like a 10 when you pick up one of these trendy jersey-inspired numbered shirts. This one is from Edikted, but this one from Brandy Melville (sold at Pacsun under the “John Galt” label) is wildly popular too.
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Water Bottles
Image Credit: Owala Gen Z is a water-guzzling group, as the ongoing trend of hydration heroes continues. First it was the Stanley; now it’s the water bottle, namely from Owala or HydroJug. Bonus points if it’s limited-edition because, you know … prestige.
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Boho Tops
Image Credit: Edikted Ruching and ruffles are another it-girl look for the 2025 back-to-school season, as boho tops are making a statement. This one from Edikted is a super-popular pick, as well as this ruby-red top from Brandy Melville/John Galt.
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Matching Sets
If rolling out of bed and throwing on something without much thought is her vibe, she’s in luck — because matching sets are so in this year. Hollister even sells them in bundles, unlike almost everywhere else where you have to buy them separately!
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