For the first day of school, your kids want to look trendy and fashionable — but also be comfortable enough to move around and play. Look for outfits in fun colors and interesting prints that aren’t just stylish, but also affordable. These three first-day outfits for boys and girls are all available for $50 or less.
Casual comfort
Boys can’t go wrong with a colorful tee, jeans and sneakers. If it’s cool in your neck of the woods, he can layer a short-sleeved tee over a long-sleeved one or add a hoodie on top. Build this casual outfit with these two foundation pieces.
Applique tee – The boys team-style applique tee (Old Navy, $15) is a great choice. This tee is made from 100 percent cotton and comes in your choice of three colors. Sizes XS through XXL will fit boys from kindergarteners to high schoolers.
Slim jeans – Jeans for boys should be slim, but not too skinny. Choose a pair like these comfortable skater jeans (Old Navy, $15). These boys jeans are available in sizes 5-18 and in four different washes.
Tween style
Your tween girl is growing up. She loves picking out her own clothes — from funky tees to colorful skirts. This back-to-school outfit for your tween isn’t just adorable, it’s affordable.
Slub-knit tee – This soft cotton tee (Old Navy, $13) comes in fun colors with cute designs — from hearts to animals to peace signs. These tops are so inexpensive you can pick up a few to go with all her favorite bottoms.
Tiered skorts – If your tween daughter is looking to get a little more dressed up for school this year, consider skorts. These tiered jersey skorts (Old Navy, $10) have the look of a cute ruffled, skirt but have built-in shorts underneath.
Ballet flats – Finish off the outfit with a great pair of ballet flats. Ballet flats are perfect for when your little one has grown tired of sneakers. You can find ballet flats (Old Navy, $13-20) with a rubber sole so that they are still comfortable and flexible.
Pretty prints
From polka dots to stripes and florals to animal patterns, prints are all the rage for girls right now. Let your daughter explore her creativity and fashion sense with dresses and leggings in cool colors and interesting prints.
Flutter-sleeve dress – Grab a dress that can be worn on its own or slipped on over tights or leggings this fall. This jersey flutter-sleeve dress (Old Navy, $17) is an awesome choice. It comes in eight different colors and sizes from XS to XXL.
Bold leggings – Girls live in leggings. They are perfect for play and for school. Check out these printed leggings (Old Navy, $10) for girls. If you buy two or more pairs, they are discounted to just $7.50 each.
Denim sneakers – Denim isn’t just for jeans. A pair of denim lace-up sneakers (Old Navy, $17) will work with almost any outfit your little girl is wearing. These shoes are durable, comfortable and available in sizes from 1 to 13.
Quick tip
When shopping for back-to-school clothes, look for separates in coordinating colors that you can mix and match. This will help extend your budget and your kids’ wardrobes.
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