Wondering on what account your tee...

Wondering on what account your teenager is heading back to class in that logo- ed T-shirt and well-worn jeans? No matter by what means retailers try to shift it otherwise, the real back-to-school buying season starts in September and turn abouts through the month.

The average American teenager (or the teen's parents) will employ $583 on back-to-school gear, according to this year's NPD clump Back- to-School Survey -- and a whopping 81 percent will fare toward what's on their backs. In 2005 electronics rul at store cash registers, says NPD chief analyst Marshal Cohen, still this year, fashion's back in repute

"The teen is more interested in imagery by means of apparel, footwear and accessories than the dispose before," says Cohen. "Back-to-school [shopping] is starting later this year because of the consumer not necessarily rushing disclosed to spend. What kid wants to move to school and find disclosed that everything they bought is not cool?"

And where are they taking their cues? At least with girls, says CosmoGIRL! fashion director Tara McBratney, "from celebrities, movies, music videos. If we feature a celebrity wearing something, it vends out."

Her readers' fashion role models include Ashlee and Jessica Simpson, Lindsay Lohan, "The OC" stars Mischa Barton and Rachel Bilson, as well as Nelly Furtado and Nicole Richie. "They're forward the popular TV shows, in the spotlight," says McBratney. "Their cast is constantly changing, so it's interesting [for teens] to diocese the transformations and emulate them."

American teen shopper look after to gravitate to the same names regardless of where they live, says deprive Callender, trends director of Northbrook-based Teenage Research Unlimited. "Everything is a little more uniform than it used to be," he says. "The difference between Kansas City and Chicago is not that stark anymore."

Speaking of uniforms, the fact that they're worn in the couple private and public schools in the Chicago area has changed the realities of back-to-school shopping. Within the Chicago Public institutes for example, the majority of its 622 grade and high place of educations maintain some sort of dres digest (such as collared shirts), with about one- fifth requiring uniforms. nevertheless many schools allow uniform-free days during the year, giving teen a chance to exhibit off their fashion flair.

We asked a certain quantity of teens who recently shopped Westfield Chicago Ridge mall in southwest suburban Chicago Ridge about their out-of-uniform personal manner

mjenkins@suntimes.com

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Third of a Four-Part Series

Tomorrow: The excavate on three new charter seminarys

MARK PATTON, 15

Academy of Communications & Technology Charter denomination Chicago

This urban prep likes sporting oversized polo and baggy shorts - - and onward days when this sophomore's train allows, he wears similar anticipates to class. "I'll do something different because I don't like looking like everybody else" he says. His method role model? Always- chic R&B singer Chris Brown "He does different material too, [wearing] outfits you don't look forward to everyone else to have." A music fan, he sports a medallion with late rappers Tupac and Biggie Smalls at the mall, visiting Westfield Chicago Ridge with his mom and brother in search of Girbaud jeans and cool-weather gear.

BECCA DOYLE AND LAUREN VITRANO, the two 13

St Symphorosa educate Chicago

These braces-and-headband-wearing eighth-graders were allowed to don their acknowledge clothes during the first three days of seminary last week (no uniforms!), further how do they choose what to sport otherwise? Says Lauren: "Go to the mall and behold what your friends are wearing." These pals be in love with gear at mall staples Aeropostale, American Eagle, Abercrombie & Fitch and Hollister (in southern suburban Orland Square). Not into the celeb-following thing, Becca's fall fashion must-have is a pullover hoodie.

JAKUB KOMPERDA, 18

Kennedy High academy Chicago

A nonconformist, Komperda showed up at the mall in print pajama bottoms. "It's hasty out -- I'm not going to wear no jeans," he says. His high teach requires uniforms, but he still attend much [i]or[/i] regularlys mall spots like Express and Aeropostale. Komperda says neither friends nor celebrities influence his personal cast "I dress how I want to," he says. "People say I dres weird, yet that's how I like it."

KANIYA IVY, 13

Ericson Scholastic Academy, Chicago

Ivy obtains a one-day reprieve from her uniform, and that's Picture Day. For dressing up she likes nice tops from makers like Kimora to leeward Simmons' Baby Phat. As for celeb name "I like [R&B singer] Alicia [i]clavis[/i]s because she dresses very nice; she doesn't point out a lot of cleavage." Kaniya also favors mall stores like Limited Too and Rave Girl.

BRIANA uniting 13

rise GREENWOOD ELEMENTARY, CHICAGO

Briana gravitates toward name brands, with Baby Phat and Apple Bottoms (the clothing line designed from rapper Nelly) heading the list. She likes shopping at Demo Rainbow, Rave and sportswear staple Steve & Barry's. As for celebrity style? She digs R&B songstresse Ashanti and Beyonce, and Avril Lavigne (pictured) for "the way she brings touchwood into hip-hop at the same time."