For many students, the arrival of August also means heading back to school. With most students in Chilton County returning to the classroom on Aug. 19, boutiques in Clanton have prepared the latest back-to-school fashions for a stylish academic year.
“This season everything seems to be more flowing rather than fitted for females,” Lindsey Jones, owner of LJ’s Boutique in Clanton, said. “Palazzo pants, anything lace and crochet are really popular as well as colored skinny jeans and the chevron print.”
La-Tee-Dah owners Melanie Boggs and Michelle Howell and Classy Touch owner Brandi Van’t Hof echoed Jones about the chevron print being a popular item for back to school.
“Chevron is a big style right now that a lot of girls are wearing,” Van’t Hof said.
Boggs said the chevron print comes in different colors and can be paired with accessories including bracelets and earrings.
“We have a lot of accessories for girls to pick out something that will pair well with their outfits,” Boggs said. “Anything that sparkles is also something popular right now.”
Although the chevron print is a hot item with older females throughout Chilton County, Sweet as a Peach owner Tasha Hayes said for younger girls, it is all about the buttons and ruffles.
“The styles this fall are a lot of browns and yellows, baby pinks and turquoise colors,” Hayes said. “Rosettes on headbands and ruffles on the clothing is a trend that will be on a lot of clothing this fall.”
Hayes also sells options for younger boys at her store including bow and neckties to pair with T-shirts or button down shirts.
“The neckties have elastic that goes around the neck so it makes it easier for the boys to wear them,” Hayes said.
For older guys, Bar-D Western Store in Clanton has options including Farm Boy T-shirts with unique farm-related sayings on the front of the shirts to new styles in jeans.
Bar-D owner Wayne Caton said the “Retro” brand of Wrangler jeans is an item well liked by teenage boys this season with a more relaxed fit.
“We also have Cinch jeans that are a popular style with the guys,” Caton said.
Other items heavily requested from teenage boys shopping at Caton’s store consist of boots in both dress and casual styles.
Customers can also order a Game Day collection boot from Caton with different college football team logos on the front of the boot.
“A lot of the things that are selling with the teenage guys this season are not necessarily western,” Caton said. “They are items for across the board.”