Back-to-School Shopping for Teens: Trends, Budgets, and Boundaries

It’s almost that time again. When you look at the calendar and realize that it's only a matter of weeks before your teen has to return to school. It’s around this time that you should start to think about going to the store for your annual back-to-school shopping spree. However, before you hop in the car, you need to do a bit of research, and we’re here to help. In this guide, we’ll tell you about the newest trends, the must-have school supplies for the year, and the boundaries you need to set as you walk through the aisles of Target. 

Here is our guide to back-to-school shopping for teens.

Fashion Trends of 2025

While your teens should still dress appropriately for school, they’ll likely be asking if you’ll get them new clothes. That’s why you should know the current trends when you go back-to-school shopping. When reviewing trends, we examined numerous top sources of fashion advice, including Seventeen Magazine, Teen Vogue, and others.

According to these top sources, there are many trends to consider when it comes time to send your teens back to school this year. 

Retro Styles

One of the trends is the return of retro styles. That’s right. You may experience a blast from the past as you go clothes shopping and see your teens pick out baggy jeans, platform shoes, and low-rise jeans. 

In addition to the retro style, there’s also a growing trend of teens wearing oversized clothes. Big hoodies, cycling shorts, and other attire. Some parents may think that wearing more is better than wearing less, but you should also ensure that what they wear is appropriate for school.

The retro trend also extends to footwear. These days, many teens are skipping the streamlined style and instead going for chunky and thicker sneakers. They often go well with the thicker clothes. The good news is that they are likely more comfortable than smaller shoes.

Finally, the trend of “thicker is better” also extends to jewelry. Walk through a school today and you’ll see teens with big watches, chunky bracelets, big rings, outlandish necklaces, and more.

Sustainable Fashion

These days, more people than ever are finding ways to help the planet and preserve our natural resources. Kids learn a lot about environmentally friendly practices in school, so they naturally want to wear more sustainable fashion. That’s the trend in 2025. Upcycled clothing made from previously used fabric is popular. So is going to the thrift store and picking out something older that may have been previously owned by someone else. It’s a good way to help the planet and save money at the same time.

Other Popular Trends

Various other popular trends will likely catch your teen’s attention this year. One of them is capri pants made from denim, linen, or cotton. Graphics t-shirts are also making a comeback. Again, as you're shopping, just be sure that the graphics and wording on the shirts are appropriate for school. Finally, oversized sunglasses are also big these days. Just remind the kids not to wear them in class.

Back-to-School Shopping Essentials in 2025

As the years go by, things change, and so do the supplies that your kids need for school. For instance, you may need to think a bit more about backpacks. Kids often have more books and tech, like laptops, in their bags, so get a heavy-duty option that can handle the weight, like something from The North Face or a similar reputable company. 

As your youngsters become teens, they may not require a lunchbox. A sack lunch may do the trick. However, as your kids grow into young adults, it will be necessary for them to drink water on a regular basis. To start that habit now, get your kids a reusable tumbler or other heavy-duty container so they can fill it throughout the day.

There are also school supplies that can help your kids perform better in school, such as a monthly planner. You can find a planner that will easily fit in a backpack, and if your teen uses it properly, they can write in their homework assignments each day or write the due dates of future projects so they don’t forget about them until it’s too late. 

As you go shopping, look for other tools that can make note-taking and knowledge retention easier, such as Post-it notes, highlighters, and a variety of pens. Finally, be aware of potential supplies that your teens may need for special classes, like protractors and graph paper for math classes.

Technology Will Be at the Forefront

When you start your back-to-school shopping for your teen, you'll quickly discover just how much more technology there is today than when you were a kid. For starters, depending on the school and the classes your teen is taking, they may need a laptop instead of a traditional notebook.

Many teachers will provide homework online, so your teens will need access to a computer. It can also be easier to take notes on a computer in class. Just be sure that your kids don't load their laptops with apps that could be distractions during class.

While you’re shopping, you may also want to pick up a set of headphones or earbuds. Rest assured, they're not for listening to music during class. Instead, a good pair of headphones can block out unnecessary sounds while your teen is reading or studying in class or at home. This can be especially useful when your teen is studying in loud places, like outside or in the cafeteria. 

Staying Within Your Budget is Critical

If you’re going all-out during your back-to-school shopping and you're buying school supplies, clothes, and everything else under the sun, then having a budget to follow is a must.

The only way for a budget to be truly successful is to have it set up before you leave for the store. First, look at your income. How much expendable income do you have that you can dedicate to school supplies? Next, narrow your budget down even further by writing how much money you can dedicate to specific categories. How much should go to fashion, how much to supplies, etc? While you're shopping, refer to your budget and don't go over what you allocated for yourself. If you do, things can quickly go off the rails.

Budgeting is particularly important when it comes to tech. You may start looking at things like laptops and earbuds and believe that you need to spend thousands of dollars, and it can be a bit daunting. Just remember that your kids don't need overly expensive tech. A MacBook Pro may not be necessary. Instead, you can often find laptops on Amazon or at Best Buy for closer to $200. Your kids don't need the computers for gaming and interactive experiences; they just need something to type on.

The same policy goes for earbuds. You’ll start shopping and find them for $200-$300, but your kids don’t need the most expensive options. You can find them online for a fraction of the price. If your teens want something more substantial, they can save up their allowance or the money they make at their part-time jobs. 

Setting Boundaries

The only way to stick to your budget and get the items that are truly necessary when going back-to-school shopping is to set boundaries. 

For instance, one way to stick to your budget is to avoid brand-name items. Sometimes you can buy a generic notebook or set of pens, and that's okay. As a rule, if the school supply you're purchasing does the same thing as the more expensive model, then go for the more affordable option. Don't let your teen guilt you into spending more just because they think having the fancy item will make them more popular at school.

Another one of the big “don’ts” to follow when shopping is thinking too far into the future. For instance, you may be inclined to buy winter clothes now and get everything at once. However, there may be sales later on that allow you to get those items for less. That goes for other items, too. You don’t necessarily need to go on a major shopping spree and get every school supply at once. Start shopping during the summer and wait for sales.

As a final tip, don’t go clothes shopping for your teen without bringing them along for the ride. Even if you’re with your teen every day, you’d be surprised at how quickly your son or daughter will grow. If you go to the store without them, you could end up buying clothes that are too small, and then you have to go through the hassle of going back to the store to return them.

Bringing your teen along can also be a bonding experience. These are moments that you'll treasure forever, even when they leave the house as adults.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Xavier Lorenzo/Shutterstock.com