Fashion Trends: Stylish and Affordable Tween Fashion

Summer's coming, and that means beach time, summer vacations, and parties. For a typical tween girl (ages 8-12), that means one thing: new clothes!

Wait - don't sigh! Buying affordable name-brand clothing for your tween is easier than you think, especially if you take advantage of the deep discounts and clearance items that many popular teen clothing stores often have.

But before you start shopping for your tween, here are a few things to consider:

1. Who's their style icon?

Think about your tween's favorite musician, actress, or athlete - often tweens love modeling their styles after celebs like Miley Cyrus (Hannah Montana), Raven Symone (That's so Raven), and Gwen Stefani (No Doubt). Tweens often look to these trendsetters for their cues in what's hot for fashion - but use discretion, some styles may be inappropriate for this age range.

2. Watch the cuts.

Take a trip into any department store and you'll notice that even in the tween section, the jeans are getting lower, the shorts are getting shorter, and the shirts are getting skimpier. Keep an eye out for jeans that are "super low" and "low-low rise." One solution is to layer on the clothing - pair low rise jeans with a long tank top, a short-sleeve shirt on top, then a vest or sweater for the finale. Plus layering offers your tween more ways to express style without sacrificing modesty.  Levi's jeans are a great brand for classic, tasteful looks.

3. Know the brands.

Tweens are definitely brand conscious, so get to know the names before shopping. Here are some top tween brands & stores:

Old Navy Girls

Guess Girls

Mossimo

Nike Girls

Limited Too

Baby Phat Girls

Disney

Gap Girls

Billabong Girls

Paul Frank Girls

4. Let them accessorize.

Luckily, tween accessories tend to be on the affordable side, so why not let them dress up their outfit with a piece of jewelry or some sunglasses? The Watch it Kit is a great pick, allowing girls to choose from a variety of watchband styles and colors.  Charm necklaces under $30 are sure to delight your tween, and so will inexpensive sunglasses like those from the  Gap girls line, which run less than $10.