Amanda Fulkerson

State Hornet

Lately I have been having sweet memories of back to schoolshopping. The pictures dance in my head like a montage of’90s fashion. The newest in Guess? jeans, the latest AirJordan sneaker, T-shirts and blouses galore &- all laid out onmy bed waiting to get the tags cut off, and all paid for bymom.

Times have changed, and now back to school means tuition, books,parking fees and supplies. Mom stopped picking up the bill longago, and I’m stuck with decisions such as whether to buy thePhilosophy textbook or that great new Coach bag I’ve beeneyeing at the mall.

Lucky for us students, there are ways to stretch our dollarsinto school necessities and fall wardrobe essentials.

Knowing where to shop is important. You don’t need to goto major department stores to find great designer label items. On arecent trip to Marshall’s department store &- 1250 HoweAvenue &- I spotted clothes and accessories by Tommy Hilfiger,Nike and Baby Phat for less than $20.

Ross department store &- 2400 Watt Avenue &- isanother retail chain that carries a wide variety of designer labelshoes, clothes, handbags and sunglasses. According to sales clerksat both stores, they receive shipments three to four times a weekand are currently focusing on stocking “trendy” itemsfor back to school.

For men who love designer labels, the lesser-known BurlingtonCoat Factory &- 5601 Florin Road &- specializes in”urban” sportswear such as Sean John, Polo Sport andEcko Unltd brands. And you thought they just sold coats.

A recent trend in fashion marketing to look for is celebritydesigners who are creating price conscious lines for lower-enddepartment stores.

Former Chanel designer Isaac Mizrahi lends his line of ladiesfashions to Target, and an inexpensive line of junior clothes byMary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are available at Wal-Mart. Star Jones ofthe popular talk show The View, endorses Payless Shoes’ lineof cheap, and surprisingly cute sandals.

The real bargain shopper will find a thrill in searching thriftor second hand stores for unique finds to add to his or herwardrobe. Thrift stores carry men’s and women’sclothing in a variety of styles and sizes. These stores can alsoserve as a source of cash flow by having the store sell your oldclothes for you. One popular second hand store is CrossroadsTrading Company &- 2935 Arden Way &- and with locationssuch as their Melrose Avenue store in Los Angeles, Crossroadsstrives to be one of the most chic second hand stores. In fact,don’t even think about trying to sell them your clothes fromjunior high. Crossroads’ buyers will only accept”current and stylish” clothing that’s in goodcondition. Their selectivity allows you to pick up cool T-shirts,jeans and even shoes and accessories at a fraction of the newcost.

The Goodwill &- 2265 Arden Way &- can also be a sourceof surprising finds. Near campus, this Goodwill has a hugefurniture department in the rear of the store if you are looking tofurnish a new apartment or dorm room. It also has a large selectionof clothes that are all hung in color coordinating sections.

While discount department stores and thrift stores are excellentsources of fashion treasures, your own closet may also holdexcellent findings.

The most cost effective way to keep up with new styles is tosimply alter or update items you already own. Visit a local fabricstore such as Jo-Ann Fabrics & Crafts &- 3130 Arden Way&- and invest in a pair of fabric scissors. Use them to turnboring T-shirt necklines into girly v-necks, make tapered anklesinto boot cut, or that dull knee length jean skirt into a mini.

While you’re at the craft store pick up a couple yards ofdifferent colored wide ribbon to create an inexpensive version ofthe hot new ribbon belt.

The key to looking fabulous on a tight budget is finding abalance between inexpensive pieces and your wardrobe staples. Agood rule of thumb is to spend more on wardrobe pieces that areclassic and will last for years, spend less on trendy pieces thatwill just be collecting dust come spring semester.

With back to school expenses increasing each semester,it’s essential to know where to shop this semester. A littlecreativity is all you need to look great for back to school, evenon a student budget.