Cargo and carpenter pants and shorts are what kids will be
wearing as they begin a new school year Monday.
While some have already done their back-to-school shopping, most
of Hollister will be clogging malls and stores this weekend
– the last days of freedom before the school bell rings.
And Target employees are anticipating a big and busy Saturday
and Sunday this weekend.
Cargo and carpenter pants and shorts are what kids will be wearing as they begin a new school year Monday.
While some have already done their back-to-school shopping, most of Hollister will be clogging malls and stores this weekend – the last days of freedom before the school bell rings.
And Target employees are anticipating a big and busy Saturday and Sunday this weekend.
“A lot of people are last-minute shoppers in Hollister,” said Tina Taylor, Target men’s department team leader. “This week, we couldn’t keep up with it all. We’ve had to chase people out of the store at night (this week).”
Trendy clothing for this fall’s students include boxer underwear, zip-off pants/shorts and rugby and Hawaiian shirts for boys; T-shirts, skorts, stretch jeans and clothes with themes like Strawberry Shortcake for girls; screen T-shirts, cargo and carpenter pants and shorts, and sweatshirts for teen-age boys; and screen T-shirts, tank tops, capris and woven shirts are big for teen-age girls. Themes making comebacks are Hello Kitty, Strawberry Shortcake, Power Rangers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Erin Livingston and her two boys like the Hawaiian shirt trend because “they’re nicer than T-shirts.” Even though her sons are young – 3 and 6 – they still have opinions about what they wear.
“I pretty much like the long-sleeve shirts, but we didn’t get any because it’s so hot,” said Jake Livingston, who will be a first-grader at Calaveras School. He also likes jeans, shorts and sweats. Screen T-shirts, which are various colored shirts with cartoons or graphics, are also popular options for teen-agers this year.
“Screen tees sell like crazy,” Taylor said. “There are so many kids who walk in and are oohing and awing at that wall (where the screen tees are located).”
Another trend is Dickies brand work pants. Taylor said the pants are the “biggest item” in her department and she “can’t keep enough” in stock.
Another favorite, despite the warmer-than-usual weather for late August, is hooded sweatshirts for teen-age boys.
Because of the warm weather, Target hasn’t ordered many coats, and short-sleeve shirts, shorts and capris are selling more than pants and sweaters.
“As warm as it has been, no one’s asking for sweaters,” said Laurie Reese, Target boys and girls department team leader. “Usually by now, I have jackets.”
While Target faces competition from the local Kmart, malls in Salinas and San Jose and the outlets in Gilroy, the store is one of the few places to shop for clothes in Hollister.
“I think people would rather buy clothes here because we’re cheaper,” said Marta Soto, Target women’s department team leader.
Back-to-school shopping can be a painful experience for both parents and students, with arguments about what’s appropriate and who’s paying for the clothes. Taylor and Reese agree parents have more control about what clothes are purchased for boys and girls. When students reach their teen years, they are picking out clothes on their own without as much parent involvement, Soto said.
“With boys and girls, the ones saying no are the parents. With teens, they are picky. They’re the ones saying no,” Reese said.
