Platform shoes came and went. Butterfly clips flew away, and jean outfits went out the window as fast as racer jackets.

Styles come and go so quickly, it’s hard to know what is in or out. From low-rise jeans to pleated skirts and sport jerseys to polo shirts; fashion is always changing. But some fashions never die out.

A lot of fashions are coming back from generations ago. Off the shoulder shirts and sweaters, popular in the eighties, are now back in style. Ponchos, from the seventies, are back and more people are sporting their initials and entire names on clothing and accessories.

Cartoon favorites, old and new, are beginning to appeal more to teenagers. Most people try to stray away from the Disney and cartoon characters when they reach their junior high years. But, by the time they reach high school, they are drawn back to characters such as Sponge Bob, Cookie Monster, Hello Kitty, the Simpsons and Rainbow Brite.

Teenagers are wearing backpacks, shirts and other clothing with pictures of their favorite cartoon character. While some might consider this childish, it is being seen more and more.

Bright colors are also a big hit among teenagers this year. The most popular color that guys and girls are wearing is pink! Yes, even the guys are pulling off pale and hot pink shirts and hats.

Turquoise, yellow, orange and lime green are also colors that teenagers are starting to make common in their closets. To add even more color to their outfits, girls are wearing tropical flowers in their hair.

Another trend is mixing and matching different styles. This year punk and hip-hop clothing is coming together to make a statement. While everyone thought that these styles would stay separate, because of their vast differences, it is becoming more popular for people to experiment and combine Sean John Clothing and Etnies Shoes.

With every type of outfit, matching shoes are necessary. Chinese slippers are perfect because they come in many different colors and are very affordable. For guys, Chuck Taylors are the ideal shoe because they also have a variety of colors to choose from.

But when it is time to dress up a pair of jeans, girls will opt for Air Force One stiletto boots, while guys will chose a pair of Timberlands.
In 2004, teenagers are bolder in the way they dress and are gaining more confidence in their style.

For comfort and individuality teenagers, chose to wear clothing that says something about who they are and what they are interested in. Instead of following the crowd, teenagers are not afraid to experiment and introduce new and original trends.

No matter what, it is always safe to grab a hat. Hats, whether they are sports caps or trucker hats, never seem to go out of style.

BAMMA is a summer journalism camp for high school students coordinated by the Center for Integration and Improvement of Journalism through the journalism department at SF State. For more information or comments on BAMMA, please contact Cristina Azocar.