It's back to school time again and your teenage daughter is heading into high school. This could mean it's time for a whole new wardrobe. Many teen girls can't face a new school with old clothes. That would be a disaster! So it's off shopping for you. A common problem for many parents is that popular teen styles don't meet school dress code regulations. So how do you compromise and buy clothing that suits the school's standards and fits her style at the same time?

There is hope and it starts with careful planning. The best time to go back to school shopping for clothing is a couple weeks before the new school year begins. Teen girls have a tendency of changing their mind often when it comes to clothes and if you buy too early, she may not want the same thing by the time school actually starts. This will also give her a chance to see what her friends will be wearing and this is very important to a teenage girl. 

Before You Shop

One of the first things that you need to do before you take your teen shopping is to find out what the dress code for the school will be. Schools have to be strict with the dress code and they will send students home if they break the rules. Skirts and dresses must be a certain length. Normally, tank tops, spaghetti straps and T-shirts with designs and logos that could be offensive to some are not allowed in the schools. Get a complete list of what is and is not accepted in her school before you go shopping.

You should also set a budget before you head out to the stores. Let her know the amount of money you have set aside for shopping and that you cannot go over your budget. The more expensive clothing that she buys will result in fewer items. This will discourage her from insisting on that $ 60 pair of jeans when she could get two pair of another brand for the same amount of money.

Explain to your teen daughter that if she buys clothing that can't be worn to school she is going to end up wearing last year's clothes again. This will help discourage some of the spaghetti straps and tank tops. However, this doesn't mean that she can't pick out a few of these cute little tops as long as she buys something to wear underneath. Layering is very popular these days and the perfect solution to this problem. With the right shirt underneath for full coverage she can wear spaghetti straps and similar pieces of clothing to school without a problem.

Think About Comfort

You can't always buy what looks good hanging on the rack in the store. You have to take the comfort of your daughter into consideration. Therefore, she should try on the clothes before you buy them. If something makes her feel uncomfortable you might as well put it back and move on to something else. If you buy it anyway, it will end up in the back of her closet or tucked away in a drawer never to be seen again. Trying on clothes first will also eliminate buying something she is in love with until she sees herself in it. 

Another thing that you need to consider is the weather. Although the schools try to regulate the temperature to keep things comfortable, in reality this doesn't always happen. Kids are at school for the majority of the day. Some days her classroom may be extremely hot and other times it may be too cold. One classroom may be stuffy and hot while another one is freezing. It is for this reason that she will need some thin summertime clothing plus a warm but lightweight jacket she can easily slip on and off depending on the temperature of the classroom.

Make back to school clothes shopping with your teen daughter a fun and enjoyable experience. Take a break and buy some lunch or have a milkshake together. Talk to her about the different styles she likes and let her show you what she wants. It's time she created her own style but at the same time, you are there to make sure her style is suited for school. If you take your time, shop around and look for clothing that is stylish, acceptable, comfortable and affordable both of you will be happy and ready for this school year.