Borrow your dad’s gigantic wooly sweater and wear it over the shortest kilt you can find. Try to get it so the hem only just peeks out from under the sweater.
Kate Moss on the cover of Mademoiselle, 1993
Thrift an old lunchbox to carry your pencils and other school junk around in.
From glasspanic and ZucchiniFlourVintage, both on Etsy
Style your hair into a nice, big ’60s ponytail and stick your favorite badges in the poufy part.
Camille Rowe by Tim Barber for Opening Ceremony
Wear knee socks with everything! You can cut them from an old pair of tights, or get the slouchy old-lady kind from the drugstore for 99 cents – they look great with a cute skirt and flats. Black knees socks and a leather jacket bring your favorite summer dress into fall, white knee socks give a little plaid jumper a schoolgirl vibe.
Street style from StreetPeeper, Kløver
Tie an old belt around your schoolbooks like kids used to in the dark ages before book bags. Your brother’s old brown belt will look very classic ’50s Ivy League; bonus points if you can find one of the crazy neon rubber ones they made in the ’60s.
Present & Correct, Jack Spade x K-Swiss, and the Book Belt
Speaking of book bags, never buy one from a regular store. Army/Navy surplus stores have a million awesome bags that are sturdy and dirt cheap.
From Nemres on Etsy
Plaid might as well be the official pattern of fall. Go all in and wear clashing plaids like Drew and these stylish ladies.
Drew Barrymore by Mert and Marcus for Pop magazine, 2008
Street style from Streetstyle Aesthetic and StreetPeeper
Have some school spirit for once and get a varsity jacket in the school colors. If you don’t play a sport they can almost always be found in the men’s section of the thrift store for super cheap. They look great when they fit nice and loose, worn with a pair of skinny jeans, and your hair hanging in your face just so people know you haven’t totally gone Spirit Week.
Supreme, Mj Sistare and DaVinci Sistare of Bows & Roses, Christian Slater and Milla Jovovich
Bronny from Fat-Aus.com
Even if you don’t have to wear a school uniform, you can put together amazing outfits at a uniform supply store (for incredibly cheap). Try wearing a knife-pleat miniskirt with a little shrunken polo, or a Peter Pan-collar blouse with an a-line jumper. You can carry a plaid pencil case as a clutch!
Picture day in Heavenly Creatures and The Virgin Suicides
If you have a little brother, definitely raid his closet for the blazer he wore to your aunt’s wedding when he was 11. It’ll look perfectly shrunken and cute on you. Put your favorite pins all over the lapel and wear it with a big scarf, shirt buttoned all the way to the top, and close-fitting khakis or jodhpurs.
Life magazine archives, Balenciaga Fall 2007
Saddle shoes are the cutest and most classic shoe you can wear with any sort of schoolgirlish look. The school uniform store should be able to help you out here, or you can do what I once did in a pinch and take a black Sharpie to a pair of basic white canvas sneaks.
Ad for Prince's Controversy LP, Life magazine cover photo by Nina Leen
Audrey Horne's signature saddles shoes on Twin Peaks
If you’re the arty-crafty type then swap out your regular shoelaces for a piece of yarn. It looks extra cute when the yarn starts to fray and get all fuzzy. You can also tie a same-colored piece of yarn around your ponytail, but only if you want to be the most adorable girl in school.
From Yokoo's Flickr
On the subject of berets, many are deeply divided. To them I say, gaze upon the luscious mohair tam of Bridget Hall, the detention-worthy black beanies of Linda Evangelista and Christy Turlington, and be won over forever.
Bridget Hall, Linda Evangelista and Christy Turlington by Steven Meisel from Vogue Italia, 1994
I loved this! Thanks, I really needed some inspiration.
Log in to replyIf my uniform wasn’t so totally strict, i would totally wear this stuff!
Log in to replyFinally!!! Cute school-appropriate unique pieces!
Log in to replyI love old school lunch-boxes… All these ideas are great, I wish I could actually use them! *glares at school uniform*
Log in to replylove these so much!!!!!
Log in to replytotally gonna try varsity jacket and yarn thing, and whatever else i can that fits in dress code.
love the berets and the whole school girl vibe.
totally replacing the blazer with my cardigan, though. my cardigan has elbow patches.
I’m unschooled.. This post definitely made me want to go to school (preferably one with all of my blogger idols in and that constantly plays music by no doubt).
Log in to replyi love the school girl look! this magazine rocks, keep it up!
Log in to replyAbsolutley love all these new ideas for my closet. Finally, a way I can be unique and not look like all the other weird unfashionable monkey see monkey do middle schoolers!
Log in to replylove it!
Log in to replyI think this website is very good and I find the articles interesting, but could you be a bit more realistic with the style pieces. I know this website isn’t geared to the “everyday teen” and more towards the “outcast”. In no way am I trying to change this to Seventeen magazine, but c’mon. No teen in their right mind would wear this unless is was 1994. Maybe the varsity jacket and oxfords because those are kind of cool now cause they sell them at major stores like H&M. But everything else looks kind of played out.
Log in to reply@Beejuice — We’re not geared toward the “everyday teen” or the “outcast,” but I do think there’s a bit of something for everyone here — kneesocks and blazers for the more conservative, lunchbox as a purse for the more experimental, maybe. But “no teen in their right mind”? Let’s not generalize here, or make anyone feel bad for liking this.
Log in to replyIf the aesthetic feels played out to you, well, it’s September. We’re embracing back-to-school and teen movie vibes! And recreating them with DIY and thrifting ideas. It doesn’t have to be at H&M to be stylish, and tons of sites and magazines already offer up shopping lists of stuff to buy at those kinds of stores if that’s what you were looking for. Truthfully, I think it’s more stylish (and affordable) to put things together yourself!
I need to go to Goodwill. I always go in looking for new brand names and get stuck feeling uncreative and unhappy. I love how inspiring Rookie Mag is. I anticipate each new posting.
Log in to replyLove it… but that’s not Leah of Full Nilson, that’s Bronny (from Fat Aus) :)
Log in to replyAH! Thank you! Got it from a post somewhere on Tumblr that linked to Leah’s blog, poor double-checking on my part. I just thought she’d shaved her head was all! Will change now!
Log in to reply1. I dress SOMEWHAT like this.
2. I need to dress like this.
3. Here’s the thing: at my school, wearing a school varsity jacket is like wearing pants. So…no.
Log in to replyGreat ideas! Knee socks for the second day of school it is, thanks Leeann! And thank you Tavi for bringing this wonderful site together. Excuse me while I go and read every article obsessively.
Log in to replyI can hear the saddle shoes calling my name! (“Toiiiilets, toiiiiilets!”)
@Beejuice – Plaids, knee high socks and blazers are also pretty popular at the mo’ and sold in all the high street shops where I live. But things don’t have to be sold in H&M to be worth wearing. Jus’ sayin’.
Log in to replyLOVE THISSSS!!! <3
Log in to replyEEK, SADDLE SHOES<3 I have a high-heeled pair but I'm really tall as is so I tend to save them for special occasions.
Log in to replyIt makes me wanna go to school again. I’m jealous of all freshmans! Anyway, it’s awesome. I love all about these.
Log in to replyLove this, can’t wait till college. Be walking around with my books with a belt ;D and of course I’ll be rocking the plaid. Love plaid haha. Great article :)
Log in to replyI love all of this! Very few of my classmates dress super fashionably, so sometimes I am hesitant to go all out on my outfits, but I am just so excited by today’s styles that I am going to go for it! Thanks for the great inspiration and congrats, Tavi, on getting this site started! I LUV IT—Rookie is the perfect blend of fashion, culture, and fantastic writing!
Log in to replyI love all of these, I can’t wait to try them out! This is just the kind of thing I need to inspire me on the first day of school. I’m really loving Rookie so far, and the posting schedule is GREAT, it’s so fun to have something to look forward to after school. Keep up the great work, everyone!
Log in to replyGrrrrrrrrrrreat editorial! I absolutely loved it! A child at <3, I'd sport any of these!!! Adorable, well done!!!
Log in to replyTavi, I love this!
Log in to replyI agree with you, as well. I think it’s way more affordable to buy clothes second-hand and put outfits together yourself! I much prefer communicating my inspirations through the clothes I wear, and doing it at a low cost? Best!
Leeann this is fantastic!! Going to change my outfit today, ha..
Log in to replygreaaaatt job with this article and this website! Im obsessed and so far I have adored every single post. I love these looks!! <3
Log in to reply@Beejuice I would totally (and already do ) wear all these things!! Great post!!
Log in to replyi loved this article! great inspirations and I’m definately trying out the plaid and oversized sweater combo. also loved the clashing plaids!
Log in to replyI LOVED this post. So many great ideas. I might not put pins in the ponytail, but I’d definitely like to try doing some sort of up do like that. Only problem, my undercut is at the grossest stage of growing out. ever. the website is going great! loving everything about it.
Log in to replyThis is the grooviest thing that’s happened to me. Thanks for making my day! I want to try all of it..!
Log in to replyToo bad I go to private school. I love all the 50′s stuff that’s on here.
Log in to replyGlad to know I’m not the only one who loves the oldies.
Bronny is my style queen, body acceptance role model and actual real life friend. I am so, so happy to see her in this xlnt article!
Log in to replyaaaggggghhh i’m in love. in. love. (and inspired!)
Log in to replyLoved this so much! Thaaaaanks
Log in to replyThe yarn is such a lovely idea.
Log in to replyyour article is very good and reminded me of old times, as those are not mine, nor yours lolo
I enjoyed it a lot, but now…. I love ♥ ♥ ♥
greetings from mexico ♥
Log in to replyI think what’s so great about this whole thing is that there’s a bit of every decade in here. Teens wore some of this in the 40′s (when the idea of a teenager was invented!), then the 50′s and 60′s, definitely in the 80′s (big 50′s throwback in that decade) and plaid kilts were DEFINITELY big in the 90′s, as we all know! There is really retro, teenage iconic look in ever style tip here. In fact, this school girl vibe might me the most timeless look ever! Live on, schoolgirl vibes!
Log in to replyRarely does a magazine/website get me to jump up and run to my closet upon reading the article, but here, the use of almost entirely retro photos to create a moodboard-esque setup is really intriguing. Just found two really cute (and comfy) chunky sweaters in poppa’s closet, which I’ll wear with short skirts and my mother’s hand-me-down leather knee-high boots. Digging the website.
Log in to replyThanks for some new style inspiration, especially the thing about wearing badges as barrettes! I have a *ton* of them and not enough things to pin them to. I’m not totally sure that it will work because I have short hair and can’t wear a ponytail to hold them in, but I’m sure as hell gonna try because it means I suddenly have about 50 new barrettes!
Log in to replythe school girl/teen movie vibe is so inspiring! love this whole article–starting tomorrow there will be buttons all up in my hair.
Log in to replyYou people are wonderful.
Log in to reply<3Lovely
Oh man, stop it! You’re making me wanna go back to school!
Hmmm…I’ve gotta think of a reason to carry a bunch of books now.
Log in to replyHistory makes the clothes so much more appealing. I love how all of them are not based on flighty trends, but stories. You can immediately feel an intrinsic connection with clothes from the past (a.k.a. nostalgia). Lovely. I absolutely loved the supplemental photos as well.
Log in to replySince when is any teen “in their right mind”?
Log in to replycrying tears of happiness + plaid
dying a little over the belted books <3
Log in to replyThere’s definitely a Sylvia Plath vibe in here! I like it :-)
Log in to replyI really want to try the lunchbox idea – already raiding my kitchen cupboard for my old one from when I was six!
Log in to replyI would wear this! That’s if my teacher’s wouldn’t freak whenever they see a miniskirt.
Also my ponytails are always big bushy ones, if I wanted anything less I’d have to cut off my hair! The badges are an idea though.
Log in to replyReally awesome article, I love everything! I think it’s great that you encourage people to buy from thrift stores, rather than buying from regular stores. Not that I don’t do it myself, but the reason I stopped buying regular magazines was because they kept telling me I needed this dress/cosmetic/shoe in order to make my life better and to stop being such an ugly, pathetic mess. This article is what fashion should be about, having fun playing around with certain looks, rather than feeling inadequate unless you posses certain items or look a certain way.
I’m at University right now, but I was saying to my friend how I wished this existed 5 years ago for us when we were teenagers in High School. All magazines that existed were patronising and totally void of inspiration. I used to buy old issues of Sassy instead, and the whole vibe of Rookie Mag reminds me of that. Bravo Tavi and co, you’ve done an amazing job!
Log in to replyAww you’re making me relive my youth! I’m 28 so well out of my teens but i love this website. Having a Christian Slater moment right now, so am gonna watch Kuffs again for the first time in over 10 years after work.
Log in to replyP.s: how beautiful does Drew look in that picture, i love her haircolour!
Sorry if someone has already said this – the url linked to for ‘Streetpeeper.com’ (below the two mismatched plaid pics) has been spelt wrong. The link takes you to Streetpepper – which apparently exists only for link revenue from people trying to get to Street Peeper but spelling it wrong:)
Log in to replyi’m completely hooked on this website already and now want to start wearing school uniforms.
i’m 22 soon, i may look peculiar x
Log in to replyThis website is right what teenage girls needed.. I’m in love with it and I’m following all the steps to become a perfect teenage girl ;) fashion way!
Log in to reply@ R – thank you! Fixed it. Not sure I want to know what “Street Pepper” would be…
Log in to replyThe yarn idea is amazing, I am going to do it with all my lace up shoes! Next time, DIY platform boots, lol
Log in to replyOh all this stuff is so adorable! At the moment I’m totally in love with knee socks and uniform skirts. Next time I’ll go downtown I have to buy some.
Log in to replyAmazing ideas!!!! I’m printing/sharing with everyone I know.
Log in to replyI’m somewhat suspicious of the tone of this article. It sometimes takes on that authoritative do-this-not-that attitude of the Seventeens and Teen Vogues I feel that this website attempts to subvert.
e.g.
“Never buy [a backpack] from a regular store”
“Saddle shoes are the cutest and most classic shoe you can wear with any sort of schoolgirlish look”
And it’s the fact that it encourages responses like these that concerns me:
“Finally, a way I can be unique and not look like all the other weird unfashionable monkey see monkey do middle schoolers!”
Just something to consider in future installments of this otherwise great column. (I really did enjoy the yarn shoelace thing)
Log in to replyHi, Harry! I appreciate that you expect better from us than you do from most teen media – that means a lot and we hope to live up to your expectations.
We call this column “Because You Can” because it’s Leeann’s ideas for things you CAN do. Not directives for what you SHOULD do. We mean for it to be inspirational, not prescriptive.
Thank you for bringing this up; this is the kind of thing we are thinking about all of the time.
Log in to replyOh myyyyy I want to go shopping NOW!
I loved this. Usually I don’t like reading articles about what to wear because I like to choose myself, but this was just lots of ideas and inspiration, no fixed items.
I just need some money. I don’t have any. And this is where this whole “I want to go shopping” thing ends.
Log in to replyloved this! thank you!
Log in to replyBecause of this article, I dug out my “9th grade” plaid kilt, which I bought back in 1994 to kick off my high-school career. Today I paired it with a white button down shirt, black tights, and a religious bracelet and went off to work feeling the “school girl” vibes. It was the best feeling fashion day I’ve had in a while.
To protect myself from the weather, I wore my green Army jacket and black rain boots and felt like the coolest dude who ever duded :)
Thanks for the inspiration!
Log in to replyLove the yarn idea! And I need to get some knee socks now… for sure. I love how you guys are sharing all these cheap sources, because most articles don’t do that. It’s refreshing.
Log in to replyI was convinced that this was a joke. Then I read the comments… What?
Log in to replyInspired. And I had just Googled Elastica and Kim Gordon, so the nineties vibes are out there!
Log in to replyMy GOSH!! I LOVE the schoolgirl chic inspirations with the smorgasboard of plaid, hair clips, chunky knits and saddle shoes! Oh man, everything I saw there is definitely worth instant drooling!! Thanks Leeann, I really need some new inspiration for my outfits. :)
Log in to replyThis article reminds me of the British magazine Jackie, which I used to read back in the day…
When pluck, inventiveness, humour and loyalty were publicly valued attributes in teen girls.
Congratulations, Tavi and all.
Log in to replysadly (perhaps?), what i wear to class is half the fun of my education…
–instead of an elephant
Log in to replyHaving attended catholic school for two years, even the thought of wearing a schoolgirly get-up gives me the trembles, but I applaud anyone still rocking this look even out of their school years. If I personally go preppy I like a more menswear style- blazers, oxfords, tweed vests, etc. The using yarn as shoelaces idea, though? Totally stealing it.
Log in to replythis is so far my favourite feature in Rookie, I can’t wait till next month! Keep it up!
Log in to replywore knee socks today yey!
Log in to replyI’ve been lamenting the fact that I wear a uniform to school every day for years now. Well, until I realized there were small infractions I could get away with like putting studs on the bottom of my skirt and wearing slightly different knee socks than everybody else (gasp!)
This post is spectacular and sort of got me stoked to put back on my blazer and polo. And yarn for shoelaces?! BRILLIANT!
Thanks for spicing up the lives of the girls who don’t have that many exciting wardrobe decisions to make in the morning!
Log in to replyI got a pair of vintage Bass saddle shoes for $18 at Buffalo Exchange, if any of you live in a city with a Buffalo Exchange, GO THERE ALL THE TIME. I sell my out of season stuff there and that’s how I got my saddle shoes:)
Log in to replyI have to confess I’m significantly above the target audience age having been a teen during the original riot grrl movement in the late 90s. That said, there is a huge part of me that wants to go grab my sticker collaged Spottie Dottie lunch box, knee socks, doc martens and thrifted 50s slip skirts out of storage and join back in the resurgence of this whole neo-riot grrl movement. This article totally had me nostalgic and I’m so excited to read the Bratmobile interview. Bravo ladies!
Log in to replyThis is such a great project. I wish ROOKIE was around when I was a teenager, doesn’t mean I won’t still enjoy it thoroughly now though at 22. Can I submit some of my photos and artwork? or is that just creepy?
Log in to replyAll the best!
H
@Hannysea: Email submissions@rookiemag.com.
Log in to replyThis is officially my new favorite site :) I’ll be coming back here time in time again. This is perfect inspiration. GREAT JOB! :D
Log in to replyI love these ideas.
Log in to replyI think something about the format turns me off from actually using them as inspiration.
I would feel unoriginal and it would take away part of how you feel when you wear something unique.
I do love the site though. It just feels like something sacred is being exposed and used up.
those Opening Ceremony pictures with the badges on the ponytails were GORGEOUS!
Log in to replyLOVE the whole Virgin Suicides reference, good times.
Log in to replyDefinitely gonna use the yarn idea. Such a cute, subtle way to spruce up some Keds or Docs. And going crazy over the Present&Correct website <3
I really like this website so far, and also appreciate that the style guides seem to take into account how much extra money a teen girl would realistically have. (something many publications fall to acknowledge.)
Log in to replyGreat <3
Log in to replyawesome! and very useful :)
Log in to replyI am a boy and i am still gonna do this there such creative ideas well i guess it does not matter that i am a boy since i dress like a girl :P
Log in to replykate’s plaits! fantastic
Log in to reply