By: Sakina Khawaja, FW Writer

With the last few days before its back to school, parents and their children are highly involved in the season’s busiest shopping craze. Whether you are going back to university or taking some more courses to enhance your skills- back to school shopping can be overwhelming due to the endless choices. Most of us end up with things we don’t really
need and realize what we missed out when we eye a classmate with something much more useful. If you are a student shopping or a parent helping their kid get the right stuff before orientation week, here are a few tips ofhow to tackle this task.

1. Brand New Wardrobe: Don’t over indulge in this section as a lot of your clothes from previous seasons can still be worn. Layer up tees from the summer and accessorize your outfits with maybe a new belt or a piece of statement
jewellery. A few signature pieces you should invest in is a new pair of jeans-a safe bet is always the slim boot cut
because it is the shape that is the most flattering on many body types. Big retail chains such as Wal-mart to designer stores such as Over the Rainbow have a wide selection of jeans for both men and women. Another hot item for the fall
is the scarf. Both guys and gals are wrapping themselves up in scarves adding personal sense of style to the outfit and not mention an excellent pop of colour to a plain combination. From runway to the real deal and endless choices of how to wear your scarf- this new accessory is the must have of the season.

2. Bag Heaven: Nothing says a new school year like a new bag. From messenger bags popular among the male students to a trendy tote- the choice is yours. Fall trends show case the bigger the better but keep your proportions in mind. If you are small built don’t be buried under an oversized bag. Pick something that would work with most of your outfits. Don’t forget convenience- it should be able to carry the load of books and be easy to move around with. Most
stores out there have a selection of bags to pick from at different price points. Investing in a sturdy leather
bag from Danier Leather, which is both classic and stylish. If you love colour and unique brands- check out Winners fall
collection – they always have bags for every style.

3. Savvy Technology: With the new iPhone in the market- it’s the hottest item every student is going for. It has Internet, email, GPS, phone, texting and the list goes on. Whether you are the creative student or a business major- it’s an all-in-one concept that is worth your buck but just be careful to stay in your phone plan minutes because going over them can be pricey. Another great brand for the back-to-school individual is Dell. It can found at all major retail chains or their own booths at most malls in GTA. They are offering personalized notebooks in a variety of colours- if you
are in the market for a new laptop- its cost efficient and pleasing to look at. Of course a key item that all students should have is the USB, available in the form of keychains as well- it’s the best thing for times when you have to print out assignments, do file transfers or stuck with hard drive issues- just plug in and you are ready to go! It can be a lifesaver and should be a must-have on your back to school list.
Happy Shopping!