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The Best Affordable Online Stores for Teen Back-to-School Shopping

Fashion

July 25, 2024

As we near the end of July, our days of sleeping in and going to the pool are coming to an end, and the start of school is slowly creeping up on us. While returning to school may be dreadful, back-to-school shopping can make the experience much more pleasant. Specifically, a new season calls for a new wardrobe, and with the convenience of online shopping, many shopping carts have moved online. Here are my top 6 picks for online stores to craft the perfect teen back-to-school wardrobe!

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Most Affordable: CIDER ($)

Shop CIDER

CIDER has blown up across social media over the past few months for its cheap prices and unique style. What sets it apart from other stores are the “Pick a Mood” and “Trends” buttons that allow customers to shop by mood or current trends. Some examples of moods include “Cool”, “Cute”, “Free”, and “Elegant”.

Trends, such as “In a Bubble” and “Coastal Cowgirl”, follow social media. CIDER's organization makes the shopping experience much easier; you can either sort through tops, bottoms, knitwear, and other categories independently or find all types of garments to build an outfit under a certain mood or trend. With pieces from CIDER, you can go from Rory Gilmore to a K-Pop star in just a quick swap. Be aware, though, that clothing quality is typically hit-or-miss.

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Most Minimalist: H&M ($)

Shop H&M

H&M is one of my favorite brands when it comes to simple clothing, and the quality is decent for the price point. Their newly-released back-to-school collection for ages 9-14 years consists of neutral-colored baggy jorts, pastel sweatshirts, rib-knit tops, and basic tees, some for prices as low as $5. In the women's section, you'll come across some great finds for professional settings, from blouses to cardigans to vests.

pile of black, white, and gray textiles on white padded chair with brown frame

Image Credit: Sarah Dorweiler from Unsplash

Most Ethical: Girlfriend Collective ($$$)

Shop Girlfriend Collective

Girlfriend Collective is essentially a more sustainable alternative to Lululemon. They make size-inclusive, luxurious activewear and intimates from recycled materials, including colorful, sleek leggings, sports bras, sweatshirts, and sleepwear. According to Good on You, the brand uses a medium proportion of lower-impact materials, ensures wastewater in its supply chain is treated and discharged properly, and, through its ReGirlfriend program, accepts pieces from any in any condition to be upcycled into new ones. Girlfriend Collective also prioritizes people, with sizes ranging from 2XS to 6XL. The online shopping experience is made especially accessible by setting options for those with vision impairment, ADHD, cognitive disabilities, and other health conditions.

Most Versatile: Urban Outfitters ($$)

Shop Urban Outfitters

Urban Outfitters is known for its edgy apparel that radiates Y2K and thrifted vibes, but this store extends past clothes. They also sell shoes, bags, home decor, and more. I particularly enjoy their bows and other hair accessories.

If you're looking for a full back-to-school revamp, then Urban Outfitters has what you need. Somewhat like CIDER, Urban Outfitters has sorted some of their products into aesthetics, such as “Coquette aesthetic” under clothing, “Match My Freak” and “Sweetheart Suite” under room decor, and “Viral Beauty Trends” and “Beach Beauty” under beauty.

Free Clothes on the Hangers Stock Photo

Image Credit: Ron Lach from Pexels

Best Quality: Aerie ($$)

Shop Aerie

The sister brand of American Eagle, Aerie is one of the best places to buy comfy fall-aesthetic clothes. There's a reason their crossover flare leggings went viral on TikTok back in 2021. The brand offers high-quality comfortable styles, from cotton hoodies to dolphin-hem terry shorts to fashionable baseball hats. While the items may seem pricy, there are numerous discounts you can apply to your purchases—you can get an extra 25% off each time you refer a friend and they make a first-time purchase!

Free Hoodie Sweaters Hanged on a Clothes Rack Stock Photo

Image Credit: Ron Lach from Pexels

Best Bang-for-Your Buck: Aeropostale ($$)

Shop Aeropostale

Aeropostale is the go-to place for tees, especially with their “Buy 1 get 2 free" tee deal. Now Aeropostale has hopped on the trends, stocking up on Y2K wide-leg jeans, halter tops and more. There are currently great markdowns for back-to-school and amazing clearance prices.

No matter your aesthetic, budget, or timeframe, you'll surely find something just right for you from at least one of these sites. A final hack is to check if the store offers a discount for students, which many stores do if you create a Student Beans or UNiDAYS account and verify your student status. Happy shopping!

Ellie Wen
5,000+ pageviews

Ellie is a high schooler from Virginia. When she's not writing, you can find her studying, reading, playing violin, hitting some tennis, or binging Netflix.

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