Maine kids are picking fashions from the 80s when back-to-school shopping, retailer finds

Online retailer Zulily has studied the back-to-school buying habits of its customers and can tell what fashions students across different states prefer. According to the website, everything old is new again — styles from the 70s, 80s and 90s are popular in various places around the country.

The decade Maine students were most likely to reach back to? The 1980s, according to Zulily, which notes that the most-bought item by back-to-school shoppers from this state are 80s-style leggings.

That said, it seems the Maine kids are diverse in their fashion choices.

From the 1970s catalog, they’re buying floral casual dresses more than any other item from that decade, and they’re picking up a fair amount of sweatshirts and hoodies harkening back to the 1990s grunge era, as well.

How about the more recent 00s? Maine students are buying tank tops that draw to mind the skater chic look made popular by “Complicated” singer Avril Lavigne.

Keep in mind, this is just information gathered by one particular online clothing retailer, and many — if not most — Maine students and their parents still do their back-to-school clothes shopping in person at brick-and-mortar stores in their neighborhoods.

The Maine Mall in South Portland has a back-to-school style guide by fashion and parenting blogger Christina Coker posted on its website, for reference.

Coker writes that overalls, brightly colored high tops and well-worn denim are top choices this year, among other things.