For many of today's students, going to school in style can be just as important as getting an education.

Area malls and shops are gearing up for swarms of youths - and their parents with deep pockets - looking for the latest fashions. Among the hot items this year are sagging pants for boys and low-rise jeans and graphic T-shirts for girls.

"(I'm looking for) just name brand clothes and stuff that's in," said Chad Eckrich, 14, of Tiffin, who was shopping with his stepfather, Tom McDonald, Thursday morning at Coral Ridge Mall. "It's just something I like."

Sami Soukup, 16, of Iowa City shopped with her brother, Neal, 14, and friend Jenna Espey, 16, Wednesday. They said they looked mainly for jeans.

"It doesn't really matter (what type) as long as they fit," said Soukup, who will be a junior at City High. "That's mainly it for me. I've got most of the other stuff at home."

Having the money to pay for the clothes can help as well. Nationally, students spent an average of $527 on new clothes, according to the American Express Retail Index, with $426 of that coming from parents.

Soukup said she expected to get about $100 from her parents to pay for new clothes. McDonald said he expected to spend between $200 and $300 before the shopping is through.

"Then he's going into high school," McDonald said, "so he's going to have all the athletic equipment. Shoes and those kinds of things."

Factoring in a school's dress code plays a big part for students figuring out what clothes to buy. Erin Schneider and Carly McClary, both 13 and eighth-graders at Regis Middle School in Cedar Rapids, looked for collared shirts and khaki pants, required by the Catholic school's dress code. However, they said they had some issues in finding what they needed at the mall.

"We can't wear logos," McClary said. "Most of the shirts we see have logos on them."

Dress code will be enforced at Iowa City's two public high schools, particularly at City High, principal Mark Hanson said. Under the dress code, backless, strapless and halter-style shirts are banned, as well as low baggy jeans and anything that exposes a bare midriff. Last year, 40 students were sent home in the first week of classes to change clothes.

"It is a big issue here, and we have to enforce it," Hanson said. "(School) is a place where learning goes on. Dressing the part is part of the deal."

West High principal Jerry Arganbright asked for parents' help in enforcing the dress code.

"They need to help us with some common sense things," he said. "How much body is covered?"

For now, though, youths and their parents try to keep summer going just a little while longer. Deborah Segaloff of Iowa City walked around Coral Ridge Mall Thursday with her daughter,Ascoli, 11.

"We haven't really done back-to-school shopping yet," Segaloff said. "It hasn't hit us yet that the summer's coming to an end."

Segaloff said they tend to do their school shopping in spurts, depending on what is needed by growing children.

"(We've looked) at some jeans," she said. "We tend to buy as the kids outgrow what they have or if they need things, we'll get them."