Steven Harlem said the only way he could get his son Seth into Sears was to promise him a camouflage shirt. "He loves camouflage," he said.
In department stores and children's specialty shops all over the mall, little girls turned their noses up at frilly dresses, and little boys protested that they had to have the latest look in high-top sneakers - black with day-glo squiggles.
This back-to-school season, denim and plaid are hot, sweaters have to have a crest or logo on them, and purple and green - together - are the cool colors, said Tom Schnider, assistant manager at Gap Kids.
Joanne Russial, customer service superintendent for The Children's Place, said recently that she expected to get a lot busier during the Labor Day weekend. "It seems parents are pushing back" the shopping period, she said. ''It gets later and later every year."
Russial said one of her biggest back-to-school sellers this year is accessories - backpacks, pencil cases, lunch boxes and stuffed cartoon characters. Anything with the California Raisins, Roger Rabbit or the always- popular Mickey Mouse sells.
Russial said the traditional schoolgirl look is back, but it has been
updated with denim touches. Several girls disappeared into store dressing rooms Saturday with denim and plaid mini skirts and matching tops.
Russial said mothers love the plaid skirt and sweater look and like their boys in oxford shirts, with cotton slacks, but their children are opting for jeans or fleece jogging suits.
"Even 4-year-olds know what they want these days," she said.
Jessica Beaulieu, 8, of Abington, knew exactly what she wanted. She went straight to a pair of yellow and black striped pants hanging on a rack in The Children's Place.
Sue Beaulieu complained that it was costing her "a fortune" to get her four children ready to go back to school. "I try to buy a few things on sale now and follow up around holiday time when they need warmer clothes," she said.
