Actually, a fellow I used to work for was walking with his six-year-old son (well, they WERE walking on the nude beach, but it’s contiguous with the not-nude beach and they’d just overrun their usual mileage) when they ran across the son’s teacher, lying nude on the aforesaid nude beach.

Awk-waaaaaard!

What do you say? “Nice seeing you?” Subsequent parent-teacher meetings are guaranteed to be livelier. “Haven’t seen much of you lately” would work for the occasion…

Ahhh, that time is coming, if not already here. Yes, the time to ponder what the heck you are going to buy your kids for their back to school wardrobes.

So for the next few weeks, I’m introducing a new feature where I focus on trendy back to school clothes, done two ways. Er, well, sometimes even three if I can swing it. And today, I can indeed swing three versions of the same concept in three different price ranges. Let’s get to it!

80’s influences are back, baby! And that means, of all things, argyle! Doesn’t it just take you back?

Lilly Pulitzer Kids Girl’s Darcie Cardigan Soft cotton cardigan comes with front pocket detail, rib trim, and contrast elbow patches. Tres cute at $68.00.

GapKids girl’s Argyle cardigan A little sparkle goes a long way with this cotton sweater, perfect for layering, $34.50.

Old Navy girl’s patterned polo Granted, it isn’t a sweater, but at $12.00, you will have plenty of money left over to buy some turtlenecks to stick under it.