After Christmas, the back-to-school season is the second-biggest shopping event of the year. August is that season.

Most high schools begin school Aug. 28, 29 or 30. St. Dom’s began Aug. 20.

What high schoolers wear to school and how they look is very important, students say. It makes a statement about them, shows their style.

Hoodies, soft zipper sweatshirts with hoods, are still a must this school year, according to students. So are jeans: snug fit for girls, loose for boys.

Girls are still in love with long, snug T-shirts, some that are layered or camisole-styled fronts. Also hot are feminine baby doll-styled tops that feature empire waistlines.

Boys still love big, baggy shorts with loads of pockets. Many wear their shorts even in December, January and February.

Mandy Roberts, sales manager for women’s clothing at JC Penney, said this year high schoolers are going for a vintage look. Clothing that looks “like they’ve been worn before,” Roberts said.

Tops for girls and boys are long and layered. Another hot-selling line of clothes is from the World Wildlife Federation, which helps to preserve endangered animals. The clothing features the WWF’s logo. “This generation is thinking more green,” Roberts said.

What they’re wearing

Kelsi-Rae Moreshead, Edward Little junior – the feminine look.

This fall Kelsi-Rae, 16, says no heels in school. “They’re not comfortable,” she said.

You will see her in ballerina-styled shoes and flip-flops. She loves flip-flops. “I wear them as long as I can. Sometimes in the winter.”

A mainstay of her school wardrobe will be long, fitted T-shirts featuring a camisole-styled top. Over her shirts, she’ll wear hoodies.

Kelsi-Rae’s pick in colors for tops tend to be pink and purple. “I definitely like the bright colors.” Feminine polka dots is another of her favorites.

For pants, she’s shopping for Capris and sweat pants. She’s not a jeans girl.

She likes plaid or khaki-colored Capris. Her sweats are soft and hug at the waist.

Occasionally, Kelsi-Rae wears skirts, and she does enjoy feeling feminine in long dresses, the more frilly the better.

Jewelry and handbags are a must to complete her look. “I love necklaces, big and long ones usually to match my tops.” There’s no such thing as too many handbags. “I have a lot of purses,” including two in polka dots.

Kelsi-Rae’s shopping haunts: JC Penney, Fashion Bug, Payless.

Alex Brochu, 15, sophomore at Lewiston High School – preppy

Alex has discovered he likes “nice clothes” in brands like Nike and Jordan. “I think I look good in them,” he said.

He looks for polo shirts, “not too bright and flashy, but I don’t like dull.” He doesn’t like black. Too boring. Alex prefers shirts in browns and blues.

For pants, Alex wears lots of cargo shorts to school, even when the snow falls. “It doesn’t matter. I don’t get cold,” he said.

For long pants, he likes jeans, blue, baggy and loose.

How he looks at school “is very important,” Alex said. “You can’t walk around looking like a scrub.” No rolling out of bed and grabbing anything. He puts time into picking out what he’ll wear, and into grooming. “I probably take an hour in the morning getting ready.”

Alex’s shopping haunts: Abercrombie & Fitch, American Eagle.

Christine Royles, St. Dom’s junior – style “depends on my mood”

Christine, 16, who loves to read about the latest styles and fashion, said she “doesn’t categorize” herself when it comes to her style. It can be casual one day, preppy another. “It depends on my mood.”

When it comes to her back-to-school wardrobe, St. Dom’s conservative dress code presents Christine with fashion challenges.

She doesn’t wear skirts “because they have to be really long.” She’s looking for cute dresses that go below the knee.

Her tops this fall will include the required Oxford button-ups, “but I’m trying to go hip, find some with puffy sleeves and cool designs.”

For pants she likes gouchos, stylish trousers that hang down between the ankle and calf and flare out. She likes white and brown pants because they are easy to match. Christine considers the old rule of no-white-after-Labor Day passé. She wears white year-round.

Other pants she’ll wear are basic khakis teamed with colorful tops. St. Dom’s only allows jeans on “relax days.”

Christine has several fashion rules: wear a snug top if you’re wearing pants that flare out; or if wearing a puffy top, pants should be conservative. Wear red shoes with a black-and-white outfit. “Wearing red pops the outfit,” she said.

For footwear, she likes dressy “pizza shoes” with a pointy toe and a small heel. Another is a shoe with the peep toe. “Some of the old styles come back,” she said.

Christine’s favorite shopping spots: Forever 21, Charlotte Russe, and Hollister.

Haley Soucy, freshman at Livermore Falls High School – casual

When Haley, 14, makes her high school debut she’ll be sporting casual clothing. Two styles in tops that have attracted her eye this fall are baby-doll styles and snug tops.

The baby dolls, which come in a variety of colors and prints, are fitted at the top and looser at the bottom. For tees, Haley likes V-neck with camisole. Her snug-fitting tops are about the most important basic in her wardrobe, which she’ll team up with hoodies.

Looks that are in, Soucy said, include camouflage prints on tops and pants, and skinny straight-legged jeans. She isn’t sure if she’s going to wear camo. She doesn’t like skinny jeans. She prefers flared legs still popular with students.

Haley plans to go for a girlie look on some days with mini-skirts, but not too short. “It can’t be shorter than your fingertip,” she said, dropping her arm beside her thigh to demonstrate her school’s policy.

Her footwear will include clogs, high-heeled pumps with a sling back.

Haley’s shopping haunts: JC Penney, Kohl’s, American Eagle Outfitters, Abercrombie & Fitch.

Tyler Nunez, sophomore at Lewiston High – casual

Favorite school wear for Tyler, 15, include “jeans, hoodies, T-shirts.”

For tops “I like a lot of red, some blue.” One of his new shirts features Tupac, a late rapper.

He likes his jeans loose and comfortable. He wears mostly jeans that are blue, occasionally black. Like other boys, another of his favorites are long, loose shorts he wears throughout the year. Occasionally he wears plaid shorts, which Tyler says are in.

He echoed other high school shoppers in saying he looks for brand names when shopping for school clothes, including G-Unit and Rocawear. For shoes, he wears “Air Forces” by Nike.

Deciding what to wear to school each day takes some thought, he said. “How you look is very important. I like to impress. The night before, I pick stuff out.”

Like a lot of boys, he wears designer fragrance, “Darkness by Paris. I like to look good and smell good.”

Favorite shopping spot: Boston.

Jordan Wood, St. Dom’s senior, preppy business

At St. Dom’s,”We have a strict dress code, but we try to make it somewhat fashionable,” said Jordan, 17.

“Most of us wear Abercrombie, Ralph Lauren or American Eagle Oxford” button-down dress shirts. He’s bought a couple of St. Dom’s black or white collared polo shirts, which the school is allowing this year. The polos “will give me a break from the tie,” Jordan said.

Most days, he wears a shirt and tie. His ties are typically striped, but he has a few whimsical ties, one with Tabasco sauce and Christmas characters.

In the fall and spring, he wears a lot of cargo shorts. During the winter, he wears mostly khaki pants. “I like them a little baggy, but not hanging off my hips.”

For footwear, “We can’t wear sandals. I wear tennis shoes, Pumas and Nike.” Like many teens, he wears sneakers year-round. In the winter, Northface clothing is big at St. Dom’s,he said.

Jordan said he doesn’t mind his school’s conservative dress code, but ties can be uncomfortable, “especially when it’s hot.” Going to school dressed to work can impact students’ attitudes, he said. “It makes it more professional. It teaches kids how to dress in the real, work world.”

Jordan’s favorite shopping spots: American Eagle, Abercrombie & Fitch.