A new school year is as good an excuse as any to go to the mall. After all, one must be prepared when your best friend calls to ask what you're wearing on the first day of school. And aren't shopping and talking on the phone two things a teenager does best?

Because parents sometimes just don't understand, we've assembled a cheat sheet of this fall's hottest trends to help you make the grade when it comes to back-to-school shopping.

The following fashion tips are courtesy of Gina Kelly, fashion director at Seventeen magazine; most items pictured are from Urban Outfitters (206-381-3777 or www.urbanoutfitters.com).

Not all schools allow hats in the hallways, but that doesn't mean teens won't be wearing them off-campus. "The biggest shape for hats is the conductor hat," Gina Kelly, fashion director at Seventeen magazine, says. The conductor hat (pictured here, $24) is similar to a newsboy, but has a square shape and a shorter brim. (Think Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas.) "It's rooted in skate culture," Kelly says. "It has more street appeal than a fedora or a newsboy."

Hoodies and track jackets are great layering pieces, particularly well-suited to Seattle's unpredictable weather. Hoodies are not only comfy but also cuter than ever, like the UO brand pictured here ($54). And track jackets will be as ubiquitous this year as the blazer was last year. "All the majors are doing it, from American Eagle to Old Navy to Abercrombie," Kelly says. "It's kind of vintage-inspired." Far out!

"The No. 1 thing girls love to get for back-to-school is denim," Kelly says. "Girls are saving up their allowances for one pair of great jeans." Ripped jeans, such as the Levi's pictured here ($65), are popular now, but the Next Big Thing is patched jeans. "The rips are getting patched or stitched over," Kelly says.

Money-saving tip: Instead of buying new jeans, invest in some patches and patch up your favorite pair. That way, you won't even have to break them in!

It's entirely possible that a woman's obsession with handbags begins in middle or high school. After all, the right book bag can make or break the perfect back-to-school outfit. "The styles are always the same — it's the details and patterns that make them different," Kelly says.

One-strap backpacks allow for easy access, while messenger-bag styles remain a popular choice. Look for cool patterns like plaid or paisley, or the corduroy Levi's bag with "back pockets" pictured here ($34). And the super-cute Levi's "jean pocket" wallets ($18) are the perfect place to stash your school ID.

Ugg boots? Sooo 2004. This season's hot footwear is the cowboy boot, with skinny jeans tucked in or paired with a feminine dress or skirt. You've seen the look on Lindsay Lohan, Mary-Kate Olsen and Jessica Simpson — which is not to say a back-to-school wardrobe should include oversized sunglasses, shapeless layers or Daisy Dukes.