Following the lead of music and other forms of pop culture, back-to-school clothes this fall are all about old-school.

Fashions for boys and girls from elementary school through college have a lot of '70s and '80s flavor, with whimsical and colorful twists added by cartoons, comic books and Hollywood influences ranging from Batman and The Grateful Dead to Hannah Montana and "High School Musical."

The new looks are fundamental variations on the same themes: jeans, skirts, polo shirts and tees. But what makes them more interesting than last year, especially for teens and the college crowd, are retro styles combined with a big dose of preppy. It helps that many of the looks can be worn for an extended time as seasons transition, a boon to belt-tightening American consumers.

"In the current economy, it's important to think fashionable but also focus on getting the longest wear-life out of a wardrobe," said Erin Burke, a product trend analyst with Cotton Inc. "This can often be achieved by layering for a lasting quality, allowing the wearer to take the look from the fall season into the winter months."

Layering isn't new, but it gets a new look this fall. There's more leeway to individualize one's look by mixing up the loose and the fitted, the long and the short, the bold and the understated.

Retro gets a hip update in this combination of a graphic tee over a collared shirt with plaid shorts, a brimmed hat and brightly colored canvas sneakers at T.J. Maxx.

"The biggest trend this back-to-school season is personalization," said Shannon Lelouch, design director at Lands' End Kids. "Kids are finding new ways to express their sense of self and seasonal style by choosing outfits with embellishments and graphic prints that show their interests."

Here are some of the key looks showing up on store racks:

Polos with turned-up collars for boys and girls, with guys layering two or three. Plaid skirts and dresses for girls, plaid cargo shorts and striped polos for boys, and topsider shoes for both boys and girls are big trends.

T-shirts with cartoon spin-offs and graphic visuals have universal appeal and can be worn alone or layered under other tops. Styles for guys are emblazoned with design elements on the back and front, from screen printing and foil to embroidery and rhinestones. The backs of some trousers, especially jeans, are splashed with artistic motifs, as well.

Guys and girls can wear them over T-shirts to jazz up a casual look. But vests this time around are more fun than serious in adventurous colors, prints and fabrics. Sizes range from bolero-length short to past-the-waist long, but most hit right at the waist.

Girl's style "message" tee at Old Navy.

Plain is out, replaced by destroyed designs and options with interesting embellishment. Color choices are broader, from pale blue and navy to gray and black. The latest trends for girls are stovepipe skinny and high-waisted, while guys' looks range from classic Levi's to styles that improve on the back-pocket graphics of '80s designer jeans.

Skulls have been a major motif in fashion for several years, and that continues. But this fall, it's balanced by themes of peace, love and happiness in T-shirts and other clothing. Organic offerings continue to increase, from T-shirts by American Rag to jeans by Levi's and Greensource at Macy's.

It's the hippie girl of the new millennium, only more polished and pulled-together. She does it by adding tights, flats, stacked bracelets and long, chunky necklaces to lengthy tunic-style tops, flowing dresses, big knits and sometimes a vest or jacket.