SCHOOL FADS AND FASHIONS

Left: Shaneka Smith, 12, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., modeled a "Hello Kitty" backpack. "Hello Kitty" merchandise is very popular with girls for this year's back-to-school shopping season.

Do you know what a Gelly Roll is?

If you're a parent of a school-aged child and don't know, you'll soon find out.

Area schools will begin classes after Aug. 21, and trend-savvy students know Gelly Rolls -- ink pens that use a gel-like ink that sparkles and shimmers on the page -- are the newest sensation in writing gear this year.

The pens sell for about $4 for a package of three and are available in neutral, pastel and traditional dark colors. Although very popular among girls, the variety of color combinations ensure the pens are also included on boys' back-to-school lists.

"I like mechanical pencils more than anything, but everybody's getting the gel pens," said Cobret Joe, 13.

"She's already got about 10 of them in all the colors," said Katina Clark, whose daughter, Marissa Williamson, will be a fourth-grader at Barbara Blanchard Elementary School this year.

Area store managers said they're having a hard time keeping the pens on the shelves this year. Also showing mass appeal with students is anything emblazoned with Scooby Doo, Hello! Kitty or Dragonball Z cartoon characters or sporting an animal print.

Pants resembling the parachute pants worn in the 1980s are big sellers this year. Regardless of the material, the pants must have a zip-off option and, for the first time in recent years, look new.

"They're still wearing oversized clothing but they don't look old anymore," said Gregg Gallaher, executive team leader at Target. "Hopefully, that fad is gone."

Joe said he is looking forward to making his own back-to-school purchases for the first time, thanks to summer employment with Cape Girardeau Weed and Seed. He spent the summer washing police cars, cleaning up parks and performing other duties for a stipend he'll receive next week.

He said his purchases won't differ much from those he would make with his mother. He'll concentrate on non-name-brand, wide-leg jeans and shirts that sport well-known signatures and logos.

Joe will be among those students who buy a note binder sporting the familiar Nike swoosh. The binder, which sells for about $20, is not a low-end item, but stores have reported good sales on the new products so far.

In fact, back-to-school sales in general are good this year at area stores. The buying trend doesn't quite match the supplies lists submitted by area schools, which tend to push for more generic items.

"It seems like parents are dropping a lot of money this year for clothes and supplies," Gallaher said. "All the school lists look the same, with your basic folders, notebook paper, spiral notebooks. But I've seen some really big purchases going through this year with the style changes and designs kids want."

Clark said her daughter has been especially picky about how her supplies and clothing looks. Both have had to compromise on items, which Clark said she doesn't mind as long as her daughter upholds her end of the bargain.

"She doesn't want the regular No. 2 pencils," Clark said. "She wants the cool-looking No. 2 pencils with her name, sparkles, flowers on them. I don't mind doing things for her, but she has to understand in order to get those she has to know she's got to do well in school."