Back to School: What does a girl really need in her wardrobe for 2026-2027?

The first school bell has rung, but the school wardrobe is far from complete. The classic first-day outfit may already be ready: a white shirt, trousers or a skirt, shoes and a backpack. Other purchases can wait for the discounts that appear after school starts, for the moment when the rules become clear, or for the point when a child’s real needs emerge.

After the first weeks, more practical questions take over. What can a girl wear as the weather cools? Which pieces work with clothes already in the wardrobe? What can survive a full school year? And, most importantly, what is actually worth buying?

This installment of the Back to School series looks beyond a basic list of clothes suitable for school. It focuses on pieces that justify their place in the wardrobe: how often they can be worn, what they can be paired with, how many situations they suit and how long they remain relevant. The selection covers shirts, T-shirts, skirts, trousers, sweaters and jackets.

The aim is clothing that works in real life, at school, during sports, on an ordinary day, at a ceremony, at a birthday party or on a rushed morning. The article says the best school item is not always the most obvious one, and that the goal is not a perfect wardrobe, but clothes that earn their place in it.

The Coccodrillo ecru bomber jacket is the article’s Editor’s Choice 2026. In schools with stricter rules, it can fit into the sportswear area for physical activities. In schools with relaxed rules, it can serve as school outerwear over a T-shirt, shirt or lightweight sweater. Outside school, it can also work in casual, sport-casual or weekend outfits.