From 'Camp' to fall fashion: stars pick top trends

[August 25, 2010]  NEW YORK (AP) -- Few things get Meaghan Martin and Chloe Bridges going like a little back-to-school shopping. Nevermind, they say, that as 18-year-old TV stars, they won't be milling the halls of any school this fall.

"I am obsessed with back-to-school shopping," gushes Bridges. "I would circle everything I liked and dog-ear the catalogs."

Martin would wear new clothes, head to toe. "I would be all dressy and then, by the last day of school, I'd be in sweats."

Martin and Bridges are two of the fashion-conscious teens in Disney Channel's new "Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam."

As Tess, Martin wears a lot of bold colors and '80s-influenced, in-your-face costumes. Martin says she won't be borrowing anything from the costume closet. Bridges' character Dana is a little more earthy, and the actress says it's similar to her personal style.

The duo, friends in real life, took a tour of the busy American Eagle flagship store in Times Square to point out their favorite off-screen trends of the season. For the expedition, Bridges wore khaki capris, a chunky off-the-shoulder sweater and high, caramel-colored gladiator heels; Martin wore the skinny jeans that are the workhorse of her wardrobe with a cropped, caramel suede jacket and beige patent-leather pumps.

"I like the walk that heels give you," Martin says. "They give you confidence." But, unlike Bridges, Martin doesn't wear them on a regular basis.

She is a fan of fashion, although she only takes a few shopping sprees a year. "But when I shop," Martin says, "I REALLY shop."

Martin's favorite look is lots of layers, noting racks of tiered tanks that featured a lacy inset on the back. She'd wear that with a plain, ribbed tank underneath and a cardigan on top.

"I take trends with a grain of salt," Martin says. Last fall, we were told that skinny jeans were out, but I didn't stop wearing them."

Bridges' go-to piece is the button-down shirt, maybe a little wrinkled so it doesn't look too perfect or stuffy, but she's generally more comfortable in something a little more tailored than slouchy. "I feel uncomfortable in a sweatshirt. How ironic is that?"

You'll find her at the mall more often than Martin, but she's more of a grazer. "I'll go often and not buy anything. Sometimes I'll see something I like on a mannequin and realize I have something like it at home."

Still, on this day, they both make at least one purchase after browsing the racks -- and answering some rapid-fire fashion questions:

Do you like to wear basic black or bright colors?

Black -- and white -- for Martin, maybe with a little salmon or orange thrown in; and Bridges prefers neutral tones of khaki and olive.

Stripes or plaid?

Stripes, definitely. Both of them.

Leather or denim jacket?

Bridges has dilemma with leather jackets: Every time she thinks she finds the perfect one, she'll find another one that's even better. On this day, however, she goes home with a jean jacket in her bag.

Martin would rather wear a boyfriend blazer -- and that's just what she bought.

Flip-flops or sneakers?

"Do sandals count?" asks Bridges. Back in high school in New Orleans, she allows, she wore white Keds.

Martin likes dressier, leather flip-flops, not plastic ones -- and Sperry Top-Siders.

Messenger bag or backpack?

Messenger bags, for sure. Bridges says she carried the same black one throughout high school. Martin had one, too, but switched to a leather tote somewhere along the line.

Preppy or skater?

At Martin's school in Las Vegas, the skater look was more popular than preppy, although her self-described "granny" style fit in better with the preps.

Bridges was preppy until she tried to make the switch to Vans and OP when she moved to California. "It didn't work out so well," she says with a smile.

[Associated Press; By SAMANTHA CRITCHELL]

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