Graphic T-Shirts: Hot Styles for Back-to-School

Graphic tees have been around for decades, but they're now becoming the uniform of choice for teens and 'tweens. "Graphic tees, as well as graphic sweatshirts and graphic beanies are a huge trend for back-to-school," Jane Keltner de Valle, Teen Vogue's senior fashion news director, told Yahoo! Shine. "We're seeing them at every level of the fashion pyramid, from Givenchy to fast fashion emporiums like Topshop and Asos." Not only are T-shirts supercomfortable, they can be a fun way to express yourself. Tom Julian, a director at the Donegal Group, a retail merchandise consulting firm, says almost every type of retailer - from sporting goods to denim makers - now has a line of graphic tees. While companies are cashing in on the trend, they can also go too far with some of their designs. There have been a number of T-shirt scandals in 2013. Rihanna sued Topshop for using her unauthorized image, and the Children's Place pulled girls' shirts from the shelves after a public outcry-not the first time a major retailer has been taken to task for sexist logos. Before kids throw on any old T-shirt to head back to school, it's important to evaluate whether the message is respectful and appropriate. (Urban Outfitters' new "school sux" shirt should probably be skipped.) Here are some of this fall's trendiest tees, most of which are benign enough for regular classroom wear.-Sarah B. Weir, Shine Senior Writer