Tattered jeans, layered look and pink pass the test.

Byline: The Register-Guard

Devin Williams sits on a bench inside Valley River Center, wearing a beat-up white track jacket, some worn-out jeans with holes and flip-flops.

He's the epitome of fashion, circa 2004.

Williams, 18, bought the track jacket, which bears the name "Abercrombie" in large cursive letters across the front, three weeks ago for $70. The new but "distressed" jeans, part of the "destroyed denim" look, ran him another $70.

Williams and other area teens are authoritative about what's in this year, even though they don't always agree on what it is.

There are, however, some common watchwords: layered look, bright colors, laid-back style.

"This year is more loose, cute but still comfortable," says Cami Jordan, 16. "It's like the '80s are coming back."

Adds shopper-in-arms Kelsie Parmenter, "It's more hippie-ish this year."

"Pink's coming in, for both men and women," declares Mackenzie Smith, 17. "Sheer stuff that you have to layer. And the tattered look, jeans with paint stains."

But not for everyone.

Adam Unger, 18, says he doesn't mind paying top dollar for jeans that look tattered and worn, but draws the line at paint stains.

And Mackenzie says she likes the worn look but refuses to buy anything pre-distressed because it's too fake.

"They've got holes in places where you wouldn't usually get holes," she says.

At the Abercrombie & Fitch store at Valley River Center, 24-year-old manager Mike Hartwig is a walking fashion statement. He's wearing a button-up shirt over a "humor T" - The T features a picture of an old-fashioned beer truck above the words "Wishes Do Come True" - along with chino pants and flip-flops.

Hartwig worries about the day he'll land a job where he can't wear flip-flops to work.

"We wear them all year around here," he says.

For those wanting fancier footwear, suede pompom boots are all the rage. And clogs. (Really.)

Some things, however, haven't changed: Girls still favor denim jeans and capris, and boys love the khaki look, Hartwig says.

Off-the-shoulder sweaters are popular with girls - "off one shoulder or both, depending on what their parents think," says Tanner Cole, manager of the soon-to-open Hollister store at Valley River Center.

Pleated skirts are trying for a comeback, but mini-skirts are still a big seller. "That's just the style these days," Cole says.

Track jackets are popular this year with both boys and girls - as are the humor T-shirts, also known as graphic T's.

Sample lines: "Misissipi Spelling Contest Winner," "Everything's Relative in West Virginia" and "I'm not mad" next to the picture of a contented cow.

- Jeff Wright 

FIVE FALL FASHION MUST-HAVES

Track jacket

Destroyed denim

Graphic T's (`humor T's')

Hooded sweatshirt

Cargo shorts for boys; mini-skirts for girls

- Tanner Cole, Hollister, Valley River Center