Spring 2025 Fashions For Younger Boys

Boys are not into clothes. At least, younger (elementary school age) boys are not into clothes. When my son was in elementary school, he would happily have worn the same raggedy shorts and graphic t-shirt for weeks at a time, maybe throwing on a grubby sweatshirt now and then. But if you can add a few pieces to your tween son's wardrobe this spring, these might just be the pieces he'd be willing to wear. 

The stores I shopped at for this blog included Gap, Old Navy, JC Penney, Target, The Children's Place, Abercrombie & Fitch, 

Solid tees are the mainstay of a tween boy's wardrobe, but you can dress them up a little by topping that boring tee with a short-sleeve button-down like this Quicksilver short sleeve button down shirt ($34 at JC Penney) in light peach. Wear it with fleece cargo pants or bootcut jeans, and sleek sneakers. 

Similar looks: short-sleeve button front shirt, poplin button-down, short-sleeve slub camp shirt, patch pocket short sleeve button down shirt

Cargo jeans are one of the most popular styles for spring. Try this Thereabouts cargo loose fit jean ($19 at JC Penney) in light acid wash. Pair it with the tee and overshirt above, or with a baseball tee and a hoodie and a pair of slip-on sneakers. 

Similar looks: baggy cargo jeans, loose cargo pants, wide-leg cargo jeans, cotton cargo pants

You might not be able to wrestle him into a dress shirt, but a classic CashSoft rib crewneck sweater ($25 at Gap) in Bainbridge heather is dressy enough for dinner out, especially paired with chinos or corduroys and a pair of lace-up boat shoes or suede oxfords. 

Similar looks: cotton half-zip sweater, ombre crewneck sweater, cotton interlock quarter-zip sweater, high neck long sleeve pullover

Chino, denim, cargo, cotton. Boys love shorts in any form, especially these Cat & Jack pull-on above the knee cargo shorts ($12 at Target) in brown. Pair with his favorite graphic tee or logo hoodie and a pair of high-top sneakers. 

Similar looks: knee-length twill shorts, adjustable waist cargo shorts, pull-on chino shorts, flat-front shorts

Boys this age love goofy graphic tees, including the logo of their favorite hot sauce, like this sriracha graphic tee ($10 at Abercrombie & Fitch), paired with straight-leg jeans or comfy joggers. 

Similar looks: crab graphic tee, tie-dye tee, cool robot tee, glow-in-the-dark s'mores tee

Speaking of joggers, you can't beat the comfort of a pair of joggers like these Go-Dry cool mesh jogger performance pants ($15 at Old Navy) in gray. Pair with a pocket tee layered with a loose denim shirt. 

Similar looks: fleece baggy jogger sweatpants, performance jogger pants, essential icon joggers, elastic cuff jogger pants

Denim shorts, especially in a longer length, are a great look at this age. Try these Hi I'm New knee-length baggy carpenter shorts ($25 at Old Navy) in Skyler paired with a striped tee and a denim jacket 

Similar looks: utility skate shorts, below the knee denim shorts, 

It's not easy to get boys this age to dress up, but they might be willing to wear this Ralph Lauren check button-up dress shirt ($17 at Nordstrom Rack). Pair with a pair of crisp flat-front chinos or straight-leg dark wash jeans and some suede moccasins for a night out with the family. 

Similar looks: Dobby shirt, plaid sport shirt, stretch poplin button-down, plaid poplin button-up

Hoodies are a year 'round winner with this demographic. Look for colorblock styles like this athleisure colorblock hoodie ($40 at LL Bean) in pink grapefruit color block. Wear with any of the jeans or shorts listed in this blog, and a pair of chunky sneakers. 

Similar looks: oversize vintage soft hoodie, Old Navy logo hoodie, essential hoodie, colorblock hooded top

Finish any of the above looks with a lightweight, all-weather jacket like this All in Motion lightweight jacket ($20 at Target) in red. It works over a nice sweater, a long-sleeve graphic tee, or a striped tee, and jeans to sweatpants to shorts. 

Similar looks: windbreaker, tech zip-up hoodie, quilted jacket, hooded denim jacket

If you can get him to try any of these pieces on, you might just win him over. Happy shopping!