Bare midriffs, starchy shirts and barely-there skirts are out, athletic wear is in for students attending U.S. schools in Germany. But in Italy, denim is all the rage as kids hit the stores for their school wardrobe.

With this year’s “athleisure” look, it seems children will be changing into their play clothes before they go to school at Department of Defense Dependents Schools in Germany.

Back-to-school gear may not be as slacking as ordinary sweatpants, but blends of ultra-athletic and modern looks dominate the racks this year, with a twist of 1970s-esque flare.

A return to retro activewear has created a new, comfy look for back-to-school children, said Kathleen Moore, senior buyer at the Army and Air Force Exchange Europe Region.

Teens who find themselves with some extra cash from the summer-hire program might end up indulging in clothing from sporty lines owned by hip-hop stars, such as Jay-Z’s Rocawear, Sean “Puffy” Combs’ Sean John line and Jennifer Lopez’s J. Lo clothing line.

For everyone else, jeans are low-slung and boot-cut. Different chemical treatments give various shades of worn-in tints. Extra stitching, fringes, flares and pockets make the jeans distinct.

The AAFES lines throughout Europe offer a rugged look with cargo pants for boys and sporty T-shirts for girls. Also, layering is big this year, Moore said.

While boys have always leaned toward the athletic look, new gear for the fall has added an updated look for the varsity boys.

These include new designs and stitching on basketball- and football-inspired clothing. Plus, striped Polo T-shirts are making a comeback.

On the shoe racks, re-issues of classic sneakers dominate. Nylon or leather round-toed, low-top sneakers with simple logos and stitching come out in a new crop of colors every couple of weeks.

Popular retro sneakers for girls have an added feminine feel, coming in baby blue and pink. To make the ’70s look complete, there are also new clogs, clunky shoes and heels on display.

Hair accessories are very hot, Moore said. Butterflies, headbands and beaded hair clips are popular for girls. Guys have an array of caps, headbands and hats to update their look.

For kids attending schools in Italy, denim is catching all the attention, said Navy Exchange officials at the Virginia buying office.

“It’s about denim with novelty,” said Cindy Sobczak, divisional merchandise manager for ladies apparel at the buying office.

For juniors in Italy, novelty belts are a hot item — beaded, with shell treatments, cloth and macramé buckles, said Sherrygail Sterling, a junior buyer for Juniors, ages 15 to 24.

Flared and stretch pants continue to be popular, along with various fabric treatments.

Pants and shirts feature silk-screen-type characters. Junior jeans sport butterflies and pocket details, such as embroidered back pockets.

Cargo and carpenter pants continue the utilitarian trend.

“Satin is becoming very important as a trim,” Sterling said.

Junior tops have an athletic influence, with numbers and mesh and athletic taping down the sleeves.

Also in Italy, the juvenile look features a lot of characters.

“We are rockin’ and rollin’ with the Disney characters,” Sterling said, adding that the Pink Panther and Cat in the Hat are trendy looks.

It is also all about denim for the back-to-school boys in Italy, said Max Allen, division manager for men’s wear at the Virginia facility.

“Denim prices are down, but value is up,” he said, citing treatment such as sandblasting or fading that adds more value.

Knits dominate the shirts category. Shoppers will see a lot of shirt jackets and fleece.

Extreme sports, including surfing and skateboarding, influence designs, many with a retro look.

In the footwear department for schools in Italy, the hottest shoe brands continue to be Mudd, Lei and Skechers, said Ron Johansen, divisional merchandise manager for NEX.

High-wedge platforms and boots are still stylish. The look is very similar to last year’s sport- athletic brand style, with some minor changes.

Last year, shoppers bought more fashion brands such as Guess and Skechers. The trend this year is more traditional, with brands such as Nike, Reebok and Adidas.

“We’re also seeing the whole retro look growing and retro in athletic shoes like the Adidas Superstar and the Nike Air Force,” Johansen said. “They go back to the ’70s look in athletic.”

Johansen noted that NEX shoppers overseas see the latest styles a few days before stateside shoppers because the goods are flown to stores here, whereas they are trucked to stores in the States.

If what an American pupil wants isn’t available at the exchange, there are always the German and Italian stores to turn to. And, luckily for the American kids in Germany, their German counterparts are also donning sporty styles.

German stores are featuring capri velour sweat pants with stripes running down the sides that mirror a matching sweat shirt. Many European clothing stores also make kids fit for class with stretchy, soft-cropped pants and snug tops.

Girls going for the varsity look can find numbered shirts splashed with designs and slogans. Plus, drawstrings have moved from the waistband to the bottoms of pant legs and shirts for a little scrunch.

However, it’s a different story in Italy. American students in Naples likely wouldn’t make it through the school’s doors if they wore the styles dominating the city’s shops.

Many Neapolitan styles favor barely there tops and tight, low- slung pants.

“It’s a little too racy,” said Randi Romano, a mother of four who recently moved to Naples.

“The guys wear tight pants — that’s just a no-no,” said LaDeanna Spraggins, 15, a sophomore who shops at the NEX or stocks up on clothes when she visits the States.

“The guys’ pants are too tight; they look like girls’ pants,” said Marc Nguyen, 13, who sports baggy pants and long shirts.

Several people said they like hitting the Italian markets for cheaper clothes, especially linen, to get through the hot summer.

Modesto Guariniello, a Salerno, Italy, native, has two school- age daughters. The Italian fashion is “a little too much” right now, especially for students who need to focus on learning in the classroom, he said.

Some Italian schools cracked down on styles last year, forbidding shirts that expose bellies, he said.

It’s easier for girls when it comes to shopping for clothes in Italian stores.

The fashionable in southern Italy and Sicily are wearing long skirts with jagged or fringed ends. Bright orange and lime are popular among the younger crowd.

When all else fails, students are going online to buy their back-to-school clothes.

Alex Landon, 17, a senior, who is working at Naples’ Carney Park pool this summer, is one of those who turns to the Web.

Landon, who shops once a month online for preppy clothes, such as Polo shirts and items from The Gap. He likes shopping at Pacific Sunwear for surfer-style clothes, which are featuring ’70s styles this year.

He avoids shopping at the Navy Exchange because he wants to be unique.

“It’s hard to set your own style when everyone has the same stuff,” he said.

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