Best Teen Clothing Stores in Royal Oak, Michigan

Royal Oak is a small suburb north of Detroit, but it has much to offer in the way of small trendy shops that appeal to teenagers. Since I happen to have a style-savvy teen in my house, we've hit all of the clothing stores that the downtown area has to offer. You don't have to make a trek out to a suburbian mall to find fashion. Here are the best teen clothing stores in Royal Oak.

Chrome, 117 W 4th Street, 248-399-1689 Chrome has been a fixture in the downtown area for many years. Located just west of Main Street, Chrome is homecoming and prom central. Sure, there is a full array of casual clothing, but it's with the more festive apparel that Chrome shines best. The two guys who own the store are cheerful and go out of their way to provide service. My daughter has purchased all of her homecoming dresses here, and we come back every year because the selections are quality made and one of a kind. Be forewarned: their formal wear is pricy, so steel yourself for sticker shock.

American Apparel, 405 S Washington Avenue, 248-547-1904, www.americanapparel.net/

Just around the corner from Chrome, south of 4^th Street is the local American Apparel. American Apparel, an LA based company, has many stores in the United States, Canada and other countries. The clothes are definitely casual, and my teenager loves the "West Coast" influence. The clothing line is mostly made with clingy tee-shirt material that teen girls love. American Apparel prides itself on manufacturing its clothing line "sweat shop free." Purchases can also be made from their web site.

Incognito, 323 S Main Street, 248-548-2980 Located at the corner of South Main and 4^th Street, Incognito is a clothing store with a definite edgy feel. One side of the store is dedicated to clothing for both men and women, and the other side is a tribute to some of the most unusual shoes I've ever seen. The type of apparel here changes with the seasons, and it's hard to describe exactly what kind of clothing can be found here. Sometimes it's rough and ready, like grunge gear, but you can also find Betsey Johnson here as well.

Lost and Found Vintage, 510 S. Washington, 248-548-6154 Now located in new digs just south of 4^th Street, Lost and Found is popular among the teen set. True to its name, most of the clothing here is vintage, if you can call throw backs from the 70s and 80s "vintage." (Boy, does that ever make me feel old!) Lost and Found also sells albums (meaning VINYL!) and clothing accessories. I don't know where they find the stuff, but they sure have a lot of it.

Rise Clothing, 525 S. Washington, 248-548-8888 Rise, located at Washington and 5^th Street, is a great place for teen jeans. There's also a collection of trendy clothing and accessories, definitely different from those offered at the other stores.

These are but a handful of clothing stores in Royal Oak that appeal to teens. Others that are worth a look include Paris (for vintage and new clothing), Dolce Moda, and Flair. The great thing about shopping in Royal Oak is that all of the stores are within a three or four block radius of Main Street.