Teenage girls beware: While back-to-school shopping with your mother, you just might find more than you bargained for: You may find your mom has good fashion sense.

Take Logan Chettle, 14, and her mother, Eileen Chettle.

"Sometimes she tries to tell me what to wear. I try it on and, if it looks nice, I will buy it," said Logan of their annual mother-daughter outing to kick off the school year.

Monday, the Chettles drove from their Dormont home to nearby South Hills Village for a three-hour shopping trip that also served as a bonding experience.

Between scouring clothes racks, darting in and out of crowds, and keeping a running tab of finances, the pair chatted about Logan's upcoming high school experience.

But first thing's first, and that meant new clothes for Logan to wear to her new school, Keystone Oaks High School, where she will be a freshman.

While aware of fads, she said she dresses to please herself, not her peers.

For Logan, that means sneakers that are comfortable yet attractive -- such as the $100 pair of Nikes she bought at Finish Line.

While that is one-third of the amount she budgeted for the shopping trip, Ms. Chettle, a single mom, did not object.

"They will last a long time -- she won't wear them every day -- so she won't get another pair for a while, Ms. Chettle said. Ms. Chettle operates the help desk and phone system in the Information Systems Department of U.S. District Court, Downtown.

The afternoon's splurge out of the way, the Chettles got down to the business of bargain hunting.

At PacSun, Logan had her most prized find of the day: plaid shorts on clearance for $10. She also bought two tank tops for a total of $20.

At Hollister, which Logan said is her favorite store, she bought a hoodie for $50, along with three other shirts, each priced from $20 to $35.

At American Eagle Outfitters, she found two shirts she liked. It was a good deal, said her mom; the shirts were on sale, buy one, get the second at half price.

The total here was $24. So the women bought another hoodie for $30.

At Sephora, the duo purchased lip gloss and eyeliner for a total of $15.

Something else grabbed her eye while store hopping: Lucky Brand Jeans, sported by celebrities with price tag of $140.

But Ms. Chettle put her food down.

"She will have to save her own money for those," the mom said.

All in all, the Chettles agreed that turning a day of back-to-school shopping -- for many a mother-daughter battleground -- on its ears makes for a happy, productive and stress-free afternoon.

That's why Mrs. Chettle happily dedicates a vacation day to shopping each August.

As for the winter wear missing from the day's shopping trip, that is for Christmas, Ms. Chettle said.