Bright fluorescent lights. Large glass windows. Glittery handbags and shiny dresses. Whispers and shouts and laughs and screams. Neon signs that beckon you. 

The sun glares down as people walk into the massive expanse of the mall, the heat of summer grazing their arms. Footsteps on the shiny linoleum floors create a cacophony of sound as people window shop and count paper bills .

The air is pulsating with excitement; school has let out and the mall becomes a place of gathering for young people who are sick of the long and boring school days that define most of the year. By sunset, everyone’s hands are heavy from the stockpile of paper bags that get shoved into the trunk of the car that will drive them back to the mall once again.

Summer becomes a hot time to shop both online and in person for the younger generations as schools let out, and there is an abundance of free time for people to enjoy. Trends show that shopping becomes more frequent during the summer as students prepare for school in the fall and get summer jobs that come with expendable income.

Increased shopping habits in the heat are actually backed by science. According to Pymynts, a business website, if placed in a warm room, more than 80% of consumers were willing to spend more. And for teens, this is no different. PR Newswire found that teens spend an average of $31 a week in the summer. Many stores popular with teens see this increase. Macy’s saw a 37% increase in sales during the summer season in comparison to the beginning of the year, according to Macy’s Incorporated.

“In summer, the store gets really crazy because of festivals and shopping for back to school,” said Junior (refrained from giving last name), who works at Zara, another popular store for younger shoppers. 

According to shefinds.com, Zara actually capitalizes on this hype by having sales around the third week of June to encourage more people to buy their products. 

Although many shop in person, almost half of Gen-Z prefer to shop online, but summer still encourages more to come to the mall. As said by Business Insider, Gen-Z prefers the mall over Millennials who grew up on online shopping, as they like the authenticity of the experience. In summer, they like the social aspect it can bring. 

“I prefer in person (shopping) as I have to see and wear the piece, but online is convenient,” said Kaan Turkyilmaz, sophomore at Hinsdale Central. 

Summer encourages more spending with teens’ part-time jobs. According to the Pew Research Center, 36% of teens are employed during the summer months, whereas around only 27% are employed during the rest of the year. As mentioned by HeadphonesAddict, teens with part time jobs can spend $2,427, which is more than their counterparts who may rely on just an allowance. This may be why teens spend more in summer while having jobs. 

“That’s one of the reasons I work,” said Sehan Alam, junior on working to earn money for shopping. 

In terms of what is bought during the summer, 3 in 10 teens now say that they get influence from online platforms like TikTok on what to buy. 

Junior mentioned the trends right now are mostly wide-legged pants, shorts, and stuff that is oftentimes seen and popularized on TikTok. In Zara, rhinestone shirts are frequently bought from the influx of people who have seen similar shirts in videos for upcoming summer festivals like LollaPalooza, for example. 

Summer provides an expanse of free time for people to shop online for back-to-school clothes or if they are influenced by the nice weather, to go to the mall and spend some time with friends. 

“Shopping is a lot of fun, and I think it’s always good to have some you time,” said Shanoor Shafi, sophomore at Hinsdale Central. “It’s always good to treat yourself.”