MISSION VIEJO – Snuffing out a new fashion craze, six South County high schools have banned "hoodie" sweatshirts that can fully hide the wearer's face.

The "mask" sweatshirts, which originated in Europe and have gained popularity through skate and other casual youth clothing stores, represent the latest teen fashion statement to get an "F" from administrators, who cite safety concerns.

(CLICK ON THE PHOTO ON THE RIGHT TO SEE A SLIDE SHOW OF HOODIES)

The trendy hoodies thus join excessively baggy clothing, "wife beater" tank tops, and bare midriffs on a constantly evolving list of high school fashion no-nos that are meant to keep schools free from disruption and foster an educational environment.

"This is a no-brainer,'' said Tom Ressler, principal of Capistrano Valley High School – the first high school to enact the ban. Tesoro and San Juan Hills followed, and soon were joined by Aliso Niguel, Dana Hills and San Clemente.

Trouble could result if students were to be allowed to hide their faces, Ressler said.

"Anonymity breeds bad behavior," he said.

Fueled by rapper icon Kanye West and other celebrities, some of the mask hoodies resemble Halloween costumes, with zippers that go up all the way up through the hood and have meshing around the eyes and mouth.

Design motifs on the sweatshirts, which can sell for $85 a pop, include skeletons and Mexican wrestlers. One popular version recalls Jason from the "Nightmare on Elm Street" slasher flicks.

Administrators at Capo Valley High last week sent out e-mails to parents, urging them this holiday season not to buy the sweatshirts – also known as "Burkas for Boys," after the face-covering Islamic garments. The rule will be enforced after the holiday break.

Capo Valley High was the first school to enact the ban, prompted by a recent conference on school safety that included an alert about the controversial garb, Ressler said.

The Capistrano Unified School District did not institute a districtwide ban; the six high schools acted indivually. Ressler isn't aware of any other high schools in Orange County that have enacted a similar ban.

School administrators believe the hoodies pose a safety threat to students because, for starters, outsiders can wear them and enter schools unnoticed. Schools allow sweatshirts with hoods but generally do not allow students to wear their hoods up while on school property.

So far, only a few students have been seen wearing the hoodies at Capo Valley High, Ressler said. No trouble has been reported. Officials say they are acting now before the sweatshirts become a trend on campus.

Several students having lunch Tuesday at Capo Valley High said they've seen a few students wearing the full-zip hoodies. They generally gave the edgy look the thumbs-down.

"Eww!'' shrieked junior Rachel Greenhill, 15. "I don't think it's a good trend. I want to know what someone looks like. Anybody can basically walk onto the campus wearing one.''

Zack Thomas, 16, a senior, quietly ate his lunch – while wearing a black-and-white hoodie that will be banned for good when students return from their holiday break. An informal ban already is in place.

Thomas was one of the two Capo High students who have been told to stop wearing the hoodies come 2008.

"I liked the look of it,'' Zack explained. He said he doesn't wear the sweatshirt with the hood zipped up all the way – and he doesn't see the point.

Neither do his friends.

"They're not practical,'' senior Patrick Coleman, 17, said. He recently saw a teen wearing one with a Spiderman design. "I don't think it's going to be a fashion trend."

Although the students interviewed Tuesday said they should have some freedom in what they wear to school, they agree with administrators that the "mask" hoodie raises safety concerns.

At Active, a nearby casual clothing store on Marguerite Parkway, the mask hoodies have been selling steadily since spring, said Allison Ponce, a sales clerk.

Under brand names like Krew, Famous and LRG's "Dead Serious" popularized by rapper West, the sweatshirts generally sell for between $70 and $85 – though a skull-design hoodie that sold for $200 sold out in one day, Ponce said.

"Most of the people buying them are younger guys,'' she said.

Capo Valley student Sarah Portillo, a 16-year-old senior, said the hoodies make sense on Halloween. Recently, while at the movies, she saw a boy wearing an all-black sweatshirt with neon green mesh around the eyes and mouth.

"Gross," Portillo said.

She thought for a moment, then said it would make sense to wear one to school only on one condition.

"If you're having a bad hair day,'' she said.