You’re not going out in that! (From Living Northeast)

You’re not going out in that!

12:49pm Monday 16th August 2010 in

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Who really has the final say when it comes to teenage fashion? Lottie Kay finds out.

TEENAGERS are renowned for being moody, obsessed with their friends and music, and shouting at their parents who sigh and say “I was young once, you know”. Well, we were all young once so we can remember that it’s a very confusing time, trying to figure out who you are and what you like.

One example of this is the effect that fashion has on teenagers – they have to have the latest styles, new shoes or faddish fashions.

As you get older, you are less seduced by fads and gradually find your own style. You can still wear trends, but you enjoy them because you know what suits you rather than feeling that you have to wear them, whereas teenagers in the Topshop queue look like mini clones of each other and will wear anything from pvc leggings to sequinned granny pants… as long as everyone else is wearing them too.

A lot of the fun of fashion is looking back at what you used to wear, giggling and cringing with friends. Making fashion gaffes is almost a rite of passage.

Unfortunately, in an image-obsessed society teenagers may feel under a lot of pressure to look a certain way and conform to what they see in glossy magazines or celebrity role models.

So is it a parent’s job to help them feel comfortable in their own skins? Or should they accept their children’s choices and fork out happily for the latest bondage shoes? Here, three teenagers and their mums talk about their relationship with fashion.

TEENS

Do you feel under pressure to keep up with the latest trends?

Becky: I do feel a bit under pressure to dress in nice clothes from places like Topshop. I think, especially as a teenager, that if you don’t put any thought into what you wear then you get judged. There is a whole thing about if you’re fashionable then you are cool, so it is easy to get drawn into keeping up with trends.

David: I suppose that I do. I do tend to buy respected labels – like my outfit today – but I would never buy anything I didn’t like just because it was the latest trend or a good label. If you are part of our age group, you are expected to look good and be trendy though.

Laura: There is a certain amount of pressure, like on a home-clothes day at school when everyone will go to loads of effort. I try to remember to concentrate on my own style, but it is easy to become obsessed with wanting the latest fashion and you do see it happening a lot to people my age.

Do you value your parents’ opinion about what you wear and have they ever stopped you wearing something they have disapproved of?

Becky: I always ask my mum her opinion about what I’m wearing before I go out. Sometimes she doesn’t get the latest trends and she will definitely tell me if my skirt is too short, but she really understands that you’re only young once so it’s nice to experiment with fashion.

David: My mum always tells me to put a coat on before I go out, even if it doesn’t go with my outfit. But I do ask her opinion and listen to her about most things...

apart from the coat. Actually, she is not that fond of my yellow plimsolls either...

Laura: I do listen to my mum because she really likes fashion as well. There have been a few times when I have been told my dress is too short. I can understand why they worry, but I think that I know for myself what looks good.

How important is fashion to you and how would you sum up your style?

Becky: It is important to me and I guess I spend a lot of time and effort on fashion. I would say I am “highstreet trendy”, but I would like to think I stand out from the crowd a bit and fashion is a good way to do that.

David: I really enjoy fashion so it is important to me.

If everyone was wearing something, I wouldn’t buy it though, so in that way I would say I am trendy, but also individual. Maybe a bit Indie as well; I do like skinny jeans.

Laura: I love fashion; I love shopping and spend loads of time looking at internet sites like ASOS. But I would prefer to be described as individual rather than someone who just wears every trend.

Is there one particularly expensive item that you’ve splashed your cash on and what would be your dream item if money were no object?

Becky: I bought a Toy watch for £165, which I know is a lot. I do love it though. I think if I had loads of money I would be very tempted to treat myself to designer clothing. I am always seeing designer pieces in magazines that I love.

David: I get a lot of clothes from All Saints, which is one of the more expensive high street shops.Myleather jacket from there was £200. If I had a lot of money then I would definitely kit myself out in designer wear – maybe buy a nice suit for when I am older.

Laura: I know I have spent a lot of money on handbags.

My last one was £60. I would like to think that if I had all the money in the world I would still wear highstreet because there are some great things there, but I would probably treat myself to a designer handbag or two.

MOTHERS...

Do you approve of the way your teenager dresses and do you try to influence them?

Lindsay: I have often shouted “how are you ever going to walk in those heels?”, but then again I wore platforms when I was younger. I do tell her if I think something is a bit much, but generally we do agree. It’s lovely to go shopping together and I always point things out that might look good on her.

Janet: I do generally approve... apart from when he wears his trousers too low. But it is important to remember that we have all made fashion mistakes, and being a teenager is great because you can get away with it.

Anne: I really love fashion so I like to take an interest in what Laura is wearing. If it is too revealing then I will say something, but in a nice way – suggest she tries something else. It is a worry when they start looking too old for their age and could send out the wrong message, but I also trust Laura’s judgement about what she wears and she is only young once.

Are teenagers too obsessed with fashion? Was it different when you were younger?

Lindsay: I loved fashion when I was young, but it does seem that Becky’s wardrobe is ten times the size mine was at that age. It is a bit much when teenagers might think they are entitled to wear designer clothes just because they see them in magazines, and that’s when I will explain that life doesn’t work like that.

Janet: I do think it is very different. We would have a few treats every season and buy a couple of things for winter or summer. Now it’s a new jacket every other week for this lot. You’ve got to recognise that times do change, but the most important thing to me is to instill the value of money. If you teach them to budget and to respect anything they buy or have been bought, they realise they only have it because of hard work.

Anne: I was interested in fashion when I was younger, but just didn’t have that availability. Fashion is everywhere nowadays. Laura said to me once that she couldn’t wear an outfit again because she had already been seen in it, which made me laugh. It is just about trying to teach them about the value of money and that they can still look and feel good without having everything.

Do you worry that your teenager worries about their appearance too much?

Lindsay: It definitely is a worry and it is easy for teenagers to obsess; I remember feeling like that myself as a teenager, and I guess that this generation’s exposure to image in the media doesn’t help. So I do try to talk to Becky and just remind her that it is more important to have a good time than be worrying about what she looks like.

Janet: I find it very disturbing how much the media and this society are obsessed with image, especially as teenagers are obviously more vulnerable.

All you can do is encourage them to become comfortable in their own skin and make them realise there are more important things in life.

Anne: I have talked to Laura about this and tried to make her aware that celebrities are not the real world. It is awful to think that teenagers may feel under pressure in any way, and trying to teach them to feel confident from the inside is important.

What do you like to see your teenager wearing?

Lindsay: I do think she has great style so whatever she wears I always love.

As a mother, it is great to see your daughter dressed up and looking pretty, but more importantly when you can tell she is really happy wearing something.

Janet: I love it when he is smart/casual in something like his All Saints gear; just when he is relaxed and looking himself in stuff that he feels comfortable in. Definitely not his yellow plimsolls though!

Anne: It is lovely when she looks trendy or is wearing something that really suits her. But it is particularly nice when she wears something that I can tell she is feeling really confident and comfortable in.

THE TEEN TEAM

BECKY KAY

Age 16. Yarm School.

Would like to work doing something sporty/outdoorsy and a bit adventurous.

DAVID ORLANDI

Age 16. Yarm School.

Would love to work in the media.

LAURA HOLMES

Age 17. Barnard Castle School. An aspiring actress.

All three teenagers finished their GCSEs earlier this year and have now left school for sixth form college.