Most parents of teenagers know, often at their financial expense, that most young people are VERY concerned about their fashion style. It's even one of their top priorities.
And while some young people may not care, especially the geeks or athletes, it's a safe bet that they might be less regarded by their more "stylish" peers.
Introduction
The quotes here emphasize the relativity of this concept, considering their sometimes questionable tastes.
WHY DO THEY SPEND SO MUCH ON CLOTHES?
Teens, despite being sometimes cruel, are mostly insecure: they observe and compare themselves a lot with each other. There's a natural and almost pathological need to position themselves in relation to others.
While adolescence represents a time of emancipation, it's primarily about self-assertion. No longer wanting to be seen or treated as a child or a nobody, young people seek to express their individuality. Even if they all dress the same, one might doubt the relevance of the concept, but that's beside the point.
Their look allows them to publicly display their affiliation with a "tribe." From streetwear to skater, manga enthusiast, goth, fashionista, raver, or normcore, everything is possible, from the ugliest to the most fun, often tied to the music style they adore.
This falls within the classic social construction of adolescents in modern Western societies, where young people are both pioneers and the first "victims" of fashion. From hippies to punks, it has always been this way. You probably had a unique style at 16 yourself. The relentless pursuit of novelty, modernity, the latest trendy look is part of an adolescent's DNA. Their fashion style becomes a public indicator of their level of "coolness," which may seem trivial but matters immensely to them. It's essential for their well-being to have clothes that align with what they want to portray.
Both girls and boys are, therefore, very particular about their appearance.
WHAT'S THE COST OF THEIR CLOTHING EXPENSES?
But where you're more concerned than the content of their attire is the price of these clothes. Driven by a trend that doesn't wait, they constantly seek to acquire new pieces, practically harassing you to consent to buying these hideously expensive things for them.
Make no mistake: this sudden taste for "fashion," unfortunately, won't be financed by them but by you. Studies have shown that teenagers spend only about 10% of their pocket money on clothes on average. So, it's a significant spending area for you but not for them. In such cases, where should the line be drawn?
When and where to say no to the young one's latest fashion whims?
Especially when sometimes, they're spending more on their clothes than you are on yours! With the democratization of luxury, many young people dream of increasingly expensive products. Neither you nor they can truly afford them.
Conclusion
Unless they take up babysitting (like a quarter of them do) or resell their old stuff online (more than half of teens do, believe it or not!), which isn't a bad idea either. Perhaps that's where the solution lies.
Related article : Sustainable Manufacturing: The Future of Ethical Children's Clothing
