Clothes Make The Kid
Parents have long battled with their kids over clothes – the cost, the style. But, in recent years the stakes and the prices of dressing right for school are higher than ever. Parents may want to teach their kids that “Image is nothing”, but experts say cutting off the clothes budget may not be the way to do it.
Thomas, 15, sees a lot of familiar names when he goes to school and his mom pays for his extensive wardrobe. “Sometimes I don‘t think she understands, `cause she thinks everybody‘s still in that old thing, but after while, she seems to get it,” he said. Abercrombie, Nike, Nautica, FUBU, Calvin Klein, Jinko, Todd Oldman. The list is long, but specific, and kids who don’t get the dress code often get a cold shoulder. “I think that people choose their friends, or choose to talk to people at first by what they wear, and what they look like, so I guess it’s pretty important,” said Annie, age 15.
For most kids fitting in is everything and clothes are key. Experts say parents should teach substance over style, but they also need to acknowledge that in most schools, style rules. Parents should compromise and budget a reasonable amount for clothes. Teens can grow out of their fixation with fashion, but social scars are harder to heal.
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“Some-times I don’t think she understands `cause she thinks everybody’s still in that old thing, but after a while, she seems to get it.” --Thomas, Age 15 |
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What's
In,
What's Out? Going back to school meant many fashion spreads and stories in teen oriented magazines. The Wall Street Journal recently reported on several finds from fashion directors, writers and editors from Teen People, Seventeen and YM magazines. There findings show some things that are in: Sunglasses with colored lenses, beaded and bra-strap accessories, body art, cargo pants, zip-off pants, and hi-tech toys (i.e. cell phones and beepers). And some things that are out,or dying. Wide legged jeans, clothing with large logos, oversized platforms and goth wear. |
What Are You Wearing?
Worrying about what to wear is a complex brought on by peer pressure. Psychologist Steven Asher, professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, estimates that roughly 10 percent of children in school develop chronic problems with peer relationships. Clothes seem to be less of a factor when deeming someone a total outcast, but the focus on not wearing the appropriate “gear” can cause a child major distress.
What Parents Should Know
The style and quality of clothes are often used as measuring sticks to judge a person’s socioeconomic status. In turn, this demographic has also traditionally been used to gauge whether or not one person is “better than another.“ When attitudes and opinions such as this are prevalent among adults, children will undoubtedly pick up the same traits. Because so much emphasis is placed on personal appearance it is very hard to teach young people that it’s `what’s on the inside that really counts’.
The influence of the media and advertising is a big part of this equation. Messages for brand name items inevitably speak to how your image and lifestyle will improve after purchasing certain products. Marketers often target these messages at young urban trendsetters through music videos, movies, television programs and magazines. And one endorsement from a popular teen idol can mean millions of dollars.
Image is important, but unlike the popular Sprite commercial, it really isn’t everything. Despite the focus on outer appearance, children have to be reminded that character and personality are most important, know matter what you dress them in.
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Resources
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more information on parenting issues contact us: Connecting with Kids |