Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to not buy DS16 the clothes he wants

105 replies

ThatLimeNewt · 19/11/2025 20:16

DS16 wants to wear a black puffer, black nike hoodie and joggers, nike crossbody bag and a nike beanie / snood. I am refusing to buy these all black clothes as it will make him look dodgy or like a "roadman". Is it concerning that DS wants to dress in such a manner? AIBU to refuse to buy these clothes for him? Would you let your child dress like this? Also wearing nike head to toe seems a bit ludicrous to me 😂

OP posts:
Falsegod · 20/11/2025 09:39

I think parents who intentionally prevent their child from fitting in are horrid tbh. Clothing does not dictate his personality or morals. So carry on teaching him how to be a good person and let him wear the puffer jacket. 🙄

BlueandWhitePorcelain · 20/11/2025 09:38

I found when DC was a teenager, it was better to buy him 5 Nike outfits than 12 unbranded ones. He got positive enjoyment from them.

When I drop DD off at FE college, most of the students are wearing clothes like you describe OP. Fashions come and go, but that sounds like the current one. I’d buy it for him!

ApolloandDaphne · 20/11/2025 09:38

I'm not getting Roadman vibes from a lad that tutors to earn money!

Baconbuttymad · 20/11/2025 09:34

Or his trousers down looooow

Baconbuttymad · 20/11/2025 09:33

HesGoneTomorrow · 20/11/2025 09:25

Encourage him to walk around with his hands down his pants too 😉

This

Whatsthatsheila · 20/11/2025 09:29

Roadman 😂 anyone else still prefer scally?

(tbf yes it’s standard these days but it’s so boring and unimaginative - i long for the days of stolen from Ivor - maybe some spliffy jeans and a hyper colour tshirt and some funky coloured gazelles!)

HesGoneTomorrow · 20/11/2025 09:25

Encourage him to walk around with his hands down his pants too 😉

moneyadviceplease · 20/11/2025 09:15

Isn’t this how every 16 year old dresses?

joinery · 20/11/2025 09:08

Loveapineapplepizzame · 20/11/2025 08:52

Exactly what my 16 yo DS wears - or indeed similar. He sometimes changes it up a bit with a pair of black or blue wide leg jeans. It’s the fashion nowadays - and on the plus side a mainly black wardrobe makes it easier for them to mix their outfits together.

He does however have a padded Berghaus and a CP Company coat - the one with the goggles in the hood. I sighed when he asked for the latter, but he is definitely not any sort of a hooligan and very much the opposite, and a coat they are willing to wear is a win in my mind.

To be fair, my wardrobe is mainly black too so I had no issue when DS started asking for black clothing. DD is almost 12 and she asks for a lot of plain black, grey or dark brown clothing too.

What I have found though is when you buy a 16 year old clothing that they haven’t chosen, is they simply won’t wear it. Choose your battles OP!

Mine also has that goggles coat. I just laughed at him when it arrived. He knows I think it’s completely ridiculous! But, it’s his choice and I would never say no (unless it’s offensive). I certainly wore stuff as a teen that I look back on now with “WTF was I thinking?”!

Baconbuttymad · 20/11/2025 09:05

Sadly it’s the fashion these days. They’ll always wanna keep up with the latest fashion. I don’t like the “roadman” style myself but he is old enough to buy his own clothes now so I don’t have much say.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 20/11/2025 09:02

Around here, around 98% of the school kids seem to wear black North Face puffers. Along with black more or less everything else.

thefamous5 · 20/11/2025 09:02

My 13 year old dresses like this.

It doesn't bother me because i know he's not a 'roadman' - he's a normal, well behaved kid. If someone else wants to cast judgement on him because if his clothes, that's up to them.

Loveapineapplepizzame · 20/11/2025 08:52

Exactly what my 16 yo DS wears - or indeed similar. He sometimes changes it up a bit with a pair of black or blue wide leg jeans. It’s the fashion nowadays - and on the plus side a mainly black wardrobe makes it easier for them to mix their outfits together.

He does however have a padded Berghaus and a CP Company coat - the one with the goggles in the hood. I sighed when he asked for the latter, but he is definitely not any sort of a hooligan and very much the opposite, and a coat they are willing to wear is a win in my mind.

To be fair, my wardrobe is mainly black too so I had no issue when DS started asking for black clothing. DD is almost 12 and she asks for a lot of plain black, grey or dark brown clothing too.

What I have found though is when you buy a 16 year old clothing that they haven’t chosen, is they simply won’t wear it. Choose your battles OP!

Yesimmoaningaboutbenefits · 20/11/2025 08:27

Bigearringsbigsmile · 19/11/2025 20:47

I wouldn't buy him clothes that make him look like a criminal no.
It's only standard teen wear for a certain set of kids.

It's standard teen wear for the boarders and day boys at my sons posh independent school.

The only clothes that make you look like a criminal are an orange jumpsuit or black and white striped 2-piece.

Meadowfinch · 20/11/2025 08:26

I wouldn't worry about the colour although he's likely to get himself run over in that outfit. I wouldn't buy them on the basis of price.

If my ds wants labels, he gets a job and buys them himself. I pay for all his clothes, and I'm happy to buy good quality but I don't pay rip off prices. He'll grow out of them in 6 months anyway. What a waste.

user1476613140 · 20/11/2025 08:22

OhDearMuriel · 19/11/2025 20:57

Yadnbu
It is roadman stand issue uniform.

I would steer him away from it personally.

😂😂😂

user1476613140 · 20/11/2025 08:18

DH wasn't allowed to wear back jeans as a teenager as his Dad said he looked like a young male from the Casuals Movement. Chew on that for a moment 🤣

user1476613140 · 20/11/2025 08:14

Oh well my 18yo must look well dodgy as he's into black metal and wears nothing but........black 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Ohwhatfuckeryitistoride · 20/11/2025 07:59

DrCoconut · 19/11/2025 22:01

I'm guessing a roadman isn't someone with a hi viz and a pneumatic drill 🤣Not heard that term before. My DS is 14 and not bothered about labels as long as the overall look and feel is ok.

When my dd bought her first uniqlo cross body bag her older brother called her Roadman for a while.(may be wrong but I believe he has one now)

itsgettingweird · 20/11/2025 07:50

What do you think he should wear?

My ds has always wore joggers and t shirts. He has a million hoodies as he’s a swimmer.

He won’t wear names brands and wears next joggers (dark colours) and their crew neck T shirts but in colours. His hoodies are all sorts of colours too!

However - if he choose all black instead I wouldn’t police it. I would however give him a budget and he can choose a few items or lots depending on cost of what he chooses.

HairyToity · 20/11/2025 07:49

Life's too short to have a clothing battle with 16 yo son. His style might well change again in another couple of months.

sisagdhihh · 20/11/2025 07:49

I can’t wait for the tracksuit phase to pass, teenagers and adults walking around looking like giant toddlers!

Christmasisaroundthecorner · 20/11/2025 07:47

CrossChecking · 19/11/2025 23:04

I'm in Ireland and that's the teenage uniform here too. My 16yo dd recently branched out to a beige Nike puffer instead black and now when I see her out and about I can differentiate her from all of the other teen girls in airforce 1s, black leggings and black Nike puffers.

This made me smile. They all look the same! I keep thinking I see DC around town but then I think ‘That’s not my teen, her jeans are too pale’

ConBatulations · 20/11/2025 07:37

Let him buy his own clothes with a budget if you don't approve of his choices. Money for Christmas so he can buy in the sales.

Timeforabitofpeace · 20/11/2025 07:27

Wild exaggeration @Jeschara.

i think you’ll need to compromise OP.

Swipe left for the next trending thread