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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Teenage dressing

101 replies

Piggywaspushed · 20/07/2017 13:08

Now , I know this isn't an AIBU but I am in a panic and worried I will get everything all wrong. DS1 is 16 next week. He's not really a very typical 16 year old. He's quiet reclusive and sits inside all day. He has already requested a table tennis table and some books about politics (yes, honestly!) but I want to get him the traditional mother's gift in our household of clothing. He lost a Top Man hoody a while back he actually quite liked (as far as his enthusiasm ever goes...)but for a 16th I feel it ought to be a brand. so, the question is, what brand are the boys wearing at the moment? I am a teacher, so you would think I would know but al I see is a sea of sixth formers in identical white t shirts and jeans. I know this is a potential big fail ( I remember once 'forcing' him to wear a GAP t shirt and him having a panic attack). He's not bothered about fashion but won't want to stick out. So, what is ;in' : Holiister still? Jack Wills? I sense Superdry is out...or something else? What about trainers ? What style, brand and colour?
DS2 got teased for wearing beige trousers recently.... who knew??

Please help! I have 24 hours to sort this out!!

OP posts:
purpleprincess24 · 20/07/2017 13:35

Ridiculous some of the comments on here ... myDS is 25 next week and I've bought him a pair of Converse, a Gant shirt and a couple of t-shirts from Abercrombie

Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 20/07/2017 13:36

Thanks for the parenting tips witch. he is a nice young man who is a little very socially anxious and fairly emotionally immature at the moment and I rather love him. He went t an induction day at an entirely new school all by himself last week. He was fine.

OP posts:
ThePants999 · 20/07/2017 13:37

Does he care about brands? Don't really see why you'd pay for one if he doesn't, particularly since clothing isn't what he even wants...

Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 20/07/2017 13:37

I did angel. It's fine! I am just filtering the comments for the helpful advice!

My mum still buys me clothes and I am 45 and she is 76. She posts them from America.

OP posts:
Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 20/07/2017 13:39

pants he does a little bit only insofar as he likes to fit in, like so many teenagers.

The Top Man one was fine and he is currently dressed head to toe in Sainsburys and Next. I just wanted it to be a bit more birthday like.

Spurs just sent him some headphones so they ruined that idea.

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BoyFromTheBigBadCity · 20/07/2017 13:40

If he doesn't like brands, why not just buy something from Topman or Asos? I didn't like wearing branded stuff when I was 16, and wouldn't have worn something bought for me if it was obviously branded.

MrsOverTheRoad · 20/07/2017 13:43

I think you're buying it for YOU OP. You said yourself he doesn't care about clothes. You 'want it to be birthdayish' but he's not interested in clothes so he won't think it a treat!

Better to give him the cash and encourage him out to shop himself.

He'd be helpless if you died tomorrow and part of your job is to give him life skills.

Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 20/07/2017 13:43

I might do boy. He is fussy about trainers (brand not cost) and will only wear Nike.

I went in Topman last week and they had no hoodies!

He does agree he needs one.

He has a Dortmund one from when we went to Germany but it's got too small.

OP posts:
Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 20/07/2017 13:46

I thought I explained why I didn't want to give him money...

He isn't completely unbothered by clothes. We picked out some tshirts in Next last week and he was fairly choosy.

He will actually be quite pleased with a branded hoody I think. I'm just trying to avoid the backlash of discovering he's got 'last year's colour' or brand.

OP posts:
Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 20/07/2017 13:47

Don't other families have traditions like 'mum always gets me books' ? That can't just be mine!!

My dad always used to put a coin in the pocket of clothes for luck .

OP posts:
chloesmumtoo · 20/07/2017 13:48

I have a ds older than yours who lives in a lot of River Island t shirts and jacket. Vans footwear. Dd is a year younger than your ds and loves sports clothing. Adidas, Nike, currently in puma jacket. She did recently spend out on hoody merch with fav band on. So yeah merchandise from any icon is great idea too as previously mentioned.

Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 20/07/2017 13:50

I might turn him into a communist so I can buy him Che Guevara stuff!

OP posts:
pictish · 20/07/2017 13:51

"He has already requested a table tennis table and some books about politics (yes, honestly!) but I want to get him the traditional mother's gift in our household of clothing."

Clothing as a gift is only good for people who want clothing as a gift. If you're not bothered about it, it's disappointing. Buy him one thing...a hoody for example, then get him the books he actually wanted.

36plusandtrying · 20/07/2017 13:51

How about this, long sleeves to hide hands not too branded ?

Teenage dressing
YetAnotherSpartacus · 20/07/2017 13:52

In ours, it was a box of tissues. Cheap and easy to wrap I suspect.

He is fussy about trainers (brand not cost) and will only wear Nike.

I know I'm evil, but if he likes books on politics then there are quite a few out there that might cure this, starting with 'No Logo'.

ZippyCameBack · 20/07/2017 13:52

I'm imagining in 20 years time all your grandchildren being allowed whatever they want "because when I was a kid my bloody mother never bought what I wanted, just what she wanted me to have".
Honestly, I'd have gone with the stuff he asked for.

Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 20/07/2017 13:52

Vans don't fit his feet, oddly enough.

Hadn't thought of River Island. I might send him there / take him there before he starts sixth form to create a capsule wardrobe !

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Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 20/07/2017 13:52

We have really crap shops...

OP posts:
pictish · 20/07/2017 13:53

As regards what hoody and where to get it from...ask him! Don't choose it for him, take him to choose it himself and make and afternoon of it. Wrap the books so he's got something to open.

Katedotness1963 · 20/07/2017 13:54

My youngest is 16 next week too. He lives in band shirts and jeans so I've ordered some tee shirts for him. There are also some trainers he wants but he will get money for that. It gets harder as they get older, I wish he was still happy with matchbox cars and Lego...

Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 20/07/2017 13:55

zippy to be clear he is getting what he wants (the books and the table) and the hoody is the 'here is you present from your dear old mum' bit. He does need a hoody and he knows I will get him clothes. He will not be ungrateful. He'll be secretly pleased.
He doesn't do ungrateful sulking.

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Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 20/07/2017 13:56

It does indeed get harder, especially with many boys I think!

Loving the hoody that hides the hands!!

His interest in politics is a bit 'nerdy' rather than passionate. he likes the stats and facts. He's doing it for A level.

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Bumbumtaloo · 20/07/2017 13:57

Unfortunately no help with teenage brands but I did see Nike's online shop have a huge sale on at the moment, not sure if that helps.

VickieCherry · 20/07/2017 13:57

Honestly at 16 I'd have hated anything branded (unless it was Dr Martens or Converse). I'm not overly keen on it now at 35. If he likes Nike trainers why not a Nike hoody? (If such a thing exists?)

Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 20/07/2017 13:59

Nike hoodies do indeed exist. They are a bit dull but it may go that way.

The Nike thing iis largely to do with his sillily wide feet!

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