To think that not all 15 year olds have a North Face jacket?

[Shinyredbicycle]

DD15 is seriously nagging us about getting a North Face jacket to the tune of £300. Apparently, everyone at school has one, they're very warm, last forever etc.

I'm a bit surprised given the decidedly non-middle class demographic of her school tbh, but I have seen a lot of teens wearing them.

My first thought was that it's an insane amount of money to spend on a jacket. Her last one was from Urban Outfitters which I bought in the sale and I suppose that given that she's not going to grow very much more, I'd feel okay spending around £100 on something she really wanted.

But £300! Am I missing something here about how vital they are to a young person's life? It's quite possible that I don't really get how desirable they are.

Would like to hear from other parents of teens about how reasonable a request this is!

TIA

@JustCakeInDrag it did feel like a lot of money at the time, I saved up from pocket and birthday money!

To answer your question OP, you're asking in the wrong place, as whether they 'all' do depends on your DDs peer group. The mums on here won't know about her school. She most probably means all the cooler non nerdy kids do, and she wants to look part of that group.
I'd suggest you have a look yourself what the other kids are wearing and if your DD is correct and you can afford it, I wouldn't write it off. They are very warm practical coats, so there are far worse expensive items to request, and feeling like you've got your clothes 'right' is a big deal at 15.
I think though I'd be saying to her that you have a budget for her clothes of X amount, and spending that much on a coat means there will only be so much left over. Is she happy to have fewer or cheaper other things, or would she prefer a cheaper coat?

@Lapland123 Thank you for the laugh, I needed that today.

Columbia is much more stylish and individual

It's not a mumsnet thing. The kids who don't wear the exact same NF jacket would say the same.

This cracks me up. I have an original TNF Nuptse vest from the 90s in my closet. I would pull it out if it wasn’t already -11 where we live. I would be bang on trend 😁

Ha! My DD15 wants one too.

Apparently it’s the girls who go to private school who wear them here (according to her) not roadmen (she recently introduced me to that word).

Could you give her some of the money and she makes it up with some Christmas money from nan and grandad maybe. We call it ee disease and it applies to everything teenage wise ie every one else.except it doesn't of course

We have a very small family. She'll get something like a top from her aunt's and a bit of money from Grandma and everything else from us.

Only having one Xmas present and having to put the cash you got as another towards it doesn't feel right to me and, despite what she says now, I don't think it would be great for DD.

But yes, if we had a large family all asking what she would like, that would be ideal if they were happy to contribute towards one item.

I'm very keen for her to get a job as soon as she can, tbh, so that she can be more independent.

DS had a black one his dad bought it I couldn’t afford it

noticed the other day it’s now navy blue

him and his friends swap around (have no idea why)

Yes branding is consumerism at its worst but pretty hard to be the teen who has none when everyone else has it.

Mine has a North Ridge one instead. I am very surprised that this has been deemed acceptable but he loves it

Only having one Xmas present and having to put the cash you got as another towards it doesn't feel right to me and, despite what she says now, I don't think it would be great for DD.

Honestly ? It’s no different to buying a 10 year old a Nintendo switch for example , they cost the same thing, and there is nothing wrong in getting one good present that she really wants instead of few she’s not too into, it could teach her about quality over quantity.

True. Didn't know Nintendo Switches cost that much!

My 12yr old ds wants a gaming pc that's way over our budget, he's putting all his birthday and Xmas money towards it and we'll pay another couple of hundred on top. I feel the same as you, sad he'll only get 1 present but we just can't stretch to a £800 for him and then we'd have to match it for his brother. It's hard trying to keep up isn't it, you don't want them feeling left out.

Gaming stuff is so expensive. Even without all the accessories, the computers with enough power are serious £££££.

I have a 14yo and a 16yo and neither have a north face jacket! Son has an adidas coat, daughter has an ellesse one.