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

Oh I’m just confused!

I think you need to explain why falling for advertising hype can lead to a downward spiral into unnecessary debt.

Luckily none of our DC are interested in buying into brand label nonsense but that's probably because we've always encouraged them to manage their money wisely.

This is the Berghaus Merapeak all over again!!

Scotland’s finest neds all strolling around in £150 (I think) waterproofs.

It’s a strange old world we live in!

Same here, NF only if it’s seriously minus….

The North Face have obviously just changed their brand identity so that more are bought. They were once a bit unfashionable

@TimeForMeToF1y its not just roadmen though its most of the teens

Yeah, probably not.. it’s about friends.

Round here (SW London) those NF costs were a thing with teens about 3 years ago. Now they are 'roadman' (as I'm reliably informed).

They are incredibly popular with teens here (london) and my DS has that look/ style but we haven't bought him one and he hasnt asked yet. But they are massively popular across the income brackets I'd say.

Gifts for birthdays or Christmas, esp from grandparents
Second-hand
Fakes
Grey market imports
Fell off the back of a lorry
etc

Ds is 15yo, and definitely doesn't have one. In fact he doesn't have a coat at all as the last two I bought him were passed on still with tags attached.
He's very resistant to coats.

He has no long trousers either as he only wears shorts. (including to school)

Probably not the real thing
most designer stuff is comuterfeit

I wish my dd wasn't interested in this coat either. I live in ebay, as did she until she was at secondary school and fitting in and identity became important.

I obviously haven't done as good as job at parenting as some posters.

My teens have North Face puffers. They really, truly are the norm. I work in a (very, very mixed) high school too, and see a sea of them everyday!
Try looking for a secondhand one.

https://www.thenorthface.co.uk/shop/en/tnf-gb/girls-reversible-perrito-insulated-jacket-5gc8?variationId=0GY&dsrl=1296071&dssrl=1296071&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIyJHN5P3R-wIVgr13Ch3DBgXnEAQYASABEgLDaDDBwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

We call them smicks here 😆

That’s a mom NF jacket and a very nice one too.

the one all the teens want is the retro nuptse puffer.

DD got one a few years ago, she no longer wears it so is going to sell it on depop.

She recons she can get €150 for it.
The mind boggles.

They've become a trend in our area lately.

I've got an old NF top and a gilet from years ago, which I really like and have lasted well over 10 years. Sadly NF seem to have morphed into something very different to their technical brand origins.

I wouldn't buy DC any coat that expensive purely because it's in fashion though. Once it's no longer the it item, the jacket will sit there unused.

My 14 year old son is nagging me for the same one I think ! Black 19 something style I went into North face to see it and it’s nothing special ! I am not getting it, far too expensive. I am happy to give him some Xmas money But he will have to wait and save if he really wants it! I noticed no discount in the Black Friday sale on this coat .

£11 puffer jacket from George at Asda, get someone you know with a cricut to knock up the label in white vinyl, iron it on, Bobs ya uncle. (Lighthearted obvs) Mines not at the nagging stage yet but she's dipping her toe in the 'everyone has one' pool. Good luck OP.

They seem to be about £130 on Vinted if that helps.

Re the Scottish ones - I would say those are ones for idiots. A roadman is more gang or drugs involve I believe?

Every man and his dog has a NF coat where I live, which is precisely why I would never buy one!

So much reverse snobbery on here!
But yes, my private school daughters and their TNF wearing classmates are all chavs
Do we really need to put others down as a means to justify our own position on things?

With any of these really pricey clothes you are paying for the technical aspects of the jacket which I'm sure most school kids don't need.