Teens and Branded Clothing

[SteamPudding]

What do other people think about 13 year olds wearing £90 Ralph Lauren polo shirts and £70 hoodies? What's the big deal about brands? What's wrong with shopping in H&M?

I don't care, makes absolutely no difference to my life what other people choose to wear/buy their kids.

My stepson won't go out without labelled clothes. At Christmas/ birthdays he gets a few bits and keeps any money he has for them. He doesn't have tons and tons of clothes but it's what he likes.

Doesn't really happen here. We are in a fairly affluent area, the kids do have some brands (Superstar trainers or Vans are very popular) but DD and all her friends shop in H&M, Primark and New Look mostly.

The fact that some people want to wear entirely branded clothes is no new thing. When I was a teen in the 80s parents were moaning about kids wanting Air Jordan trainers and expensive adidas shellshuits.

My teens weren't particularly interested tbh. However, I know others are and if it can be afforded and they take care of their things then fair enough. If they'd rather have one £90 polo shirt and wear it every weekend than a choice of a few then fine or if they fund the difference between one normal quality polo shirt with their own money then again, no problem.

If they are being dicks about it and trying to bankrupt their parents then they dress from charity shops until such time that they learn better.... :o

DH and I were teens in the 1980s but never heard of Air Jordan trainers! That is possibly part of our problem... I like the idea of threatening the charity shop Wax. I did suggest that, tongue in cheek, when DS told me his interest in expensive polo shirts was driven by environmental concerns rather than fashion as the polo shirt was made from recycled plastic bottles! I have no desire to police anyone's wardrobe, just curious what others think and reserving these things for birthdays/Christmas or saying pay the difference yourself seems like a reasonable compromise.

My neighbours son loves his labels and has had a job washing dishes since he was 13 and pays for them himself. It's not easy for a 13 year old to get a job though (they have a family connection).

I think it's easier for those label obsessed kids if they have parents who are the same, but to be honest, I thnik a lot of it is about fitting in or having the confidence to just not buy into it and carve their own groove.

Since I started shopping in charity shops my ds is very well dressed. Ralph Lauren, Timberland, Superdry, lots of designer stuff. I have been lucky that when I have been in there has been nice things in his size. Unfortunately, ds is not impressed by them. The only thing he really likes is Adidas t shirts. Anything else he doesn't care about