can anyone help style my 18 year old DS please?

[mckenzie]

He is about 5ft 10 and quite chunky. He has man boobs and is carrying some extra weight due to liking his food, a sedentary job, not doing any exercise, eating out of boredom maybe, lack of self esteem.

He's going out now a couple of nights a week, to the local pub with his mates which is brilliant; we are really pleased. We want him to get out and socialise and have fun.
The trouble is, he doesn't have a going out wardrobe. The last two nights he's been in trackie bottoms and a t shirt with a bomber style jacket that he had for Christmas about 4 years ago.

He has no interest in clothes and hides inside them, which I guess is understandable as I think he doesn't like his body shape very much. But I think with the right clothes, he could look fabulous which will then increase his confidence and self esteem.

But I'm no style guru and don't know where to start. He does have some black jeans that fit him well and some short sleeve shirts that MIL has bought him for various Christmas and birthday presents but the shirts aren't Friday night local pub wear are they?

Jeans and a hoodie?
jeans and a polo? But nothing tight fitting. Dark colours really suit him.

Anyone care to help me help DS? I love him so much and hate seeing him feel inadequate next to his slim and trendy friends.

TIA

Posted too soon. He also wears a lot of shirts open with a t-shirt under which I think looks great on bigger guys.

Try Burtons too...... they do a bigger fit and have amazing sales.

Jeans
T-shirt’s
Checked shirt over the top

He will look great
Maybe a big fleecy denim jacket.

My DS wears tops like the picture above ( main body one colour , sleeves different . He has an olive and black one -Primark- that's really nice)
And a hoodie under a jacket .

It is difficult to be a teen now there is so much they worry about ( male just as much as the females )

I would second a shopping trip with your DS and DD . Even if it's just idea gathering them order online to try at home ?

If he would like to loose weight but not keen on high impact exercise would it be an option to alter diet? Especially if he has started going to the pub his weekly calories will likely have increased quite a bit?

I found calorie counting a game changer,scan everything into my fitness pal and I basically just adjusted portion size by weighing food - lost 19lbs within 6 months - still ate what I used to eat just smaller portions and still drank alcohol

You sound like such a lovely mum.
Great advice here, a good pair of Levi’s, tshirt with a shirt over the top or a rugby top will look ace. Agree with someone up thread who said a good wool coat, it will last and make everything else look better.
A cool pair of Adidas trainers and he’ll be all set.

My DP is slightly larger-framed and he wears slim fit black jeans with a dark polo shirt which looks great (Fred Perry polo shirts are great but pricey if buying new).

Also t shirts with an open shirt over them can be very slimming

What's his 'look' like in general OP? My 18 year old DS is very smart, well groomed, hair and beard well shaped, etc. He wears jeans and tops like the photos below - you can't go wrong in jeans and a polo shirt! He prefers designer stuff, but will shop in H&M.

My 20 year old is a musician and his look' is much more 90's grunge. Long hair, beard, black jeans, T-shirt with shirt over, etc.

DS is 17 and a big lad. He was very overweight during his young teen years and hid in trackies and hoodies. He has lost weight as he has grown and is now 6’2 and slimmer, but still has a bit of a belly. If he’s going out, which is rare to be honest, its jeans (not skinny with his legs!) a dark t-shirt and an open shirt over the top. Or a jumper.
He’s really not much into clothes at all. It’s quite hard to get cool stuff for big teens when all their pals are in skinnies

I have 2 DSs, both over 20 and we've been through various looks..
I prefer the looks Bernadette posted..and layers are a must.
Personally i'd avoid ASOS at this stage, different makes have different fits. Buying without trying on might destroy his self esteem a bit if the cut is wrong and he doesn't feel good.
Take him to H&M, River Island and TKMaxx and have a play, get him to try different things and combinations until he's happy with the look and feels comfortable.

thank you for the extra posts. DS would no sooner go shopping (with me, with DD or alone) than he would chop his right hand off.
So, I'm off to TK Maxx etc now armed with your tips and ideas and I'll see what I can find that might work.

We did talk last night about his wardrobe and I made some of the suggestions (all stolen from you lovely mumsnetters ) and he knows I'm going to be picking up some bits today that he might like. I think he's most worried that I'm going to ask him to pay me for them

TK Maxx sadly didn’t have anything suitable but I got these 3 pieces elsewhere.
1 T shirt is blue and the other is black and the shirt is blue, black and off white.

You sound lovely op. Can you tempt him to a shopping trip with you? Or online if he's not keen on going? Have some options open to browse?

Also like pp wondering if healthier diet is an option? I know he's an adult but does he eat breakfast and evening meals with you? Could you help with his lunches? I only ask as I was overweight as a child and I do wish my mum had done something to help me (which would have benefited my whole family too as we were all a little unhealthy being brutally honest)

You need a well fitted black jeans, a black short sleeved t shirt and a cheque t shirt undone over the top - will suit his figure and hide any moobs.

Clothes look nice - think he is off to a good start!

Did he like what you picked?

We all eat our evening meal together and it's usually healthy, cooked from scratch food (although fish and chips last night actually but it was with a side order of home made roasted veg. A weird combination I know but we all love roasted broccoli sprinkled with almonds at the moment ).
DS works shifts and sometimes gets home to an empty house and attacks the contents of the bread bin! He usually makes his own lunch and does like a stir fry/omelette/random mix of weird food. His portion sizes are a little too big I think (I'm genuinely not sure that he has the gene for feeling full) but when we eat together we are able to overcome that.

We don't have fizzy drinks here at home as a rule (only if we're having friends round) and he knows that any beer/wine etc is not for his consumption without asking first.

When he's at work though I don't know what he eats or drinks but he doesn't earn enough to be pigging out daily on KFC and the likes. And he does usually take lunch in with him.

He's at work just now but we've got a date for later tonight to sit down together and plan next week (work, gym sessions, meal planning etc) and hopefully when I show him the clothes, he'll be a little chuffed.

I think the items you got are great, OP! Very on trend. Follow Bernadette's advice, she nailed it with her picture examples.

I don't have a teenage son, but I am in my twenties with a similarly aged partner and I also work in the fashion industry.

When my partner asked me for help with his wardrobe, he ended up getting:

A workwear / utility jacket, also known as a 'shacket' (shirt/jacket) - these are so trendy right now, but not so trendy you won't be able to wear them after one season! They're also a great winter layer that he can throw on over a T-shirt and under a coat. Example link

A puffer / padded jacket - I don't know what your budget is, but brands like North Face are very current and well made (and also v. expensive unfortunately... although if he's stopped growing it'd last years). Example

Jogger trousers - these are a kind of nice cross between, as the name suggests, joggers and trousers. They usually have a trouser cut which makes them look smarter. Good with t-shirts, etc. Example

A nice pair of trainers!! I don't know of any guy friends that aren't into a nice pair of trainers. Popular brands are Veja (v cool right now), Adidas Gazelles or Stan Smiths, New Balance. You can get nice pairs from brands like Ted Baker too. Example

Obviously I've linked some fairly ££ things, but it doesn't mean you have to spend a lot. Hope this helps you

Those clothes look like a good start. Fingers crossed he likes them too.

Those T shirts and the check shirt you have bought look good. Particularly getting the 'brands' on the T shirts. DS wears a lot of Boss. He buys on internet and I think it's probably fake as it's not too expensive! You could get a sports brand hoody too - DS has Adidas and North Face. He would also wear items from cheap shops Boo Hoo man and Primark. Although I would have agreed with others that Next isn't exactly trendy for teens, DS has a black bomber jacket I bought him when he first started work last year as some thing slightly smart and he always wears this if he and his GF are going on 'date night' rather than just down local pub.

I have learned from reading this thread that there are obviously different fashions when it comes to teen boys, and not just associated with different 'tribes' they may belong to eg the baggy turn up jeans as opposed to the skinnies. That trend hasn't reached here yet!

You did well at the shops OP.

I like your choices. They look like the things my nephews wear.

Wait till the black fri sale
GStar Raw always have amazing sales
The loose baggy style jeans drop from £100 plus down to £40 -£50
My DS is 26 and I often like to buy him stuff from there in the sales and my DH as well 😅
The T-shirt’s and hoody’s in xxl are Also really nice and baggy and wash really well
Trainers not shoes are better for nights out in the pubs
And Calvin Klein do some gorgeous t shirts often half price in the Black Friday sales

I'm not sure if it's been mentioned but my DH is rather chunky of leg and find next jeans to be the best for him, the bits you got already look great! Maybe treat him to a trip to the barbers and some new aftershave too!

mckenzie I would try a taper dark jean as well as straight. These are cut roomier on the thigh and slimmer below the knee. They are more flattering and less baggy which accentuates size I think. Burtons have a good choice and have 25% off right now. I find the online great for trying on at home for reluctant shoppers! Also good for plaid shirts and their puffer jackets are not too puffy!

Levi's 501s straight cut or tapered 502s look great on a well built guy, much better than baggy or skinny Jean's. If you're anywhere near a Levi's outlet they're pretty reasonable.