Is Superdry the kiss of death to teen street cred

[IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads]

DS needs a new coat.
He is 16, but is a complete country mouse, and has no real concern for fashion.

He does like orange, and so do I, as he's more visible in the dark walking back from school.
He also likes parkas, as he's tall and anything waist length is more rib length on him (he's 6'3" with a long torso).

I've found this - ticks lots of boxes, but isn't Superdry a bit middle aged? DS is so nerdy that I don't want him to alienate himself even more from the cool kids.

Orange Parka

Oh dear! My teen DS is autistic and wouldn't have a clue about what's in fashion or not, and even if he did he wouldn't care. I however try to keep him as coolly dressed as possible so he looks like other teens (only a bit smarter probably). I realise now that the ancient 60-something year old mum has got it wrong, I bought him a navy blue Superdry puffer thinking it was what was cool!

(I have a green one the same but couldn't care if I am cool or not).

My teen DD has a superdry t-shirt which is worn as old-school retro chic I have more superdry than she does and I'm 50-something! (Not logo stuff though) From what I hear, North Face is what's in, though she's not that fussed herself ands as a PP says, it's "roadman".

However I aso have an older teen DS who doesn't care at all about brands, and no one gave him any grief at school about it. If your DS isn't bothered I don't think it's an issue. Is there a way to find out if he would be OK with it? Or find out from other parents what's popular?

Do 16 year old boys want to be chic?

I'm near the highlands, never heard of this word "roadmen". Had to Google it. Is this a southern city word? Generally curious.

It’s horrible to say that a young boy of 16 shouldn’t wear a coat he likes, one that his mum has come back to say is the one he has chosen, because he happens to be tall. No one should have restrictions put on them over what they wear because of their physical appearance in that way. I know adults that make those sorts of comments and often their kids are horrible, take the piss of others and feel they can tell others what they’re allowed to wear. It’s a horrible way to be.

Inner city Birmingham here... It's Multicultural London English. The term went out of fashion in my school a while ago I think, along with my favourite "wasteman".
Neither's a compliment 😂 I'm not sure if there are any equivalents that have come out yet.

Superdry is a Japanese brand. Hence the tartan mini skirts and high socks.

No it's not , it started on some industrial estate on the UK

Link fail but it's on the website as businesses history

@DogSmiles when did I say a 'young boy shouldn't wear a coat he likes'? I said someone tall in an orange coat, to me personally, wouldn't look good. Idk what age. But of course they should wear it if they want.
I'm not going to walk up to them and start slagging it off. 🤣

In my DDs peer group Superdry is for Dads. Neither she or any of her friends, male or female, would be seen dead in a Superdry coat.

Put your lad in the nearest decent shopping mall and let him choose his own coat.

You know OPs son is young so….

He isn’t there to look good to you. He has chosen a coat now. You still thought it appropriate to come on and say that this 16 year old lad shouldn’t wear a coat he likes because he is tall. It’s horrible. If you have kids, I hope your attitude hasn’t rubbed off on them.

@DogSmiles I'm sorry that you think it's horrible.

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Superdry started in Cheltenham. It was initially cool, but like all cool brands it suffered from the original target audience growing up and becoming uncool.
That said, it seems to be worn by quite a few of the university students I teach.

I no longer have teens. And thankfully when i did (only a decade ago) it didn't seem important what coats they wore. From observing styles however (between Cornwall where I live, and London where I often am) I'd say Uniqlo is the best shout (and affordable). Unlike Superdry it actually is Japanese and therefore has a cool tag attached. Depends on budget though. My now mid twenties kids would wear Finisterre or Patagonia because those companies seem to have a wholesome public image.
I think Northface confers a bit of 'I want to look cool and tough and be in a gang' (which isn't all that cool to wider youthdom). DD lives in Islington and there's a lot of Northface worn around the market but not the posher environs of Camden Passage!

Like I said, a decade or more ago we wouldn't be having this conversation. And I'm 58, so what would I actually know!?

If he does decide to go the black/ grey route there are options that are highly reflective. My DS is much younger (primary) but a few parents asked me about a jacket I got from Tesco that was black and grey but reflective so when cars passed you could see him really well. I find it quite scary how invisible the kids are all in black crossing in front of cars when doing the school run.

It's a shame kids and parents have to worry about bullying for clothing choices. Lots around here wearing no coat at all still. Where worn they are mostly black, some North Face. Teen DD wearing Uniqlo.

What a minefield! I really don't have a clue what is fashionable for my age group, let alone for teenagers.

Where we live, Northface was the most noticeable brand worn by most over 40s mums and dads about 5 years ago. Basically the majority of parents of youngsters around here are well into their 40s and 50s. Which is proper old to a teenager.
So I can't imagine any teenager wanting to wear the brand unless they are wearing their parents' cast offs as a retro ironic fashion statement.
I haven't noticed any obvious logos on grow-ups recently so it's more subtle branding nowadays.
But I guess those who know, know!

I didn't know what a roadman was until a few months ago when DS said I was dressed like one when I was wearing all black ready to walk the dogs (black trainers, black tshirt, black hoodie and slim joggers with weird discreet zipped pockets). No obvious logos because I detest them, a very, very practical cleaning and gardening outfit for me. I thought it meant road repair men and I thought it made sense wearing black for such a job, and I pointed out I am missing a high viz jacket to complete the look. This went on DS's group chat with his mates!

I’m north highlands, it’s used up here, mainly in the context of wannabe roadman, because they’re just dressing like the part rather than actually roadmen.

Super dry is having a bit of a style come back. My daughter who knows her stuff with fashion got a “penny lane” style coat last year. Beautiful looking coat and really good quality. The coats sold out so were v popular. Road man slang comes from
a young man hanging around the streets usually to sell drugs or cause trouble.

I find it so interesting how much it varies over the U.K. we live in Norfolk and no one here likes or wears Superdry - generalisation yes but the large Superdry shop in Norwich closed down last year and there’s no other shops for it here. (Yes I know people can buy it online but shows a lack of demand). Ds is 13 and they’re all into Nike everything. It’s funny really, we live in a very middle class, quite wealthy area and all the teens are trying to aspire to be south London type roadmen!

I think Superdry is a wee bit naff. The North Face and Berghaus are both enduring brands across all ages. North Face IS a brand worn by some as a status, but it's generally always clear to whom that applies.

It's worth looking on sites like Brandalley and Sports Pursuit. Lots of brands at good prices, especially Sports Pursuit. I buy most of my outdoor clothes from there.

@IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads I'm not sure how far you are from the York outlet but I got my teen a North Face jacket from the outlet this week. It cost me just over £100 which I thought was great. I bought an adult medium to allow for growth rather than the XXL kids which is the equivalent of an age 14-16.

My teen recently chose a superdry parka, dark navy. He absolutely loves it, it’s a great coat. Seems pretty waterproof, v comfortable and warm, great hood, and inbuilt sleeve glove things. He also got a superdry hoodie which is his favourite. I’ve been impressed with the quality.