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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

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Original poster

How do I buy clothes for ds age 13...!?

77 replies

fizzbuzz · 26/12/2006 10:47

Ds has informed me he dislikes his wardrobe as too babyish and uncool.

However will not enlighten me as to what he will wear. Has rejected all requests to go shopping for clothes as boring, but will not wear anything from catalogues. I know anything I buy for him will be instantly rejected as embarrassing. Is currently wearing 2 sweatshirts and 2 tshirts all the time!

Any tips?!!!!!

OP posts:

Troutpout · 26/12/2006 10:57

Leave him with just current clothing untill he agrees to come shopping i reckon.

saffy202 · 26/12/2006 11:36

Well if he won't go shopping nor tell you what he wants he will just have to put up with what he has got - hopefully he will outgrow them soon

Took ds1 on a special shopping purely for him but had to bite my lip when it came to forking out for Nike tracksuits etc. I think at 13 identity becomes sooo important to them and they desperately want to fit in with the crowd.

colditz · 26/12/2006 11:39

Tell him to write down a list of the clothes he wants, come and discuss it with you to put prices on it, and see if you can come to an agreement. If he doesn't bother that is his problem

FrostyTheSnowMarsLady · 26/12/2006 11:47

I agree with Colditz (esp as I've just been there with my DS1 14). He came shopping with me because he was completely desperate.

I was shocked. He actually just wanted plain jeans and t-shirts etc. It was harder shopping for him then getting him to go shopping because he's at that age where he's no longer a small boy but is nowhere near being a man. The clothes shops were singularly lacking in clothes his size (unless he wanted clothes covered in awful slogans and logos).

Of course he didn't want the top that I chose for him. It had a slogan on (I know... but I couldn't stop laughing at this one). "Parent for sale. Buy one get one free!"

He didn't find it as funny as I did. Sigh...........

Anyhoo... long story short... ditto Colditz!

jampots · 26/12/2006 11:57

online shopping! with him buying the chocolates to munch on whilst doing it together

Earlybird · 26/12/2006 12:07

Can he look at catalogues and show you the clothes he likes? Or tell you/show you which of his friends dress the way he'd like to? That at least could point you in the right direction.

themoon66 · 26/12/2006 13:00

There is a gaping hole in the shops where teenage boys' clothes should be IMO. Easy to find stuff for the under 11s and over 18s, but the bit in the middle is very under-catered for. Clothing designers/manufacturers seem to be under the impression that this age group shop for tracksuits etc and JJB type crap will do.

DS (age 15) does ok, I find, in Gap or Hennes and, funnily enough.. the boys section of BHS for jeans occasionally.

carlsberg · 26/12/2006 13:11

yes, it is really hard to get clothes for this age for boys. My dss are 11 and 13 and that age clothes don't fit. I have to get small mens size clothes which cost much more. Most of their clothes comes from Sports world . They live in Reebok sports trousers, Man U shirts and hoodies.
They don't want to come shopping but I picked up a lovely couple of tops Sportsworld and no one will wear them. Ds 1 has one favourite top and moans if it is in the wash. Also total90s are the only trainers ds2 wants to wear and they both have size 10 feet so yet again even though he is 11 I still have to pay double the price ofr mens shoes,. Rip off !!!!

Original poster

fizzbuzz · 26/12/2006 17:05

Glad it's not just me then. Ds also has enourmous feet (size 11)and really object to paying vat when he is obviously stil a child

Will leave him to come to his senses, and decide what he wants. Something to do with death was his last request (charming I know), presume he must mean Gothy type stuff, would I be right?

OP posts:

ledodgychristmasjumper · 26/12/2006 17:09

Why not let him choose from online shops that was he can msn his friends as he gets on with it.

ledodgychristmasjumper · 26/12/2006 17:09

*way

PartridgeinaRustyBearTree · 26/12/2006 17:53

\linkwww.fatface.com/icat/boys\Fatface} do a catalogue, or you could do it online if he's into that kind of thing - or you could try La Redoute, which is a bit 'cooler' than some of the other catalogues - according to DS/DD
I had a nightmare with DS as he was/is very small for his age & when he was 13 anything that fitted had cartoon characters - that's when we started using La Redoute - their 'Soft Grey' range is good if he likes plain stuff.

TurkeyTrotter · 26/12/2006 17:57

my latest discovery is tk max where i get quicksilver stuff for my boys at decent £
The downside is that my 14 year old is a Man size accoring to many brands! My 10 year old is a designer band size 13-14 - they are beanpoles!not cheap! la redoute is my other but pricey

PartridgeinaRustyBearTree · 26/12/2006 17:57

Fatface
Always preview links, Rusty!

PartridgeinaRustyBearTree · 26/12/2006 18:03

Do you mind shopping online in the US?
I asked DD for somewhere for 'Clothes for a 13 y-o boy who wants something to do with death' & she said Hot Topic is absolutely perfect for him'
I remember spending about 2 hours in here when we went to Florida -DD's idea of heaven!

MerryPiffmas · 26/12/2006 18:26

TK Maxx
Great cheap and you can set them off alone to choose and it will cost you shag all
DS love it

FrostyTheSnowMarsLady · 26/12/2006 19:08

themoon.... strangely it was in BHS that I had the most success for DS1 (and we walked past it twice because I didn't think it would have anything). Got 3 lovely pair of jeans and some tops there!

roisin · 26/12/2006 19:14

[quick hijack] Do 11-14 yr-old boys not wear pyjamas? Ds1 is only 9, but very tall for his age, and usually wears at least 11-12 clothes. I scoured the shops before Christmas but the only PJs aged 11+ I could find were £20 in Debenhams, which is too expensive for me for jus one pr of PJs. But they were the only ones I could find.

FrostyTheSnowMarsLady · 26/12/2006 19:17

It's blimming hard to find them PJs. As has already been said... for some reason there is a complete gap in the market for boys between 12 and 18! Nightmare.

I use the Boden sale to pick up PJs for my DS. At least I know they'll last and I can put them away for 10 years for DS2.

Roisin... I need you to start another what your are kids reading thread please. My fave guy at the Children's bookshop has passed his exams and left to be a lawyer! And I'm a bit stuck and busy! Ta!

7swansaswimmingup · 26/12/2006 19:18

roisin,my ds aged 12 wont wear pyjamas, he says theyre uncool he sleeps in boxers and his dressing gown!

roisin · 26/12/2006 19:25

Thanks Marslady and 7swans - I figured as much. But ds1 is only 9 and couldn't care less about clothes and has no concept of 'cool' at the moment, so needs some PJs!

Marslady - will do books.

Original poster

fizzbuzz · 26/12/2006 19:43

Partridge, that website looks right up his street, thanks very much. Stuff is usually cheaper in states. Thanks to everyone, he will go in TK maxx on a good day as long as he can go in terrible Warhammer shop nearby which I refuse to set foot in Also thanks for Fatface website. Had this saved in favourites a few years ago, but forgot about it.

I am ashamed to say in my dim dark past I used to be a boyswear designer for 10-14.Never got it right then and obviously no one else does today either! Really difficult to get it right for this age.

Someone was on about pyjamas. Got ds a 2pack in next online sale, they do quite a lot of nightwear for that age group. Totally uncool of course...(yawn)...

I think the problem is, is he is just uninterested in clothes . Very hard for a mum who is an ex-designer....

OP posts:

themoon66 · 26/12/2006 21:25

Agree... TKMaxx is ok if you and your DS are in the mood.

Pyjamas.... again.. BHS go up to size 35in or 38in chest in the boys section. Although they usually only have one in that size in each style.

Fizzbuzz... I too have to bribe into shopping by agreeing to go via Warhammer shop

Original poster

fizzbuzz · 27/12/2006 11:42

Warhammer...don't get me started...staffed by social misfits with a personal hygiene problem..terrible place...

OP posts:

winterpimms · 27/12/2006 12:25

Ds[10] is very difficult to buy for as well.
Find TK Maxx and Debenhams the least painful Debebhams have J. Conran, Duffer,Quiksilver,J.Rocha etc. so not a bad range all under one roof.

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