As an adolescent grows, their style choices become more important to them and form a powerful part of their identity.
But why do adolescents choose certain styles? How does culture influence what we as teens wear? In this blog post, we’ll explore these questions and some others related to teenage style during the teen years.
When adolescents enter their teenage years, they usually begin experimenting with different clothing options. This often begins by exploring parent’s wardrobes and raiding older siblings’ closets for interesting clothes. This can range from bright colour patterns to alternative silhouettes. As teenagers gradually attempt to express themselves via fashion, they often find that what once generated excitement with other peers may now be seen as too immature or not cool enough anymore. It is only after going through several cycles of trends that teenagers truly begin understanding how to express themselves in clothing and accessories that reflect who they are authentically.
Being accepted by peers is incredibly important during adolescent years; it serves as a reinforcement of identity, an act of belonging, and an expression of self-confidence. Thus, the peer group has the greatest influence on what people wear; sartorial decisions are made based on friends’ opinions as well as celebrity styles admired by teenagers.
More than ever before, social media plays an integral role in helping define trends amongst teens.
Instagram influencers and TikTok stars will shape the type of outfits being worn by teens in highschool hallways around the world simply because they have been seen doing it first online. Once those looks hit the mainstream, adolescent followers attempt to recreate them via budget buys or statement pieces from streetwear brands – whichever way suits their wallet best!
The rise of vintage fashion has also had a huge impact upon youth fashion in recent years; thrift stores are becoming increasingly popular amongst teens due to lower prices & higher quality items available than fast fashion retailers offer for equivalent prices. The emergence of streamlining shapes and bolder prints within vintage shopping also offers another opportunity for adolescents to distance themselves from parents or ‘mainstream’ thinking when it comes to dressing up in styles understood only by their age group changing habits associated with both secondhand purchases & highstreet buys offer aspirational new opportunities which generations prior lacked access too!
Most importantly however is that whatever style adolescents choose – whether it is perfectly put together trend pieces or purposefully mismatched throwbacks – it should be done unapologetically! Even though adolescent style choices may change frequently (as we all do!) its important that each piece chosen reflects who we are today and not what we think people expect us to be wearing tomorrow!
