Teen fashion: dressing for acceptance

Joe Jensen
jensentj@uwec.edu

           They look like a music video gone bad.

The boys’ pants hang below their waists and their sweatshirts will fit them well into their college years. The girls are generally more conservative than their 18 year old counterparts, but some dress like they’re 25. It’s cool to wear the same thing as your friend, some go out of their way just to look like twins.

Their clothes scream brand names with image T-shirts, hooded sweat shirts, baggy jeans, low cut pants, and long sleeve polos dominate their market.  Traditional stores like Sears, Marshall Fields and Kohl’s are out and trendy stores such as Pac-Sun, American Eagle, Aeropostale and Zumiez are in. Being independent from others is important but most manage to look the same.

            Finding a niche, why they wear what they wear.

 While many 13-year-olds feel they are trying to find independence by dressing a certain way, the majority are wearing the same thing. Some are even wearing the same thing to look cool.  Autumn Cathey, 13, tries to set herself apart from what others are wearing, but says many others are not.

“I try to stand out, while others are trying to look the same,” Autumn said.

Other teens say that dressing like their peers makes them more accepted. Eighth grader, Amanda Winch says that clothes lead to acceptance.

“It’s important to choose clothes that look cool,” Amanda said. “Cool clothes make you more accepted.”

Boys are no different, Adam Kinning, 13, says that clothes are important in making friends and that 13 year olds care about what others are wearing.

“Most people I go to school with wear the same type of clothes and people care about that,” Adam said. “People aren’t friends with certain people because of the way they dress.”

Cliques still exist in the middle schools of America and finding that niche to fit into can be difficult. Clothing can have a lot to do with what kids are doing or who they are trying to be. Pamela Forman, assistant professor of sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire says kids just want to be part of groups.

“Kids have to be part of something, if they’re not an athlete, they’re something else, a snowboarder, a technology kid, anything,” Forman said. “These groups are about seven kids and have a set bureaucracy. If one kid doesn’t fit in, they’re out.”

Photo By: Joe Jensen

An example of an image T-shirt that is popular among 13 teen year olds this year.

Photo By: Joe Jensen

Another graphic popular with  young teens this season.

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