Clothing for Teenage Boys
A man's teenage years are a time for experimentation. We try on different identities, discard things that don't fit us, and eventually take those trembling steps towards manhood. Along the way, we wear some truly stupid clothing.
Shopping for a teenage boy can be tricky. Teenage trends change dramatically. In addition, a teenager's identity is usually tied into what he/she is wearing. Clothes create the persona. It tells the world what kind of person you are, what music you listen to, and what you value. As such, it's usually wise to get a sense of what look they're going for before you start breaking out the credit cards.
A Field Guide To The Teenage Male
The whole concept of the teenage years as a distinct period of life is a fairly recent recent idea. Following World War 2, pop culture began treating teenagers as having a distinct culture and voice. Marketers realized that teens had access to a tremendous amount of disposable income and began solidifying youth culture as a marketable commodity. Since then, marketing aimed toward teenagers has skyrocketed.
Before we get started, a word of warning: teenage fashion changes on a near constant basis. Anything I write is going to become obsolete quickly. Disclaimers aside, check out these common looks.
* '''Casual'''. Probably the most common look these days is simple variations of the classic jeanstee shirt combo. Styles can range from comfortable and casual to clean and preppy. Popular brands include American Eagle, Abercrombie & Fitch, Gap, Old Navy, and Hollister.
* '''Designer'''. The Designer look is common for the trendy, young gadabout. The look is based around high-end designer tee shirts, often with tattoo imagery, and designer jeans. Popular brands include Affliction, Von Dutch, Ed Hardy, and designers like Ralph Lauren.
* '''Hip Hop'''. For the enthusiast of urban street style, Hip Hop clothing is the way to go. Whether you're rollin' dirty in Lynwood or raising consciousness in homeroom, you can find something to make you stand out. Popular brands include Akademiks, Sean John, Southpole, and Ecko.
* '''Goth/Emo'''. These dark and evocative styles are a little trickier to track down by brand label. You often have to find them in specialty shops and oddball boutiques, but the right look will make your gloom cookie stand out from the crowd. Check out Darkside Clothing, Hot Topic, spiked bracelets, and shirts from bands like Sunny Day Real Estate, Bright Eyes, Death Cab For Cutie, VNV Nation, Switchblade Symphony, and Bauhaus.
* '''Sporty'''. Kids born for the game often wear sports attire in their day to day attire. Tee shirts and jerseys with favorite team names are common, as are basketball shorts, baseball caps, and athletic shoes.
* '''Geek Chic'''. As geek culture has become more mainstream, young nerds are more willing to raise their freak flag high. The most common item of geek clothing are fan teeculture shirts by ThinkGeek, Jinx, and Threadless.
* '''Hipster'''. If you're raising a nascent hipster, you should probably start your shopping at American Apparel, which is probably the most common brand for the young and chic. Mix that up with some Brooklyn Industries and Urban Outfitters and you'll be good to go.
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