An article about clothes and today's teenager by Lucy Allen (From Surrey Comet)

An article about clothes and today's teenager by Lucy Allen

10:52pm Tuesday 30th June 2009

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When I say ‘teenage fashion’ to you, what image springs to mind? Hoodie-clad youths binge-drinking on street corners? Dangerous criminals in tracksuits, knives in one hand, cigarettes in the other?

Though you, the teacher, may regard teenage fashion with a mocking and cynical eye, let me assure you of the importance of fashion in teenage life.

Not only is clothing used to ‘look cool’ among immediate peers, but also to assert individuality. The right outfit can result in immediate acceptance into a group, whereas an outfit deemed ‘un-cool’ may result in rejection.

Let me explain to you the vast range of styles which can be seen on the streets today; from Preppy boys in Jack Wills shirts and blazers, to Chav girls in pink Mackenzie tracksuits, to Goths in long leather coats, black flares and heavy boots, fashion is a way of expressing your personality, culture, and allegiance with others who dress similarly.

For example, the ‘uniform’ for a Sloane girl consists of an Abercrombie & Fitch vest top, tight skinny jeans with Ugg boots, a Topshop cardigan and large leather handbag. Oversized sunglasses are optional, though an extreme side parting and tanned skin are mandatory. If a Sloane girl wore, for example, a tartan miniskirt, she would be regarded with quizzical or even intimidating looks from her fellow Sloanes. For a Scene girl, however, a tartan miniskirt would be deemed fashionable and acceptable, as would leg warmers, tutus, coloured skinny jeans, Hello Kitty accessories and converse trainers. Hair must be straight and severely layered, and heavy eyeliner is the norm.

So you see, while you may scorn the teenage styles and assume that teenage fashion is limited, it is in fact the thing which makes us who we are.

If a group of hooded teenagers was walking down the street, would you cross the street to avoid them? What if the same group were dressed in smart trousers, shirts and blazers?

We all make instant opinions about people, especially teenagers, usually based on how they look. I would say that, being a teenager myself, I would be able to categorize other teenagers with a fairly good level of accuracy.

For example, I would not have a problem with walking past a group of Chavs in coloured tracksuits and shiny jewellery. However, if the group were gathered tightly together and dressed in black, grey and navy tracksuits with hoods up, I would probably cross to avoid them.

Whilst some of these styles may seem intimidating, they are after all influenced by you adults who control the media. Celebrities like 50-cent, Eminem and the Black Eyed Peas strongly influence Chav, Gangsta and Pikey fashions. Others, like Fearne Cotton, Alexa Chung, Alex Zane and Hockey (band) affect Indie and Bohemian styles.

So before you cross the street to avoid the next group of youths you come across, I suggest you ask yourself this; ‘Are these young people really so dangerous and intimidating?’, and, ‘Am I to blame for the image these teenagers have been branded with?’.

By community correspondant Lucy Allen

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