Your Teen’s Clothes Language
Do you ever see something your teen is wearing and just cringe at the statement they are making? There is the question of not just what your teens clothes are saying about them, but what that outfit says about you, the parent, who let them walk out the door like that.
Clothes for teens are a form of expression and sometimes even art. Their experimentation is a way of discovering their identity, their comfort with their body and their presentation to the world. Your early teen (ages 10-14y) is going to dress like other teens in their group, but your middle teen (ages 15-16y) is going to be more independent about what they’re wearing and possibly not seem to care at all…if it is even clean.
You may struggle with your teen to wear the one tie of the year when they go to their grandmother’s for her birthday, or your tomboy daughter to wear a bra for her grandparent’s anniversary dinner, but what do you do about the teen who shows too much cleavage whether it be the buttocks or breasts? Because you know, everyone is dressing like that and so why shouldn’t they?
Instead of criticizing, take a different approach, teach. This is about being an adult and wanting to be treated as an adult by asserting independence and individual thought. Because whatever you do, there aren’t too many teens who want to dress like their parents. So, teach them if they want to be treated like an adult and given the freedom to make more choices, an easy way to demonstrate their ability is how they present themselves.
1. First impressions
Unfortunately, some clothes make an impression and not always the one you would like. Ask them, “What is the message they wish to convey?” let them problem solve it with your guidance as a discussion not an argument.
2. Your best foot forward
Opportunities can be missed because your teen misrepresented who they are. Ask them, “Is that your best foot?” “Your future employer sees you and is that really who you are?”
3. Right place, right time
There is a place and time to dress accordingly. Your teen can show more cleavage at the beach and wear the tie at the job interview. So, let them have fun too.
Making good decisions about when to use certain dress is the best way to show others who are judging your teen whether your teen likes it or not that they are responsible enough to make good decisions.
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2 Responses Leave a comment
This is a good approach for parents like me. I usually tell my daughter to wear decent clothing when she was little, and now that she’s a teen I find it hard to approach her of the things that she needs to remind herself whenever picking something to wear. Thanks for this.
You are welcome! The teens of today are the leaders of tomorrow and I think there is always going to be a dress to impress kind of policy.