Feb 11 2009
Teen Fashion - Finding Your Own Style
Lately I am reminded of just how very long ago it was that I was in high school. Two, not one, but two notifications have been sent to me regarding my 20 year reunion. Seriously? Has it been 20 years already? At least I was invited this time. They never did find me for my 10th. I did hear about it, but it was held on my birthday and not the way I would choose to spend that particular day. Twenty years.
Yes, the math would put me at graduating in 1989. The last class of the eighties. The first graduating class of my high school. Twenty years. Now I am remembering the music, the bands, the HAIR. Oh, yes, this was the time of the metal hair bands. You know, when boys were boys but looked more like girls. Big hair. Not quite the beehive of the fifties, but big hair nonetheless. I had big hair. Not like I could really help it. My hair is curly, wavy, frizzy, pick an adjective. I had bangs and knew how to use them.
And then there are the clothes. Remember the zippers, everywhere! Tight pants, stretchy pants (these are back in style, what a shame), leg warmers, day glow, Member’s Only, mini skirts (think Madonna). I recall wearing plaid shorts with a white t-shirt and two different knee-high socks with my yellow Converse high-tops (today these are lovingly called Chucks) folded over. Frankie once called these particular shoes ugly and something she would NEVER wear. Check out that picture above, that is Frankie wearing really high-top Chucks. She has since added her own bit of flair by partially painting them pink with blue stars.
So, the question becomes, do we choose our own style or is it chosen for us? Does Frankie dress this way because she really wants to (probably to some degree), but did she start because of my influence? You should see her sock collection. And is this of any concern? No. Frankie is artistic. Artists are a bit nutty. They have their own style and move to the beat of their own drum. Frankie is no exception. No low cut, too high, too much showing for her, or Lulu for that matter. Frankie wears shorts under her skirts, just in case. Recently I bought her a cute skirt at Old Navy for $1.00 and she wears that over her jeans. It is way too short to wear alone unless you are wearing it over a bathing suit.
Teen style. Do you worry about your teens style? I don’t. Why, because I encourage my girls to express themselves without having to show too much of themselves. They see others dress provocatively. Who wants that kind of attention, really? Why not get it in a more positive way. Talk to your kids and get involved. Do not put down everything, but suggest alternatives. This works better than you would think. Be a part of their decisions or you may find you have lost any and all say.
I happen to miss the French rolled jeans. I loved that look. It was especially lovely when the jeans would not stayed rolled. You’d have to spend the first 2 minutes after sitting down in class rerolling your jeans. Sometimes I would carry safety pins with me as backups, for those especially uncooperative jeans that would not say rolled. Heaven forbid I made the fashion faux pas of wondering the hallways with unfolded jeans!!!!
I also had a couple of pairs of the button fly jeans, with the tabs that you would then fold over. It was like an arrow pointing at my girl parts. Who on earth thought that was stylish?????? Clearly we were misguided as teens in the 80’s and early 90’s.
I remember doing that. I gave up because it was so frustrating! Frankie rolls her jeans up to her knees so everyone can see her knee socks. It looks like a throwback to the 50’s with the exception of the socks.
I had forgotten about the button flies with the rollover. What about the pants that went all the way up to your chest? I had a pair of those, too. And untucking your shirt and wearing a belt over that. My kids laugh at the thought of that.
It’s hard to believe so much time has passed.