Being a parent has to be one of the most rewarding feelings anyone can ever have, but let’s face it: it can be really exhausting. Seeing your child grow in front of your eyes is one of the most worthwhile and valuable experiences, but at the same time, it poses its own set of challenges – Especially in the teenage phase! We all went through it which gave our poor parents worries which for them became the source of daily headaches. Everyone needs time to figure out what are timeless fashion items like-good and comfortable pair of footwear, a fantastic leather bag from I Medici, or a nice jacket. Some children are more adaptable to this ‘new’ situation while others burst into plain rebelliousness. This can be a result of many things, be it school, friends, teachers and even you, the parent. But all’s well that ends well and you can guide your teen through this tough phase.
Fashion and Social Media 
The teenagers worst nightmare is school. Here, kids want to stand out, find themselves and explore all the options the world has to offer. The expression of individuality can be achieved in the simplest way there is and that’s via fashion. In today’s society, the media has become so accessible that we even carry pieces of it in our pockets, and those are none other than smartphones, providing access to social media. Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, you name it. Even you probably had some questionable fashion choices as a teen influenced by the media-be it a musician, actor or even a writer. You can find all sorts of people on social media who can influence your child in many ways and one of them is fashion choice. It’s no wonder they are called influencers, right? The media is not all that bad of course, you can find great sources of information. But the young minds of our children can’t distinguish the ‘it’ trend from something more sustainable. And this is where you come into play.
Understand where your teen is coming from
‘Daaad, this is not a phase this is who I actually am!’ Says your teen wearing the most ridiculous thing you can imagine. But that’s ok, you can change that and help your child become who they want to be – in a more reasonable way. That’s done through communication. It may sound like a no-brainer, but kids of this age can become quite secretive and accuse you of not understanding them. Here, social media comes into play. You can find the people who actually influence your child and get to know something about them. Teens are fragile and the best thing you can do is to ask questions like – What’s the thing you like the most about (insert celebrity name here)? In what way do they inspire you? Asking these kinds of questions in a friendly manner will get you a better understanding of your kid’s thought process.
Shop Together
When your child wants to go shopping, go with them. Let them try on different things, make it a fun experience and try to be present. Bring them different clothes, try to create a look that resembles their fashion icon, but in a way that’s appropriate for their age. And remember to ask them questions like; Does this piece of clothing make you feel confident? Does this express your individuality? Are you comfortable wearing this? This can only show your true interest in the child’s fashion option and they will feel like you want to understand them. And that is of the utmost importance.
Places like Zara, H&M, Forever 21 actually have a lot of teen-friendly clothes and are the places most teenagers go to anyway. Understating the kind of impression your adolescent wants to make can help you in many ways. Does he/she want to stand out? Try some bold colors or accessories; Wants to look more like an Instagram model? Try some peachy elegant pieces; Edgy? Try colorful flannel shirts and a nice pair of jeans. The key is to not judge them if you think their fashion choice is awful, but rather try to modify and improve it. Communicate, be patient and in the end, it will make you and your child happy!
To read more on topics like this, check out the lifestyle category.
