Help: what are good clothes to buy for a teenage boy in DC suburban public school

Anonymous
Hi, can someone help me figure out what are good clothes to buy for a teenage boy? White eleventh grader in a diverse suburban public high school.

I'm married to his dad. Dad (widowed) buys his clothes online and Dad is fashion clueless. I am not all that fashionable myself. Son doesn't care much. Son is on the smart, nerdy, slightly socially awkward side. I feel like maybe it would be helpful socially if he had some middle of the road but in style clothing. Nothing super fancy.

What are teen boys wearing these days? Brands? Styles?
Anonymous
It is nice that you want to help. But the best thing you can do for this kid is to support his belief that his clothes do not matter. Don’t convey the idea that he would be cooler if he only dressed differently. He’s perfect as he is.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:It is nice that you want to help. But the best thing you can do for this kid is to support his belief that his clothes do not matter. Don’t convey the idea that he would be cooler if he only dressed differently. He’s perfect as he is.


This.

You're communicating that he's not good the way he is. That he's not capable.

Ask him what he wants to wear, and buy that.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Hi, can someone help me figure out what are good clothes to buy for a teenage boy? White eleventh grader in a diverse suburban public high school.

I'm married to his dad. Dad (widowed) buys his clothes online and Dad is fashion clueless. I am not all that fashionable myself. Son doesn't care much. Son is on the smart, nerdy, slightly socially awkward side. I feel like maybe it would be helpful socially if he had some middle of the road but in style clothing. Nothing super fancy.

What are teen boys wearing these days? Brands? Styles?


I think it's nice- this time of year, hoodies and some sort of athletic pant/jogger or a pair of jeans. That's it. My DS16 wears American Eagle jeans or simple sweatpants, plain hoodie with a subtle logo. Flannel/plaid is in now- you can probably get an inexpensive one at Old Navy.
Anonymous
My teen son wears mostly joggers with hoodies. He has clothes from Abercrombie, Vineyard Vines, Uniqlo, Under Armor, Nike, JCrew.

His friends dress similarly.

DS is smart and athletic. I don’t think he puts much thought into his clothes. He likes to be comfortable.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It is nice that you want to help. But the best thing you can do for this kid is to support his belief that his clothes do not matter. Don’t convey the idea that he would be cooler if he only dressed differently. He’s perfect as he is.


This.

You're communicating that he's not good the way he is. That he's not capable.

Ask him what he wants to wear, and buy that.


Op here. Good point not to over emphasize the importance. But his clothes are too small and he needs new ones. He shrugs when we ask what he wants.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Hi, can someone help me figure out what are good clothes to buy for a teenage boy? White eleventh grader in a diverse suburban public high school.

I'm married to his dad. Dad (widowed) buys his clothes online and Dad is fashion clueless. I am not all that fashionable myself. Son doesn't care much. Son is on the smart, nerdy, slightly socially awkward side. I feel like maybe it would be helpful socially if he had some middle of the road but in style clothing. Nothing super fancy.

What are teen boys wearing these days? Brands? Styles?


I think it's nice- this time of year, hoodies and some sort of athletic pant/jogger or a pair of jeans. That's it. My DS16 wears American Eagle jeans or simple sweatpants, plain hoodie with a subtle logo. Flannel/plaid is in now- you can probably get an inexpensive one at Old Navy.


Thanks. Flannel and plaid button up shirts? Or flannel and plaid hoodies?
Anonymous
OP here.

I’m on the jcrew website.

Seeing some flannel plaid button downs - good idea?

What about rugby shirts?
Anonymous
Hi OP I have a teen son who wears all athletic wear. Athletic wear shorts or pants, short sleeve athletic wear shirts, hoodies and sneakers. Favorite brand is Under Armour, also likes Adidas, Nike and Champion. (I sneak in some Target, Amazon and Old Navy here and there.)
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:OP here.

I’m on the jcrew website.

Seeing some flannel plaid button downs - good idea?

What about rugby shirts?


Hi OP, my DS would never wear rugby shirts and neither of my teens shop at J Crew.
Anonymous
My HS boy wears athletic shorts or sweatpants (Nike, Under Armour, etc), and hoodies. So. Many. Hoodies. His older brother took about 20 of them to college - I don't get it, but I'm not a teenage boy
Anonymous
No to rugbies and no to J Crew. Go to the Dick’s Sporting Goods site and order him three pairs of Nike fleece joggers in black, light gray, and charcoal. Then buy him three Nike hoodies in white, black, and light blue. Make sure he has white Adidas sneakers to wear with them.

That’s a great start.
Anonymous
My kid wears almost all Old Navy. We can afford better, but it’s what he likes. Just like all the other posters, he lives in fleece joggers and hoodies. Wearing jeans would be a step up for him.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:My kid wears almost all Old Navy. We can afford better, but it’s what he likes. Just like all the other posters, he lives in fleece joggers and hoodies. Wearing jeans would be a step up for him.


+1
My DS told me recently that his no name jeans were too "dressed up" for school. Sigh
Anonymous
You are so sweet, OP. I had a friend growing up (I went to the same school grades PK-12) whose mom died. When his dad got remarried when we were seniors in HS his stepmom (also very sweet) helped with his wardrobe (desperately needed).

I have a 15YO boy and he wears athletic shorts, joggers and hoodies. All Nike or Under Armour. He goes to a private school and has to wear pants/shorts with buttons and collared shirts so I buy him golf shorts/pants/shirts because the stretch in the pants/shorts is much more comfortable for him. He also has a navy blue blazer and a few button downs and ties from Vineyard Vines for chapel days/dressier occasions.

Skip the plaid fleece.

If he needs a jacket, look for a North Face.
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