High school trends

[Anonymous]

OP, I'm the immediate PP (1905) and I just realized my post added nothing helpful to answer your question. So, the following is my contribution:

Clothing -- From what I have observed there is a very wide range and very little in the way of an overarching trend that will apply to everyone. A lot depends on the specific social group or interests that the girl has. I would say most stores at the mall that look like they are geared for teen girls are probably decently popular. CAVEAT - we are at a school where most of the students are from a (relatively, for the area) modest socioeconomic status so if your DD is zoned for a much wealthier district/pyramid/school then perhaps this won't apply as much and there will be more designer or boutique outfits.

One thing I can say in general is, most high school students dress pretty casually. Dresses are popular with some girls, but they are usually what I would call a casual & cute style rather than a fancy or formal thing -- and unless it is required by an event's dress code you are unlikely to EVER see high school girls in pantyhose. Jeans/t-shirt/hoodie is some girls' basic school 'uniform', but other girls seem to enjoy putting together cute or creative outfits. Colors and patterns or graphics seem popular this year, solids and outfits that are too matchy-matchy, not so much (basically, anything that looks like it would work as a school uniform at a very traditional school is probably pretty uncommon). So are turtleneck style shirts or sweaters, which are apparently pretty much the kiss of death. Many high school girls are a bit more daring with their outfits than you/your DD might be useful if she is coming from a school with a conservative and/or traditional dress code. Some girls seem to choose to wear less than modest outfits, that might not meet your family's standards (some of them don't meet ours).


I don't have much more advice on clothing than I've just mentioned, and I know nothing at all about coffee preferences, sorry.

A lot of schools don't allow backpacks to be carried around during the day so oftentimes they will just go from home to the locker and back, if they're used at all, in which case I doubt brand matters a great deal. Many girls seem to prefer totes or just carry their books.

Lunch bags depends a lot on how the school does lunch and how populated the school is -- if it's really crowded in the lunchroom there usually is not enough time to buy lunch, eat lunch, do whatever homework they saved for lunch, and chat with their friends. Plus, many kids say the school lunches are gross. So, a lot of kids pack lunch. At our specific school, lunchboxes/lunchbags are not so common and most kids either pack in a brown paper bag/a plastic grocery bag or they put individual components of their lunch into their tote bags/big purses.

For shoes, flats & sandals (booties in the winter) are more common than tennis shoes unless your DD is part of a more sporty crowd. Flip flops are always popular, if your dress code allows it (and perhaps even if it doesn't, but in that case that's not really something I would personally fund/encourage). Some girls wear heels, but I would discourage that for several reasons ranging from safety & comfort to getting to class on time to avoiding the trap so many young teens fall into of looking ridiculous by wearing shoes they don't know how to walk in.

Makeup varies a lot based on social circle. Some girls do not care about it, or it seems impractical for them, so they don't wear any. Some girls, generally those who are very artsy/creative go as "all out" as they can get away with under the dress code and really experiment with their makeup -- this tends to get them a lot of strange looks from other girls who are not into makeup or who prefer a less 'out there' style and may think this amount or style of makeup is weird, but that does not seem to deter some groups of girls. Other girls wear the kind of makeup I would expect to see on older teens going out for the evening, while some girls just wear a more moderate (and IMO more tasteful/appropriate) amount. If she wants to wear makeup but doesn't have much experience wit it, your DD probably can't go far wrong with a good foundation, some subtle eye shadow, a coat of normal-colored mascara, and a quick sweep of lipgloss/lipstick. This is sort of a middle of the road style, and from there she can change her makeup habits to suit her own tastes and the image she's going for, as her budget and your rules allow.

As long as she keeps a friendly positive attitude, some observation skills, and her head focused on what's important (i.e. academics, activities, and good friends are all way more important than having the right look) I'm sure your DD will do great at her new school. Good luck to you both -- high school can be very challenging, very interesting, and very enjoyable, and sometimes all three all at once

[Anonymous]

* used to, not useful, in the third paragraph of the post above. Sorry for the typo.

[Anonymous]

I would go online and see if there are any pictures of kids at her school on the schools website. What is her style? This will probably change a lot this year. If she sees a style that she likes in the first few days of school, be ready to go shopping with her the first week of school. I think it's great and that you want her to feel like she belongs at the school. Performance arts seem follow more of what they like then the in crowd. I would defiantly let her wear a little make up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And, if they have any integrity, they roll their eyes and take pride in not needing to look rich to be popular.

OP, does your DD care about this, or just you?

NP. I do not agree with what you are implying here. You have said that people who care about finding out what the typical/appropriate/preferred mode of dress is for a particular environment have no integrity. I think this is a ridiculous and hurtful statement to make about someone's children on the basis of such limited information -- I do not think one is evidence or proof of the other.

When moving to a new city, or interviewing for a job, or starting a new position, did you honestly never once ask a friend in the area/company what they "typical" dress was like? That's pretty much the adult equivalent of what this poster is attempting to do for her DD.

I don't think it's necessarily about trying to look "rich", I think it's about trying to look "appropriate", and I fail to see how that is a sign that the person conducting such fact-finding, or the person on whose behalf it is being conducted, lacks integrity.

Please enlighten me, and I do mean that sincerely, on why you think this. I have often encouraged and assisted my girls to learn about and at least consider what constitutes typical dress for their various social circles and activities, but if doing this is somehow harmful to their moral development or to the public perception of their moral development I would genuinely like to know why so I can consider changing my stance.

NP here and all I can say is if my mother had worried about what brands and labels other kids were wearing and whether I was equipped with the right products to make me popular, I think I'd have turned into a neurotic mess. OP didn't ask about appropriate stuff, she asked what was "in."

Her daughter is a teenager. Can't she figure this all out for herself like other teenagers do, by looking at magazines and websites and hanging out at the mall or movie theaters or wherever it is that kids go? If she shows up on the first day of class wearing jeans and sees that all the other girls are wearing maxi-dresses and she likes that, well she can always go out and get one. If she likes to wear makeup but notices the other girls do not and it makes her uncomfortable she can go easier on it the next day. Or she can decide to be herself and do whatever pleases her.

I personally find it strange that a parent would be looking into what was in for a teenager. But then again, my parents taught us to concern ourselves primarily with our character and mind and discouraged us from following the crowd.

[Anonymous]

What does she usually wear, OP?

I have a high schooler and honestly, there's such a range of styles that I wouldn't really worry that she has the "right" look. Though I will say, the only thing I have heard from my dd (16) as being absolute NO for high schoolers is Aeropostale. "Social suicide" so she says. Or stuff with Hollister, Abercrombie, etc. plastered all over them.

[Anonymous]

I personally find it strange that a parent would be looking into what was in for a teenager. But then again, my parents taught us to concern ourselves primarily with our character and mind and discouraged us from following the crowd. [i]

Well, bless your heart.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your attention to detail, 17:55, is very creepy.

Um, kay? If you say so...Wasn't aware that having a clue what my own child wears to school each day is creepy, but whatever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:+1 I am looking for the same info.

This thread is a good argument in favor of school uniforms.

Meh. My kids have school uniforms and it's still pretty clear what the trends are - even though they wear a uniform they still see who's wearing the $200 Jcrew jacket, who's sipping starbucks as they walk in, who has the latest iPhone or who's got the nicest backpack.

Not even remotely the same as in schools where kids wear whatever they want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:+1 I am looking for the same info.

This thread is a good argument in favor of school uniforms.

Meh. My kids have school uniforms and it's still pretty clear what the trends are - even though they wear a uniform they still see who's wearing the $200 Jcrew jacket, who's sipping starbucks as they walk in, who has the latest iPhone or who's got the nicest backpack.

Not even remotely the same as in schools where kids wear whatever they want.

Huh. My kids have been in non-uniform and uniform schools and said they really didn't see a huge difference in the status-consciousness of the students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And, if they have any integrity, they roll their eyes and take pride in not needing to look rich to be popular.

OP, does your DD care about this, or just you?

This may come as a shock, but most high schoolers care about this sort of stuff. Weren't you ever young?

.

Of course they do, and I can't tell you what is in, but I can tell you that it won't be anything mom figures out for her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your attention to detail, 17:55, is very creepy.

If the poster is really a 45 year old man who doesn't even have a teenage daughter, yes.

Otherwise, I'm on this poster's side.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What does she usually wear, OP?

I have a high schooler and honestly, there's such a range of styles that I wouldn't really worry that she has the "right" look. Though I will say, the only thing I have heard from my dd (16) as being absolute NO for high schoolers is Aeropostale. "Social suicide" so she says. Or stuff with Hollister, Abercrombie, etc. plastered all over them.

Mom of a 15 year old rising sophomore in a public HS here. My daughter noticed that the styles that were trendy (Hollister, Abercrombie et all mentioned above) were passé and very much tied to "middle school" so she did change her wardrobe.

My DD wears preppy/casual clothes. - lots of dresses with a scarf, sandals, tee and jean shorts, skinny jeans, riding boots and sweaters. Mostly plain and kind of tailored. Some days, like during exams, she might wear yoga pants and a hoodie. She spent a lot of time her freshman year putting together outfits the night before school, to include all her accessories (jewelry was suddenly important).

Might be good for your daughter to ask an older girl who'll be going to her school. Trends seem to vary, even across county and between schools.

[Anonymous]

Try Urban Outfitters and look at Brandy Melville at Pac Sun. No lunch box. If she has a nice looking backpack already, start with that and then buy one that fits her style.

[Anonymous]

yes they wear make up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And, if they have any integrity, they roll their eyes and take pride in not needing to look rich to be popular.

OP, does your DD care about this, or just you?

NP. I do not agree with what you are implying here. You have said that people who care about finding out what the typical/appropriate/preferred mode of dress is for a particular environment have no integrity. I think this is a ridiculous and hurtful statement to make about someone's children on the basis of such limited information -- I do not think one is evidence or proof of the other.

When moving to a new city, or interviewing for a job, or starting a new position, did you honestly never once ask a friend in the area/company what they "typical" dress was like? That's pretty much the adult equivalent of what this poster is attempting to do for her DD.

I don't think it's necessarily about trying to look "rich", I think it's about trying to look "appropriate", and I fail to see how that is a sign that the person conducting such fact-finding, or the person on whose behalf it is being conducted, lacks integrity.

Please enlighten me, and I do mean that sincerely, on why you think this. I have often encouraged and assisted my girls to learn about and at least consider what constitutes typical dress for their various social circles and activities, but if doing this is somehow harmful to their moral development or to the public perception of their moral development I would genuinely like to know why so I can consider changing my stance.

NP here and all I can say is if my mother had worried about what brands and labels other kids were wearing and whether I was equipped with the right products to make me popular, I think I'd have turned into a neurotic mess. OP didn't ask about appropriate stuff, she asked what was "in."

Her daughter is a teenager. Can't she figure this all out for herself like other teenagers do, by looking at magazines and websites and hanging out at the mall or movie theaters or wherever it is that kids go? If she shows up on the first day of class wearing jeans and sees that all the other girls are wearing maxi-dresses and she likes that, well she can always go out and get one. If she likes to wear makeup but notices the other girls do not and it makes her uncomfortable she can go easier on it the next day. Or she can decide to be herself and do whatever pleases her.

I personally find it strange that a parent would be looking into what was in for a teenager. But then again, my parents taught us to concern ourselves primarily with our character and mind and discouraged us from following the crowd.

Funny, I find your character somewhat lacking based on this post.