16-year-olds dress all over the map. If she's happy, let it go.

Also- Some mothers don't like to shop, so maybe not be so judgey? There are other ways to bond with daughters than shopping and manicures.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You're lucky she's not dressing trashy or into way expensive clothing and makeup. Let it be.

I’d prefer expensive to weird (not OP)

NP and I think the expensive clothes my DD likes are weird. But I’m 49 and don’t understand teen fashion, like my mother didn’t understand mine.

Anonymous wrote:My DD goes a little overboard with the baggy pants. I told her that she doesn’t want to come across as if she’s wearing a costume. Also, oversized pants are a short-lived trend which will be out of style soon (remember the big pants trend in the late 90’s early 2000’s). She does care about fashion and how she comes across so she listened (somewhat).

Let her have her own style but tell her to be careful it’s not bordering on outlandish.

Hmm. Kids like costumes these days. Outlandish is fun. My kid is into baggy pants as well, and she looks great. Broaden your mind, PP.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This isn’t the 80s. Kids don’t bully for weird clothes.

What world are you living in?! Here on planet Earth it happens just like in the 80s

Not in my kids' public high school in Bethesda. My daughter has a very unique style and she gets complimented for it. If someone shows up dressed "different", no one bats an eye. Everyone in her friend group has their own sense of style, and I find that wonderful.

Perhaps if your kids are in a Mean Girl-style clique in which everyone is expected to dress the same, some moronic teen is going to make a comment if they show up wearing something different... but in that case they should push back and affirm their right to dress how they want.

And more generally, no, it's not the 80s. Social media and the internet have made it so that there are a thousand microtrends going on at once, and young people don't feel pressured like we did to belong to major trends like in pre-internet days.

My only concern would be how expensive it may be to replace her wardrobe if her style changes. My 13 year old was very into creative unique clothing for about a year and then (perhaps due to peer pressure) switched to the current baggy pant tight top or hoodie aesthetic. But no criticism from me would have made a difference; probably would have made her double down on the prior look (half the time she looked like she was going to a concert in the 90s/late 80s).

My DD goes a little overboard with the baggy pants. I told her that she doesn’t want to come across as if she’s wearing a costume. Also, oversized pants are a short-lived trend which will be out of style soon (remember the big pants trend in the late 90’s early 2000’s). She does care about fashion and how she comes across so she listened (somewhat).

Let her have her own style but tell her to be careful it’s not bordering on outlandish.

Anonymous wrote:What 16 yr old is buying pantsuits? Does she want to be Hillary Clinton when she grows up?

It’s a look…think Oversized pants and jacket like Billie eilish.

How much is the budget?

Why don’t you shop with your daughter?

Not that you have to, but don’t you want to? Do you guys do anything together?

Anonymous wrote:DD, 16, is in charge of getting her own clothes within a budget. Her clothes have enough coverage but they’re just so ugly! Dresses with weird shapes and colors. Pantsuits with odd proportions. Combining pants and shirts, both with very “bold” patterns. I fear she might get bullied or it might stop her from making friends. Do I intervene?

Gypsy-core.

My guess is it’s a very deliberate “thrifted grandma” style, and no one whose opinion she cares about is making fun of her at school. Her friends probably dress similarly, let it go

Anonymous wrote:Yes intervene. Please don’t let her go to school dressed like a circus clown

My bet it is the mother has no idea what the current fashion is. There’s plenty of bright beautiful patterns in the stores. No need to look like you’re living in 1980s Soviet Union.

Yes intervene. Please don’t let her go to school dressed like a circus clown

It's like some of you were never teens yourselves. Leave her be.

If she doesn't like your suggestions, are you going to force your 16 year old to wear what you like?

Anonymous wrote:DD, 16, is in charge of getting her own clothes within a budget. Her clothes have enough coverage but they’re just so ugly! Dresses with weird shapes and colors. Pantsuits with odd proportions. Combining pants and shirts, both with very “bold” patterns. I fear she might get bullied or it might stop her from making friends. Do I intervene?

Let's see photos of you at 16 and maybe we can judge YOUR style..then maybe you will just stfu. Kid is 16! Geez.