Anonymous wrote:To all the people who are ripping on this teenage kid for wanting this (admittedly, ugly and ridiculously overpriced) sweater -- did you never as a teen want to wear the "in" thing? When I was in junior high it was Guess jeans and those hideous polo shirts with "BENETTON" slapped on the front (yes, I am dating myself here). I so desperately wanted them that I would totally have let my grandparents buy them for me if I had had wealthy grandparents, which I didn't. I saved my money and did finally get both of those things on sale -- and I felt so good about what I perceived as "fitting in," which as a young teen feels so important.
I'm not saying that a $1000 sweater is okay -- but I am saying that it's normal for kids to want to feel cool, so I am not gonna slam this boy for that.
That said -- OP, in this situation I might be thinking about having a conversation with my kid about privilege.
+1
I was in middle school in the 80s. Some of the stuff we wore was truly awful (pink acid-wash jeans!), but we didn't think so. The fact that this thing is hideous doesn't mean anything--fashion is all subjective anyway. So the question is just whether I would let my kid wear or bring anything that expensive to school. If I were the parent in this case, I would think--I didn't pay for this. My kid knows that if it gets ruined, I am not replacing it. It's not an item that is necessary for any sport or other activity, such that not having it would cause any problems (especially any problems that I would have to deal with in anyway). So, fine, wear the stupid sweater. Maybe the other kids will be jealous, maybe they'll think it looks stupid, too. If I saw that sweater, I would not know it was really expensive; probably many of the kids at school won't know, either.