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Below
By: Andres Fuentes
Photographer: Ron Carr
Location: New Orleans
Teenagers you gotta love them. Whether the stereotype is that they are loud and obnoxious
or hopeful and promising, teenagers define the era they live in. Each generation of teens
have their own defining and impactful culture through the music they listen to, their forms of
entertainment, the food they eat, and, of course, the clothes they wear. The current generation
of youths are no exception. Their clothes are a symbol of themselves, their emotions, and their
perspectives. Teens use clothes as a tool to find community, following the latest trends and
mimicking the fashion of their favorite celebrities. Clothes are a style of art that teenagers are
using to create a unique culture of their own.
High school junior Marie Indenhoek said it best; “Fashion can be expressive and show who I
am and I don’t even have to say anything before I meet someone.” Whether teens wear a pair of
ripped black jeans with graphic t-shirts with their favorite movie characters on them or a crop
top with brown riding boots, they are always trying to send a message to the world around them.
For example, for a day at the mall, Mary Poirier would wear a solid skirt with a patterned shirt
and ankle boots. She says; “I like my outfits to have at least one bit of color in it, so I guess that
shows my bright and outgoing personality.” Mary, as well as other teenagers, are aware of the
power that clothes hold in expressing their persona.
Fashion is a significant factor for teens when it comes to formal events such as Homecoming or
Prom. “Your clothes are the first thing someone notices about you and you have to put your best
foot forward,” says Haileigh Pellerano. Girls would spend entire weekends at malls, going store
to store in order to find the perfect dress, shoes, and
bag. Guys also spend time finding the right clothes,
but not to the same extent as girls. Suits and tuxedoes
generally stay the same with each brand, allowing
only ties and bow ties to be the only real creative
outlet. Nonetheless, both genders see the need to look
their best for the event and will spend their time and
effort to do so. Teens enjoy showing off who they
are through clothing but are split as to where they get
their clothing from. Social media has revolutionized
the way people interact with one another, as well as
change the way people view fashion. Teenagers can
see which name brand items their favorite athletes,
singers, actors, and celebrities are wearing and in
seconds purchase the brand online.
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Brands like Nike, Michael Kors, Air Jordan, Victoria’s Secret, and Lacoste [still] appeal towards
the youth due to its fame in the populace and endorsements by celebrities. The phrase, “Dress for
the job you want, not the one you have,” shows validity
in this situation, as teens wish to become famous and
wealthy and therefore emulate celebrities by mimicking
their fashion trends. Teenagers don’t even mind the
heavy price tag these clothes generally have, paying high
prices to look their best.
The other group of teens choose not to find clothes in
malls and department stores, but in thrift shops and
consignment stores. These teens see their fashion style
deserves a more personal touch, looking for clothes that
better suit their personality and interests. They crawl the
aisles of the shops looking for the right style for a low
price. Teenagers generally spend a low price for their
clothes, but receive a more plentiful amount. This leads
to more clothes that they can use to mix and match how
they choose, creating new outfits, looks, and demeanors
every time they step out the house. They enjoy the
locality of their clothes, how their clothes blend in with
the local atmosphere and how easily accessible the
clothes are to purchase.
Fashion also has its own community among teenagers.
Teens talk and discuss which fashion trends they want to
follow, which brands are better, which brands are terrible,
and what clothes they wish to buy. Their attitudes
towards fashion is influenced by the opinions of their
friend groups, peer groups, and the Internet. This new
generation of teenagers is special. They see the beauty
in fashion and clothing. Teens see how one can express
emotion and personality just by a shirt, a pair a shoes, or
even a beanie.
They take pride in style and see the value of appearance.
This generation is not characterized by one set fashion
trend but a collection of different appearances and looks.
This generation has created a culture for fashion with no
set standard, but a palette of different personalities. When
asked how to describe her generation’s fashion sense,
Jamie Silcio simply states; “Our generation is unique in
that it’s recycling old styles but making them suited for
the modern world.”
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