FashBlog.com

By Christina VanGinkel

You might wish you could shop for your teenager's clothes without them with, and everything you buy would be a perfect match both in size and style, but your chances of that happening are narrow at best, or about as impossible as them never looking at you like you have lost your mind when you suggest a new clothing style!

As to fit, most teenagers, both boys and girls, often have a different sense of what constitutes fitting and what the average parent would consider fitting. Because of this, even if you took your teen's measurements every time you went to the store, you probably would still not buy what they would consider their correct size.

A personal example that I could use would be the last time I took my fourteen-year-old son to buy a couple pairs of pants. After pouring through the racks in JC Penney's, he found three pair of jeans he thought he might like. To my eye, all three of the pairs were almost identical in cut and appearance, save for a slight variation of color from pair to pair. My son headed to the dressing room and after trying on all three pair, he picked out two, but said he was putting the one pair back because they did not fit right. I asked how they could fit any different from the other two pair, and he replied that the pair he was putting back was too tight around the ankle. To clarify, each of the three pair of jeans were what one would consider a loose fitting style, with a somewhat wide leg, and not a single pair were what I would call a narrow or even a boot cut.

To my eye, they looked the same. He casually laid the leg opening of the pair he said was too narrow over the leg opening of one of the pair he was buying, and believe it or not, there was about a half an inch difference. Not much to the naked eye, but it might as well have been a mile to my discerning son's sense of style.

Teens seem to have a built in sense of what equals comfort, and what is fashionable, even between two seemingly alike pieces of clothing. Because of this, it can be difficult to buy them anything unless they are with you. I have found a few quick tips I keep in mind for those rare opportunities that I might come across a deal that is too good to pass up and my son is not with me. They include never buying anything unless I can return it. If the sale is so big that no returns are permitted, I ask myself if he does not like it, can it be passed to his older brother or my husband. This only works with shirts though, not pants, as he is so much bigger than both of them. (My fourteen-year-old towers over both his father and older brother). As to shopping with him, I have learned even more.

Never enter a store without a budget in mind that has been discussed with the teenager beforehand. Unless you have an unlimited wallet, which few parents do, this is essential.

If you absolutely forbid certain styles of clothing, again, discuss this with your child before you get in to a store. If you have a good dialogue with your child, this should not be an issue, but saving it until you are in the middle of a department with others about, is not the place to be discussing why you will not allow your thirteen year old to wear see through lace without a bra on!

Do shop boutiques and even second hand stores if your teen is willing. Teenagers often love to create their own unique style and second hand shops and small boutiques that offer limited amounts of the same styles are ideal for this purpose.

If you live rurally or in an area that ahs a limited supply of clothing stores offering fashions suitable for a teenager, shop online. The Internet has made it possible for even the most isolated teens to be fashionable. Just be sure to double check each stores sizing guidelines, shipping charges, and return policy before you place an order.