For teenagers fashion seems to be the most important thing in life. But as
they grow up, their views change. What is the viewpoint of someone who was
till recently a teenager?

Teenage is a critical age. At this age the boy or girl thinks he/she is no more a child, but at the same time, not as old as a college or university student. They think they are mature enough but they may be not. This stage comes in the life of every individual, but everyone thinks his or her experience is different from all.

When one is a teenager, then they feel that fashion is the most important topic to be discussed in the world. You always think of wearing good looking garments, appealing makeup, attractive footwear and using other eye-catching accessories. In today's world one's style statement and fashion go together to express that individual's creativity which sets them apart. Guys and girls always want to follow the latest fashion trends as they feel it is important to portray themselves to others through their appearance.

They believe that their personalities are incomplete without fashion. Teens are pretty conscious and crazy for brands. At that point of age they know every brand name on their fingertips whether it is for garments, footwear, handbags, hair products or others.

With the passage of time things change fast and life gets advanced. When I was a teenager, I was not aware about brands even while I was conscious about my looks and dressing sense, as the inbuilt nature of girls. But today every girl and guy knows what to wear or not. They talk like experts when it comes to which brands to wear and when, and how to dress up. Guys know if they flaunt low waist jeans then they must have boxers of Jockey. They themselves think that they are cool but if any mature person is standing in front of him, the first impression come in his mind is "he must be some college guy. When he comes to my age he'll get sincere and mature."

Brand tag

Once my sister told me about a discussion with her friends when she was in college. She was sitting with her friends behind a cafeteria and talking about brand consciousness. Everyone had different views. Most of those girls loved to buy branded garments but they also believed that at times you can get good catchy things from street and local markets. But one of the girls in the group was strongly opposed to this. She felt that nothing mattered except brands. She said she could spend thousands of rupees only for the sake of the logo or brand name or tag. While buying any product her first query was: where is the tag? Is it easily visible or not? She always thought that if she is spending huge money then she should get its worth and the worth according to her meant the tag of brand.

On the flip side, I have heard that there is a street tailor in the Connaught Place in New Delhi who can stitch a pair of jeans for 500 rupees and can stitch a logo of any brand according to your choice. So much for the brand and logo fixation!

Sometimes they may not be able to afford expensive brands but then too they never compromise with fashion by inventing their own new style statement. They mix and match the local and branded stuff to create a unique style. They usually wear a branded pair of jeans with local cotton kurti and a kolhapuri chappal, with an unusual handbag. This is one of the ways to create their own fashion.

Parent’s dream

But what about the children and teens belonging to less privileged sections? Parents of such students get their children admitted to college or university after taking a loan from a bank or other institution.

Most such children also do not want to shatter the dreams of their parents. But these children also have a mind of their own and want to look good. Yet they cannot afford any branded item. Such children try to use their clothes more innovatively with different styles according to current fashion trends. They use their old footwear again when these are back in fashion. For girls it is easier to go along with others by simply changing their hair style, like keeping them open and try to look like the others.

Now that teenage is behind me, I believe that quality of product is more important than brand. It is good to be simple and genuine rather being cool. Whenever I visit any place, I wear my clothes according to the occasion and place, not as per its brand. If I am participating in someone's wedding then I surely wear a traditional dress like lehenga, saree or suit, but you can see some teenagers insisting on wearing jeans, skirt or any attractive dress even in a marriage programme simply because they want to attract attention. Now that I am working I always wear some a suitable working dress but a teenage girl would surely like to be casual.

This article is about teenagers that what they feel for fashion.

Published: http://lucknowlead.com/pdf/page15.pdf
By Deepika Singh