Parents of schoolchildren “explained the clothes”: how to dress a teenager and not go broke

In the context of sanctions and the fall of the ruble, Russians, accustomed to dressing in accordance with world fashion, based on their budget, are faced with the fact that this is now impossible. Some spat, others get out. But there are categories of citizens who, no matter what, cannot spit on the dress code “imposed from above”: these are employees of serious corporations and… schoolchildren from 12 years old!

“In our latitudes, where there is bad weather and frost for six months, or even longer, you really don’t care what you wear, it won’t work,” fashion stylist Zoya Setunskaya is sure. — Even to those who say about themselves that “they’re indifferent to clothes.” But no one wants to freeze in winter or walk with wet feet in the off-season. And those who have children even more need to get out of it. And teenage schoolchildren also have their own desires. Therefore, parents who have the opportunity turn to buyers. These are like shuttles, but they deliver small quantities strictly to order and with prepayment. They take a few orders and go. Sometimes the customers are parents from the same class.

According to the stylist, adults have a much easier life when it comes to clothing than teenagers. Those who value convenience and quality are ready to save money to buy one, but expensive item, and then “be an eyesore in it” for others all season long. And those who need variety are ready to either supplement one basic expensive item with cheap ones for one season or purchase an expensive, but used one. But for teenagers it is much more difficult to comply with their “industry” dress code.

“It’s not that our Yegorka is a big fashionista,” shares 46-year-old Olga, the mother of a 13-year-old schoolboy, “but they have several guys at school who have set their own dress code and monitor it. Of course, you can disobey, now at least they don’t beat you. Previously, they were directly beaten in the toilet for the “wrong” sneakers, but after a bunch of parental complaints and a visit from the PDN inspector, they are afraid. But they will definitely laugh and point fingers. And the girls won’t watch. Yegorka doesn’t care what kind of tracksuit or jeans he’s wearing, he just doesn’t want to be different from everyone else. And this is not fear, but understanding: if you are the black sheep in a children’s group, you will have to spend a lot of time and nerves every day confronting the aggressive majority. It’s better to come in “those” clothes and spend your energy on something more necessary and interesting.

— And where and for what price do you buy the right “gear”?

— The basic law is no surprises, any item of clothing only in agreement with the son. Some clothing companies are completely banned, and this is changing all the time. The main thing is that the jeans and sneakers are “top” – from brands respected by teenagers. Luckily for us, our school “style icons” are patriots and have “banned” the most expensive European brands, and Japanese youth clothing can be ordered with delivery through international aggregators. And the prices there are quite reasonable, within 20 thousand rubles. per item. My friend and her 13-year-old daughter are getting out with the help of online flea markets and rich girlfriends. In RuNet, branded items are sometimes sold from hand to hand for next to nothing. Daughter’s friend for 15 thousand rubles. I bought boots that cost half a million at TsUM. But rich friends don’t wear the same clothes more often than twice, and they don’t let their daughters wear them, but then they give them to the “poor,” which is a good sign for them. But the most important thing: if you are in a brand, you must be able to “explain” for it. Egor’s father and I, candidates of science, laugh that this is like defending a dissertation.

– And how does such “protection” happen?

“If the “casual people” (who watch for fakes) ask,” Egor himself chimes in, “then you just need to calmly prove that your clothes are really hype (expensive and branded. – Author), and not that you sewed a branded label to clothes with clothing market.

– What, you can’t buy clothes there?

– Can. But then this is your level. And with the help of a fake badge, you seem to be trying to deceive yourself into becoming a top player. And even girls can be beaten for this. And they will also film that they caught the deceiver. But if the clothes are really top-notch, then you can show the seam on the wrong side – and everyone who asks for clarification will understand.

— And besides “casual aliens,” who can ask for clarification?

– Your inner observers. But they seem to be for you. They remind you that if you put on any clothes, you must know the meaning of all the symbols on it. It’s still impossible, if everyone knows that your family is poor and you don’t work, to shine in expensive clothes. They will ask you to explain: how does your mother save money on herself and her younger children so that you can dress up like a peacock?! In this case, you must answer that the mother herself gave it, and you didn’t even know.

Published in the newspaper “Moskovsky Komsomolets” No. 29155 dated November 13, 2023

Newspaper headline:
Parents of schoolchildren “explained their clothes”