The culture of funny T-shirts and personalised hoodies

For most teenagers and people in their early twenties the expression that if you are out of fashion, you are out of life, is truest of all. After we stop wearing the clothes bought for us by our parents it seems that creating our own image is the most important thing in the universe. Is this some way of us trying to define ourselves in the world, or relief from a school uniform, or to announce our arrival to adulthood, or an act of rebellion against our parents? Psychologists probably have an answer but whatever the reason the results can be spectacular. While most are content to follow a kind of basic dress code, like jeans and t-shirts, there can be millions of variations on the same theme. Jeans have been the staple leg wear for a long time among young people and different styles and designs keep emerging all the time. Different shades of blue, different colours, different states of wear and tear have all come and gone over the years and varying fads and whims of those wearing them. T-shirts have evolved along similar lines with the added use of printed designs in more and more bizarre themes with stranger and stranger images.

Slogans and messages, usually involving a warped sense of humour, produce a limitless number of variations. Another item of clothing that has mass appeal for teenagers is the hoodie and this is almost obligatory for someone under twenty. As with other clothes styles vary and personalised hoodies and as many other designs as with t-shirts have appeared over the years. This item conceals the head of the teen wearing it in a possible attempt to look older, or prevent him or her being identified as the kids have their adolescent fun. But hoodies are typical of the practical clothes that young people tend to go for and, like the hard wearing jeans; they have the added use of keeping the head warm in the post hat age. There is always the teen friendly baseball cap but this seems to lack the warmth practicality of other materials although undoubtedly it is better than nothing.

Worn in conjunction with a hoodie, teens can gain an extra level of anonymity and disguise disconnecting further from their previous parent friendly anorak. The combination seems to be related to American rap and hip hop culture so is another example of how young people try to connect with their popular music idols just as jeans have their popularity rooted in the mid twentieth century cinema. Finally we arrive at teen footwear and for the active teen or young adult anything but trainers will not do. These all purpose shoes require a minimum of maintenance and are much more comfortable than the leather lace ups they have to where at school. Now we have a complete picture of the unconventional dress conventions of your average youth which will probably last well into his or her early twenties if they’re like their parents.