As if growing up isn't hard enough, boys aged between 12 and 16 often find themselves in a state of fashion limbo: neither clothes from the kids' nor men's departments seem to fit.
While designs from the former are either too small or childish, those from the latter are too big or business-like.
Fashion stylist Jerome Awasthi, 27, who has trouble finding clothes that fit boy models of that age group for photo shoots, says: 'Boys at that age are the hardest to fit. They can be short one day and tall the next. Stores have clothes for kids and adults but none for those in between.'
DOS AND DON'TS
- Proportion is key. This means nothing baggy or oversized, thinking that you will grow into them. You will just look as if you're swimming in your clothes. Kiddy clothes that you have outgrown are a no-go, too.
- Don't follow trends blindly. Just because something looks good on a model doesn't mean it will look good on you.
- Invest in basic pieces such as a pair of jeans that fit well. Stock up also on plain white or black tees and shirts as they are versatile. Mix and match, or layer them to create different looks.
- Go for more vibrant colours and prints. You are only young once.
Retailers have a valid reason for not catering to those in this awkward 'I'm not a boy, not yet a man' stage.
'Many retailers find that the potential of this tweens market is not huge as they are in school uniforms most of the time,' explains a spokesman for Wing Tai Clothing, which manages British high-street labels including Topman.
Jeanice Chan, the senior marketing communications manager for Israeli casualwear label Fox, adds: 'Boys this age grow up so quickly that sizing is often difficult.
'Also, they are constantly exploring their own identity. They tend to be indecisive in their choice of clothing. Perhaps that is why some retailers find it hard to understand what they like.'
Housewife Sally Ng, 50, for instance, finds shopping for her 14-year-old son, Shawn Ng, an exercise in frustration.
'When I buy pants for him, I have to alter the length and re-sew the buckles so that they fit. When he wears long-sleeved shirts, he has to fold up the sleeves or they would be too big.
'Mostly, we buy the smallest sizes from stores for adults but they could be uncomfortable as they are usually still too big.'
The main shopping grouse of Shawn, a Secondary 2 student at St Andrew's Secondary School, is that 'there's a huge variety of clothes around and it's hard to pick the right ones'.
His wardrobe staples are baggy tees and jeans, with a few shirts thrown in for more formal occasions.
Help is at hand. Hong Kong casualwear label Bossini is launching a new line specially tailored for youths by the end of this month.
Called Yb, which represents Bossini young line, it features sizes that are a tad smaller than adult sizes and targets those aged 16 to 25.
Barbara Chan, the general manager of Bossini Singapore, says this collection is more hip and bold than its other lines.
'It features brighter colours, neon, bold and graphic prints. The cuts and sizes are also slightly smaller than those for the adult line. Basically, it's customised to fit the youth.'
We get stylist Awasthi to go shopping with Ng and her son at five stores - Topman, Bossini, Pull And Bear, Fat Face, and Fox - for five different get-ups.
This article was first published in Urban, The Straits Times on Mar 13, 2008.
