smartypants71
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Posts: 5,818 
Location: Houston, TX
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Post by smartypants71 on Aug 11, 2014 21:18:06 GMT
My very easy-going middle schooler has gotten WAY picky about the pants he wears now. Coincidentally, this has occurred at about the same time the girls have started calling. He is required to wear khaki colored pants/jeans/shorts to school, so last year in 6th grade, I bought him a bunch of shorts from ON. Well, about a month in to school, he wouldn't wear them anymore, and would only wear this one pair of super skinny jeans. They were Levi's and thy quality was the worst. They literally fell apart at the seams after about 2 months.
Anyway, he is at my mom's house for almost the remainder of the summer, and I need to buy him some new pants before he gets back. Is Abercrombie still a thing? They have skinny pants and chinos, and they are a pretty good price and they sell slim sizes.
TIA!
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Post by susans sister on Aug 11, 2014 21:20:46 GMT
According to my 9th and 10th grade Grandchildren, Abercrombie is out and American Eagle is in.
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Post by lorieann13 on Aug 11, 2014 21:22:02 GMT
Only a small subset of kids in my area wear skinny jeans. The majority wear regular jeans, bermuda style shorts, and khakis.
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johnnysmom
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Jun 25, 2014 21:16:33 GMT
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Post by johnnysmom on Aug 11, 2014 21:24:53 GMT
He wears pants? Jeans even?  Mine only wears gym shorts (Nike brand :  , if it's REALLY cold he'll wear gym pants over the top and a hoodie. Apparently his "girlfriend" doesn't mind, I would have thought he'd dress nicer for girls, but I guess they keep their expectations low 'round here. |
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smartypants71
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,818
Location: Houston, TX
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Post by smartypants71 on Aug 11, 2014 21:26:31 GMT
Only a small subset of kids in my area wear skinny jeans. The majority wear regular jeans, bermuda style shorts, and khakis. I only wish that this was the case at DS's school. He and the group he hangs out with are all skateboarders and it seems that that is what they still wear. His problem is that he is super skinny, so I still shop in the boys section for him. I bought him some Dickies from the skate shop, but I don't know if he'll love those. I know i *should* just tell him to wear what I buy him, but it *is* middle school and I understand the pressure to fit in. |
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Post by cmpeter on Aug 11, 2014 21:26:55 GMT
It's not a popular brand here. American Eagle would be preferred.
We have learned not to do a ton of back to school shopping before school. Dd likes to wait until after the first week of school. We might get a couple new things. I also wouldn't buy her clothes without her being there.
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Post by anxiousmom on Aug 11, 2014 21:29:57 GMT
My youngest is in high school now, but I haven't been able to buy his clothes without input for years.
If it were me, I would wait just a bit to see what he wants and then make him go with you for a brief run through to point out stuff he likes. Shopping for clothes with my son should get it's own ring in hell.
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Post by Basket1lady on Aug 11, 2014 21:55:07 GMT
I'm in the wait it out camp. Give it a week or so after school starts and take him shopping. My DS wears only cargo shorts year round. My best friend's son is a huge fan of skinny jeans. If they do the choosing, then you can just remind him that he did the choosing.
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Post by maryland on Aug 11, 2014 22:02:17 GMT
That is the age for the girls too! They are picky about what they wear at that age, as the boys and girls are really starting to hang out a lot. My girls love American Eagle and that seems to be popular with the boys too. My girls always pick out what they want to buy for their male cousin since they don't have brothers to buy for.
One of my daughters will be starting 6th grade in a few weeks, but it's still warm until October. So she will just wear her summer stuff until then. Her school isn't air conditioned and it is so hot!
I have to show your post to my 14 and 16 yr. old. We tell them that it's fine for girls to call boys and not wait around for the boy to call. If 6th grade girls can do it, 10th and 12th grade girls should be able to do it too.
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SabrinaP
Pearl Clutcher
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Posts: 4,408
Location: Dallas Texas
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Post by SabrinaP on Aug 11, 2014 22:07:14 GMT
American Eagle here too. We are a uniform school and last year many choose to wear skinny pants still.
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Post by Merge on Aug 11, 2014 22:09:12 GMT
American Eagle is the preferred brand at that other middle school across the freeway.  There's an AE outlet at the outlet mall on 290. |
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Post by ~summer~ on Aug 11, 2014 22:11:19 GMT
My kids wouldn't touch jeans - they are 8th and 7th grade and will only wear long sport shorts. They don't care what brand. But they do like colorful Elite socks. That's the only trendy item they all wear.
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smartypants71
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,818
Location: Houston, TX
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Post by smartypants71 on Aug 11, 2014 22:13:00 GMT
American Eagle is the preferred brand at that other middle school across the freeway. There's an AE outlet at the outlet mall on 290. Does AE even make his size? He wears a 12 and really needs a slim. I have no problem going there, but I thought they were more for bigger kids. I'll have to check it out. I dread the mall! |
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Post by mom2jnk on Aug 12, 2014 1:59:29 GMT
In middle school around here, skinny jeans are a big NO for boys. My DD13 (rising 8th grader) went "ewww" when I asked her opinion of skinny jeans on boys. Abercrombie is also out. Aeropostle is fine for younger girls transitioning from the Justice type of shops, but not in favor with any of the boys that I know. American Eagle is the preferred store for both boys and girls in the middle school years, with Hollister running a close second for boys. I believe that both AE and Hollister have pants in sizes down to a 26 inch waist. I have had better luck finding the smaller or odd waist sizes online. DS15 is a 29 waist right now, which I mostly find online at AE.
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Post by freecharlie on Aug 12, 2014 2:04:09 GMT
13 year old ds would not be caught dead in skinny jeans. The boys round here wear regular jeans or wranglers. No skinny and thankfully no baggies. Ds wears the shorts and a tshirt. He might wear a hoddie, that is it.
Also over the summer your ds has grown, he probably isn't the size you think he is
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Post by gritzi on Aug 12, 2014 2:07:34 GMT
No, it's doubtful you will find a small enough size to fit him. He can likely wear the XS t-shirts & possibly the polo shirts. Aeropostale won't have small enough pants either if your DS wears a size 12 pant.
Also, no way would my DSs wear skinny jeans/pants.
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Post by Merge on Aug 12, 2014 2:13:13 GMT
AE has these slim jeans in a color called tobacco m.ae.com/web/browse/product.jsp?productId=0122_3234_214&catId=cat6390033They don't have the skinny style in any color close to khaki. The smallest size they carry is 26/28. I don't know how that might translate into boys' sizes - girls has some overlap between the biggest girls sizes and the smallest junior sizes so boys might too. Have you tried Platos Closet? Even if you don't buy there, it can be a good place to try on lots of different brands and styles. |
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Post by peasful1 on Aug 12, 2014 4:49:28 GMT
He wears pants? Jeans even? Mine only wears gym shorts (Nike brand : , if it's REALLY cold he'll wear gym pants over the top and a hoodie. Apparently his "girlfriend" doesn't mind, I would have thought he'd dress nicer for girls, but I guess they keep their expectations low 'round here. My boys live in basketball shorts. Any brand, really. With Nike footwear. And all kinds of tops. Tshirts, button downs, polos, soccer or hockey jerseys. YDS pairs those snazzy top and bottom combos with the always colorful mid-calf basketball socks. A real fashion plate. |
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oaksong
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Jun 27, 2014 6:24:29 GMT
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Post by oaksong on Aug 12, 2014 4:57:06 GMT
I have no advice since my DS is now in college, but his clothing preference was far more specific than DD's at that age. I never went shopping without him. It would be a good idea to save the majority of your purchases until after school starts.
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Post by bc2ca on Aug 12, 2014 5:12:22 GMT
My son picked up a few things at Zumiez and Pacsun this year and I was shocked he bought a pair of skinny jeans. Mostly he likes to wear cargo shorts so he has somewhere to put his phone. I agree with others, as painful as it can be, having your son shop with you is important as he develops preferences or you will end up with him outgrowing barely worn clothing.
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Post by camanddanismom on Aug 12, 2014 10:55:22 GMT
He wears pants? Jeans even? Mine only wears gym shorts (Nike brand : , if it's REALLY cold he'll wear gym pants over the top and a hoodie. Apparently his "girlfriend" doesn't mind, I would have thought he'd dress nicer for girls, but I guess they keep their expectations low 'round here. This. My ds is going Into middle school this year. We don't have an onerous dress code, but he pretty much only wears athletic shorts/pants. Have to fight to get him into anything else!! Maybe that will change once girls enter the picture! |
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Post by cannmom on Aug 12, 2014 11:05:05 GMT
My youngest is in high school now, but I haven't been able to buy his clothes without input for years. If it were me, I would wait just a bit to see what he wants and then make him go with you for a brief run through to point out stuff he likes. Shopping for clothes with my son should get it's own ring in hell.  Detest clothes shopping with my DS, but I don't buy without his input now. |
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Post by walkerdill on Aug 12, 2014 11:24:37 GMT
I have a son going into 6th grade who will only wear cargo pants. No shorts or jeans. The only thing he was picky about this year was shoes. My dd is going into 9th and will only wear Hollister jeans. Our mall is tiny so we don't have an American Eagle or Ambercrombie and there isn't one within 40 miles probably. I loathe clothes shopping with dd because she likes nothing! She only has 3 new shirts because she didn't like any in the whole mall  |
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Post by Merge on Aug 12, 2014 11:57:21 GMT
I came back to recommend PacSun or Zumiez for skater styles but someone beat me to it!
Others, I'm sure our kids would love to wear athletic shorts to school, but they're standardized dress schools.
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Post by Kelpea on Aug 12, 2014 12:44:42 GMT
Middle school is the WORST time for kids...that is the age they tend to be most influenced by their peers as to fashion. Old Navy? Around here, not "in" at that age. Same with Justice.
And there are a lot of skinny jeans wearers around here; as well as the cargo shorts and the long basketball shorts (which of course must be coordinated with the same color t-shirt and socks and shoes). It's insane.
Hang in there; once they hit high school, brand names become less important to the vast majority of the kids.
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Post by melanell on Aug 12, 2014 12:51:09 GMT
We haven't started 6th grade yet, but last year, in 5th, which is Middle School here, DS wore jeans to school every single day unless it was really, really hot out. He still wore whatever I gave him, which was a drawer full of nearly identical looking ON & Levis blue jeans.
I'm another who doesn't do "Back-to-School" clothes shopping. If there are a few items in their drawer or closet that meet the dress code and that fit them, we go with those until I see what the preference will be.
For DS, my issue is shirts. Some years he wear long sleeve polos, other years he wears short sleeves all year long. Some years he wants bright colors, the next he tries to avoid solids, etc.
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Post by anxiousmom on Aug 12, 2014 12:53:45 GMT
Middle school is the WORST time for kids...that is the age they tend to be most influenced by their peers as to fashion. Old Navy? Around here, not "in" at that age. Same with Justice. And there are a lot of skinny jeans wearers around here; as well as the cargo shorts and the long basketball shorts (which of course must be coordinated with the same color t-shirt and socks and shoes). It's insane. Hand in there; once they hit high school, brand names become less important to the vast majority of the kids. And not only that, they start getting more of a feel for what *their* style is in high school. Makes shopping a teeny bit easier. Even though I wouldn't shop without my kid, I can now randomly pick something up here or there and have a decent chance that he will like it. I know that, for example, a brightly colored hurley tee will be a hit. It does get easier...and then they get old enough to drive and you don't have to deal with it anymore.  |
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Deleted
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Oct 9, 2024 0:34:01 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2014 13:17:14 GMT
I wouldn't know. I have two middle schoolers who have absolutely no interest in brand names other than their shoes have to be Nike. (I can thank their Dad for that, he's a snob about shoes) One refuses to wear jeans so it's athletic/track pants all the way. The other will wear jeans but doesn't care what the brand is. Or at least he hasn't voiced a preference to me.
Most of their shirts are Minecraft-related. I do see quite a few kids wearing Abercrombie and American Eagle. Isn't there another one? Since my kids have yet to get brand specific (thank goodness) I'm somewhat clueless.
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smartypants71
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,818
Location: Houston, TX
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Post by smartypants71 on Aug 12, 2014 13:29:05 GMT
Thanks for all the input, everyone. Looks like the pants he likes might as well be unicorns LOL! To clarify, his school requires khaki colored pants. It's certainly not my or my DS's preference. Otherwise, he would love to wear his Under Armour type stuff everyday. I think our major problem is that he is just so thin. He's almost 13 and I think maybe 80-90 pounds at the most, so we look for the skinny styles because everything else really swallows him up. I think next year, I'm just going to make his dad take him shopping. This is so hard!  |
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Deleted
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Oct 9, 2024 0:34:01 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2014 13:35:51 GMT
My 6th grader and I were just talking about this the other day. She hates the way jeans feel so I think she'll stick to jeggings and fleece pants. She will wear a skirt or a dress with tights occasionally so we'll see how that goes. Right now, she is asking for shorts to get through the first month or so. She hasn't jumped on the American Eagle bandwagon yet so I have a feeling that Justice will be just fine for this school year.
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Mine only wears gym shorts (Nike brand :
, if it's REALLY cold he'll wear gym pants over the top and a hoodie. Apparently his "girlfriend" doesn't mind, I would have thought he'd dress nicer for girls, but I guess they keep their expectations low 'round here.
There's an AE outlet at the outlet mall on 290.
Detest clothes shopping with my DS, but I don't buy without his input now.
