The Mystery of Teen Fashion Teen fa

The Mystery of Teen Fashion Teen fashion is intriguing and fascinating. We've all noticed teens with neon-colored hair, pierced tongues, and bare stomachs. We've seen teenagers use common household items like safety pins and rubber bands as accessories So, where do these trends come from? Who starts them? And who dictates to the world's teen population when something suddenly becomes cool? Consulting companies that specialize in the youth market track down teen trends to find out what the next "must-haves" will be. One of these companies is Lambesis, whose trend spotters travel all over the world, read hundreds of magazines, and watch thousands of hours of movies and television in their quest for what is cool. The parks and streets of big U.S. cities and the campuses of small-town colleges have become their hunting grounds. According to one expert on youth culture, many trends simply boil down to "whatever's cheap and whatever wu shock people." Teens often compete to see who can be the most cutting-edge, and fashion is no exception. They find ways to wear everyday accessories in a new and different style. One student started wearing her watch on her ankle. "She could never really read the watch, another student said. "It was just more to make a statement. Although teens themselves have often been trend starters, the biggest influence on teen fashion, of course, has always been pop culture. TV shows, music, movies, magazines, and celebrities have had a huge impact on teen style Many teenagers choose to dress like popular teen singing sensations. The size of the teen market has grown steadily. Today, it is estimated to be a staggering s 100 billion a year. No wonder clothing companies spend millions of dollars trying to identify the next hot teen trend! (Extract From Read on, write Up 2: Nancy Nici Mare, 2555)