When you have a teen daughter, all kinds of issues can arise, including how she chooses to dress. Some girls are natural fashionistas, knowing what they like and how to showcase their own personal sense of style, whereas others seem to be late bloomers, comfortable with wearing the same t-shirt, jeans and sneakers combo over and over.
If you have a daughter that seems to be struggling in the style department, there are ways that you can help her develop her own sense of style in an encouraging and helpful way rather than just buying her clothing you think is appropriate. Discover how to help your teen spread her fashion wings by following these 6 ways to help your teen develop her sense of fashion.
1. Ask Her What She Likes
Sit down with your daughter and ask her what types and styles of clothing and accessories she prefers. If she seems to not really know what she likes, give her some age-appropriate style magazines or point her toward some teen fashion websites so she can get some good ideas.
She can even go so far as to create a fashion collage with pictures of clothing and accessories or even complete looks that she would like to emulate. Use the examples she provides as a talking point to be able to understand better what type of look or vibe she’s interested in going after.
2. Try Non-Mainstream Shopping
It’s hard for a teen to develop her own sense of style if she only shops at mainstream stores and wears what everyone else is wearing. Although there’s nothing wrong with purchasing pieces from popular clothing stores, introduce your daughter to other shopping avenues.
For example, ThredUp, which is an online secondhand clothing marketplace,has sections packed full of a variety of brands of kid’s and junior’s clothing at deep discounts — some brands your daughter might not even have heard of.
You can also visit local thrift and resale shops to find one-of-a-kind or vintage pieces that can help your daughter develop her sense of style. Overstock stores are also a good place to find non-mainstream pieces at a discount.
3. Allow Experimentation
Resist the urge to comment when your daughter tries something new that you don’t really think is the right choice. For example, a pair of faux leather leggings dotted with colorful emojis might not be your pick. But your daughter might be able to experiment with the piece by creating different outfits and eventually find a way to rock it.
Don’t be afraid to set boundaries if you need to, however. If something she’s wearing is too tight, too revealing or is sending the wrong message, gently but firmly explain why the item is inappropriate and encourage her to find a suitable alternative.
4. Don’t Freak Out Over Fashion Fails
When teens experiment, they may go through phases where they decide they only want to wear a certain thing. Whether that’s a pair of ratty tennis shoes or a desire to dress in black from head to toe, keep your cool. Chances are the phase will pass.
If you freak out, you may actually encourage the behavior to continue. Instead, look for ways to improve upon those fashion fails in a way that honors the look she’s trying to achieve without imposing your own ideas on her.
5. Enroll Her in a Fashion Camp
If you see that your daughter has a real knack for fashion and styling, you may want to consider enrolling her in a fashion camp. A camp based on fashion can allow her to learn about options for fashion careers as well as participate in hands-on activities and workshops that can help her discover if she has a passion for working in the fashion industry.
6. Build Her Self Esteem
By allowing your daughter to pick out clothing she likes, experiment with different styles and choose to wear things that aren’t necessarily the most flattering, you’ll be helping her build her self esteem. She’ll be making her own choices and learning that it’s okay to change her mind, try something new or stand firm about a fashion choice.
This includes being sensitive to your daughter’s body type. Some teens may not have the figure for the latest trends, and your daughter needs to know that it’s okay. Teach her how to dress to flatter her shape and develop her own sense of style that works for her in the process.
