The Youth Noise Forum touched nicely on the subject when one young chatterer asked four questions, including: 1. Who influences teens to dress the way they do; 2. What celebrities do you think have the most influence in the way teens dress; 3. How often do you go to the mall and 4. Why do you think celebrities are a big fashion influence? The answers are pure, coming from the teens themselves (grammar within the responses has been corrected for the benefit of the reader who may not understand teenage cyber chatting lingo).

Saturnmoth007 said friends and celebrities influence the way she dresses, and musicians have the greatest effect out of all the celebrities. She goes to the mall once every few weeks and thinks celebrities have a big influence over teenagers her age because they “look up to celebrities, either for their work, money or lifestyles. They therefore try to act more like them, so they dress like them.”

Obsessive_child understands peers have a huge influence on how teens dress, commenting that friends are “the main controller of what kids in my school do or how they act.” While obsessive_child feels she is not at all connected to pop culture, she does believe celebrities set the trends for many others.

johnnyrotten04 said pop culture and personal preference plays a part in the outfits teens wear because “a lot of teens can't think for themselves.”

neicee008 and ruthibel aren’t among the teens johnnyrotten04 is talking about. Both claim they think for themselves.

When asked who influences teens to dress the way they do, neicee008, who has not been to the mall in three years, says “I don’t really know, maybe the people on TV, but nobody really influences me. I just wear what I feel comfortable in.”

Ruthibel says it certainly is not moms or dads who influence styles, but for her “It’s nobody or anybody. If I see a style I like, then I'll wear it. If I don't fancy wearing anything I see, then I create something I do like and wear it. But I realize that it’s a little hard to find clothes other than that which is in fashion, so in a way, you're forced to buy what's there, because you can’t find anything else.”

The fact remains, teenagers dress the way they dress for a reason, and if that reason is to follow current trends or celebrities, it is unlikely a parent will be able to change their style. Fashion trends come and go and as teenagers grow, they begin to realize it is their right to wear what they want, even if it makes parents and other adults cringe. But, parents do have a role in the way their children dress, and no matter how small that role is, they can make a difference.

• Don’t judge too quickly. Make sure you are not hating the way your teen dresses just because they don’t dress like you. If they did, they would probably be teased mercilessly.
  
  
• Validate your teen by showing them the positive qualities that make them who they are, not what they wear. If a teen is involved in destructive behavior and dressing, helping them see how great they are on the inside may help.
  
  
• Enforce dress codes at school, work or house of worship. Just because you want your teen to be themselves, don’t allow them to break the rules doing it.
  
  
• Look at your teen as a whole person. Is her behavior matching the dress? If a teen begins changing the way they dress dramatically while also changing their attitude it might be something to look a little deeper into. Wearing all black and becoming withdrawn can signify depression while wearing a risqué outfit because their boyfriend tells them to can mean there is too much pressure. If you feel the attire is putting your teen at risk, like joining a gang or feeling down about themselves, you need to step in.
  
  
• Be honest as a parent. If your teen is wearing something that might put them in danger or cause them to miss opportunities, like getting that job, tell them calmly and without judgment why they should change.