Clothes for Teen and Pre-Teen Boys
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Clothes for Teen and Pre-Teen Boys
Feb 2011
Looking for some BTDT advice here... My son is at that super
slender all leg stage. This isn't a new problem; since he
stopped wearing diapers he's been in 'slim' pants. We are
finding that now that he is older/taller they don't make slims
in his size and his waist is still too small to buy clothes by
measure ment. We tried to solve this solution buy purchasing
''skinny jeans'' but he's so skinny they sag and he has to use
a belt to keep them up. Any one have any advice on where I can
find jeans that will fit him? He's not to particular about his
style yet, though he seems to be drawn to the ''preppy''
look... don't know if that will help or hinder.
perplexed
Yup, BTDT! For several years now I have been buying the slimmest
waist with longest inseam avaialable and then adding elastic in the
back. My son prefers that to a belt or suspenders. I found walmart
and penny's had descent selections of boys sizes when he was smaller
- I never found more than one or two pairs in stock at a time in the
size I was hunting. Land's End also has a pretty good range of
sizes, for higher prices. Now I can only find his size online.
Carhart used to make jeans in this size but has stopped. Wrangler
has one or two styles. Currently, he's 15, and I am ordering 30x38's
online and adding elastic. I cut two small openings on the inside of
the waist at the back, about 8 or 10 inches apart, and zig-zag stich
each end through heavy 1'' elastic threaded inside the waistband
(from JoAnn.) This is more comfortable and less vibisible than
creating a ''tuck.''
mom of giraffe
My son is also thin with long legs. He likes GAP jeans and I have
bought him GAP khakis as well. I have found 30x36 jean sizes at the
GAP outlet in Vacaville and these sizes are available at GAP online;
sometimes I have even found them on sale! He's in college now, but I
remember in middle school I was able to buy 'boys' jeans (much
cheaper) with waist sizes of 28 or 29. It might take a trip to the
store to figure out what you need that they don't have in his size,
then order online? Good luck!
sympathetic mom
Try Lands End slim sized jeans. My 16 year old son has been wearing
them for years. His most recent pair are size 20 slim. There are s
few shades and styles to chose from plus hidden elastic
''adjusters'' to further shrink the waistband. Gap has had some
slim sizes online but not in the stores. If all else fails and you
need dressy pants, the Nordstrom sales staff are very helpful at
fitting growing boys.
another mom of a slender boy
We have the same situation. However, we've had great luck with
Lands End and Gap carrying a wide selection of ''slim'' pants all
the way through the teenage sizes. Gap- not in stores so much but
you can get them online.
Courtney
Hi Perplexed,
So your son does not wish to sag? R E J O I C E !!!!!!
If he wants to appear a little fuller than he is with a little
beachy swag, Hollister is making some jeans that feel pretty good.
My son is amazingly lanky (6.2 140 lbs) and has actually found alot
of success in H&M. He was in there while I was shopping with my 17
yr old daughter and tried on some of the mens clothes VOILA!!!
Perfect fit. They have several cuts of slacks, jeans, shorts that
work really well on the slender guy. Preppie, great tones,
whimsicle..tailored. 'Worked for my boy.
As far as Levis are concerned. I think it was 519s.... no that was
for me.... just texted him he says 511s that he says in his pretend
Jamaican accent '' Make all the gulls be liken me!''
He's in college now.... UCSB. Enjoy this time dear perplexed. It
will be over in a turn of the page.
Reenie
have him wear a belt... it's a good habit to get son into!
i used to have to pay my mom a nickel every time i did not wear a
belt. and she allowed me to wear my hair long, wear ripped
t-shirts... but, i had to wear a belt.
i was skinny and still am
-- still slender after all these years
May 2010
My son's pants fit him just fine EXCEPT around his waistline. He's got
his dad's ''husky'' shape and is starting to blow buttons off. I taught
him the emergency paperclip trick, but need some other ideas.
Can anyone recommend a good brand of pants for growing boys that have
expandable or elastic waistbands but don't look too dorky? Or some
cool device to get us through to the next size? We're fortunate enough
to get good hand-me-downs so I don't really know where to start shopping.
K
You don't mention your son's age/size range, but Lands End has pants
with a hidden adjustable waist up through size 20. They were great for
my son, who is very thin, but might work for your boy when fully
''extended.'' They also carry a reasonable selection of husky size
pants through size 20. Check the size charts at their web site.
hurray for adjustable waistbands!
The Gap has adjustable waistband pants and they carry lots of
different sizes like Husky and Tall. The full array is online,
not in stores, so if you can figure out what size to get him,
you will find it online!
Hi, my almost 15 year old has been wearing basketball shorts almost
daily since middle school. He loves them and they're comfortable,
have pockets and no buttons. He's started wearing jeans, low on the
hips but with a belt, so not too revealing! Good luck!
mother of sylin' teen
June 2006
I need a sportscoat/or suit for my 5'9'' narrow shouldered
teen. We've tried a number of 36'', but none have been narrow
enough in the shoulders. I've been told that it's very
difficult to do alterations on the shoulder area, so
tailoring isn't an option. A 34'' long might work, but I've
never even one in the stores. Any ideas where to shop for a
decent sportscoat for a thin kid?
Jamie
My 15 yr old (also tall and thin) needed a sportcoat last
fall. We found what we needed at the Men's Wearhouse - we
went to the one at Mariner Square in San Leandro but they
are probably all about the same. Some of his classmates got
their sportcoats from Land's End although I never researched
that myself.
Good luck
Ellen
December 2001
Another question coming up as I shop for my many nephews,
is where to find cool clothes for boys aged 7-13? The
East Bay has tons of stores with fun and funky clothes
for babies and toddlers, but maybe because my own son
is still little, I don't have any idea where to find
cool stuff for older kids. All the boys clothes I see
in department stores or places like the Gap seem pretty
generic to me, and the dominant view seems to be that
boys can only wear khaki, navy, or cammouflage
-- yecccch. I realize most boys aren't real adventurous
in the clothes department, but there's got to be
something a little more exciting out there....
Dashka
It's been my experience that kids aged 7-13 know what
they want to wear, and that's what the rest of their
peers are wearing, and if it's only khaki, navy or
cammouflage this year, well, that's what they want to
wear.
I suggest you don't waste your time and money on buying
things YOU like for your nephews - they'll shove it in
the back of the closet and you'll get labelled as the
"kooky aunt who gives gross things".
Individuality in clothing and appearance usually comes
out after age 13. And no matter if you were a hippie or
a punk yourself, the next generation will find something,
anything that is meant to irritate you.
It may be a little more pricey, but try the stores that sell skateboards and
snowboards. They have some fun shirts. They also sell the popular long
shorts a lot of the boys are wearing these days. In a lot of the outrageous
colors that a lot of the kids like.
Marianne R
Try Destination 1440, at 1440 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley (a block or two
below Gilman.) They have very cool skateboarder/snowboarder/surfer type
clothes and accessories for boys, girls, men and women. Don't be
surprised if you find something for yourself!
Carla
I would recommend against buying clothes as gifts for pre-teens. My two
boys at that age had their own ideas about what looks cool, and they both
had completely different ideas. One insisted on punky basic black, and the
other would only accept jerseys for obscure sports for teams I never
heard of. If you have the former to buy for, you might find somthing at
510 Skateboards (on Telegraph), and the latter jock type might be satisfied
with something from the ASUC store on campus or Coplands. Otherwise I
would suggest cold hard cash or a gift cert. from a record store.
Ginger
Dress Clothes for Pre-Teen Boys
2001
Does anyone have any recommendations on where I can find a good quality boy's suit?
I've tried a couple department stores but they just have blue blazer/pant combinations.
thanks
Karin
Boy's suits - We had good luck finding suits for our son at Burlington Coat
Factory in SF, a few years back.
Barbara
It seems like I've seen suits in the Lands' End
kids' catalog. I am also
pretty sure that Brooks Bros. sells childrens' dress clothes.
Wendy
Can anyone recommend a source for nice, moderately priced dress
clothes for pre-teen boys? My son wears anything from an XL boys
(18-20) to a man's M-L. Pants are not a big problem, but shirts for
teens tend to be flashy, polyester junk. I tried Macy's and
Nordstrom, and found one nice shirt - a black cotton polo shirt with
zippers (way cool!). I'm looking for one or two other dressy shirts,
suitable for holiday events, bar mitzvahs, etc.
My son and I looked everywhere last year for something appropriate for a
theater night out with his aunt. The ONLY place we found with a selection
was JC Penney--up at Hilltop Mall. They have sports coats and suits for
young men as well as shirts and slacks. Good luck!
--Joan
I have a grandson who is in middle school. He is almost 11 and has been
taller than me for the last year or so. He also wears a shoe size larger
than his father. I received a Lands' End catalog for males that I sent
along to his mother. I didn't look through it for shirts because I was
more interested in the pants section. You might wish to call
1-800-356-4444 and ask that they send you that catalog. Their website is:
www.landsend.com
Hope this proves to be helpful.
Flora
Lands End has nice dress clothes for teens. Kind of preppy, but great for
Bar Mitzvot. You can check them out on-line. Also Ross sometimes has great
deals.
Jamie
Try Mervins California. We've had great luck there.
There is one in Pinole just off of Hwy. 80.
Julie
Southshore in Alameda has Mervyn's, JC Penny, and Ross in one shopping
area. It's easy to shop here because the stores are close together.
Stoneridge Shopping Mall in Pleasanton has JC Penny, Sears, Norstrom,
Macy's,and GAP Kids. Then there's McCaulou on Medau St. in Monclair
Village. They carry Men, Boys, Women, Juniors, Girls, Babys, Shoes and a
few other gift items. Happy shopping!
Vera
This summer my son had weddings to attend. We went to Nordstroms in Walnut
Creek for the jacket and Macy's for the pants. Nordstroms fixed the
jacket for free....short arms.
Note: We have purchased suits there too.
Doreen
Regarding dress clothes: My son (age 14) need to dress for a jazz combo
performance. I got him a great pair of wool slacks and a tweed jacket at the
Salvation Army on Solano. I spent a total of $15.00.
LBrown
I have found the best dress clothes for boys at Goodwill and
Salvation Army. They have beautiful sports coats - I've always
bought slacks, cords or when my son was younger - shorts at regular
department stores because they have a chance of getting more wear.
Cheaply priced ( but well known brands) dress shoes can be found at
Ross. It stands to reason that sports coats for younger guys are
not going to be well worn and people are not going to toss them as
they have great sentimental value so they will recycle them.
Anonymous
this page was last updated: Oct 17, 2011
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