School’s out for midterm: what are savvy teens wearing?

It’s 2014, and teenage fashion is a mad, bad world. How do Irish teenagers survive it? With remarkable expertise, it seems. We walked around Henry Street and Smithfield in Dublin and talked to teenagers out shopping and playing football before the midterm break. This multicultural neighbourhood has become something of a fashion parade, and the young people have sharp, fully formed ideas about how to dress.

This is despite the many obstacles they have to overcome. Money for clothes comes from mum or dad, and has to be justified by a need rather than a want. They have to wear school uniforms designed in the 19th century. They work intelligently within the parameters.

Bethany Hand (below), a transition year student, wears her long, golden hair in a French plait, which twists down a studded leatherette backpack she bought in Lanzarote. She is wearing her PE tracksuit, but that’s beside the point; the turquoise bag beams from across the street. “The thing that caught my eye about the bag is the colour, because it was very unusual,” she says. She and Shauna Delahunty, who are from Greek Street and Henrietta Street, say they don’t follow trends. “I’m not fond of shopping but I like buying new runners,” says Bethany, showing her Nike Huaraches (€102). Shauna also dislikes shopping. “I’m funky; I’m different. I love boys’ clothes,” she says.

Era of the pompadour

Male barbering has exploded, in part thanks to the viral presence of pop sensations Justin Bieber and One Direction. This is the era of the pompadour: shaven sides with a thick, flamboyant quiff. In a park nearby, first year Edy Stavarache and third year Dorinel Adrian Tecuceanu and George Csog (main image), from Romanian-Irish families, leave their football game to talk enthusiastically about their hairstyles.

"I leave it grow on top, and tell the barber to do a V-shape at the back. I'm inspired by David Beckham, " laughs Edy. His other influence is "really fashionable" Joey Essex, the British reality TV personality. Clothes are very important to Edy. "I wouldn't buy something really cheap. If it's expensive, I just save up. Sometimes people think it's nice to wear something that everyone has, but it's better to wear something unique, something that you like," says the 13-year-old. His favourite brand is Nike, and North Face jackets for skiing trips in Romania, which he will do on midterm.

For others, imitation is a way of self- expression. Fifth years Natalia Szarek from Poland and Irma Rubstavicivta from Lithuania wear identical outfits. We meet the Dublin 7 pair wearing uniforms with matching deck shoes, knee socks and neon pink Adidas schoolbags. Natalia and Irma have been friends since first year, after their families moved to Dublin. “It’s a sign of our friendship,” says Irma. “We sit in the class together and walk around together. It’s nice: it automatically creates a bond between us.”

For midterm they plan to shop for winter clothes. Natalia’s style is inspired by her music tastes: pop, rock, hip-hop and metal. Iron Maiden are her favourite band, but her fashion is glam rock. “My favourite glam rock features are Dr Martens, tights with a pattern or holes on them, black shorts with a loose top and a choker on my neck,” she says. Both girls love Kylie Jenner, Kim Kardashian’s stepsister, a teenage fashion entrepreneur.

For all their coolness, these teens aren’t afraid to say their inspirations come from their mum. “My mum was the person I looked up to growing up,” says Irma. I don’t like spending a lot of time deciding what to wear, and she showed me how to dress up to make it seem like I spent a long time even though I didn’t.”

Pressure to spend

There is pressure to spend on clothes, say Tia Hansard, Megan Smith and Chloe O’Brien (above). “It’s like a competition in school,” says Chloe. “You’re not allowed to get shoes in Penneys because people think they’re horrible. You have to get more expensive shoes, from Schuh, Office or New Brand.”

Today these city girls are shopping for fake eyelashes and gel nails. Occasionally they splash out and get treatments: brow threading, highlights or a spray tan. “We live to show ourselves,” laughs Megan. Their style icons are skimpily-dressed pop singers Rihanna and Ariana. In the same vein, these girls wear tennis skirts, shorts and tank tops on nights out. Tia also credits her mother for inspiring a plucky sense of style. “I like clothes that are really funky, different, with lace,” she says.