Tracksuits, when did so many teenagers just stop bothering with individuality?

Pumpkinseeds

Since coming back from England in 2007 I've noticed that so many teenagers just seem to live in tracksuits. Tbh I find it slovenly but more than anything it seems odd that so many teens have stopped bothering about their appearance. I'm not talking about spending a fortune on clothes but when I was in secondary school in the 80's guys and girls made an effort.

You had the Cure heads etc and clothes make a statement about the persons sense of style and individuality, or lack of it. All a tracksuit and trainers says to me is that they have little sense of individuality or style and are basically just lazy. I think it's a sad state of affairs that the tracksuit has become a unisex uniform for the scumbag/skanger and teens from every financial background in between.

The thing is that the parents of these teens are from my own generation who did bother to make an effort so I'm confused as to why so many of their offspring seem to have given up on making any kind of effort. When and why did this sheeple thing begin

Sulla Felix

Every generation of teenagers look the same.

Kylo Ren

Pumpkinseeds wrote: »

Since coming back from England in 2007

Traitor.

Super-Rush

Why do you care what teenagers wear so much?

Leave them alone ffs.

The Backwards Man

Still, better than the shellsuits teenagers wore when I was a kid.

*shudder*

blaze1

Sure most tracksuits cost more than a pair of jeans these days.

cherryghost

Kids these days and their parachute pants!

Agricola

Pumpkinseeds wrote: »

All a tracksuit and trainers says to me is that they have little sense of individuality or style and are basically just lazy.

Yeah, but they are teenagers so doesnt that go without saying!

It's people in their 20s and 30s who wear them everywhere who have a problem!

KeithM89

Bring back Shell Suits. Much more stylish than hoodies.

castletownman

Agricola wrote: »

Yeah, but they are teenagers so doesnt that go without saying!

It's people in their 20s and 30s who wear them everywhere who have a problem!

I don't know about everyone else, but I find a wearing a tracksuit quite liberating after a day spent in work clothes.

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

My tracksuits do promote my individuality, from the personal apliqued statements across my ass.

"Juicy"
"Angel"
"Horny"

There's one for every occasion.

Velurebabe4lyf

Gatling

Tracksuits make it easier for them to walk around scratching there balls all day

Donnielighto

Comfort > vanity

crazygeryy

castletownman wrote: »

I don't know about everyone else, but I find a wearing a tracksuit quite liberating after a day spent in work clothes.

yup sitting on the couch legs spread hand down the track suit pants and having a good scratch/feel.
priceless.:D

Celly Smunt

I tend to wear tracksuit bottoms when im popping about,there's nothing better than getting into fresh tracksuit bottoms after a shower.

Pumpkinseeds

There used to be a crazy Gerry on a bus route I use, haven't seen him for a long while now. Angry man with a golf umbrella that had a rubber stopper on the end, didn't seem to matter what bus I caught, crazy Gerry was almost always on it. I think he spent most of his time on that bus route:D

How Soon Is Now

Teenagers and individuality shouldnt be in the same sentence.

PizzamanIRL

Are we talking about average teenagers or teenagers with their trousers tucked into their white socks?

TimeToShine

I see a lot more teenagers these days wearing skinny jeans and converse trying to make a fashion statement than I do wearing tracksuit bottoms. At least tracksuits are comfortable, what redeeming feature do skinny jeans have?

Nodin

TimeToShine wrote: »

I see a lot more teenagers these days wearing skinny jeans and converse trying to make a fashion statement than I do wearing tracksuit bottoms. At least tracksuits are comfortable, what redeeming feature do skinny jeans have?

lowering fertility rates?

omahaid

When I was a teen we all had long fringes, lumberjack jackets and doc martens, we looked like some tits

Hownowcow

TimeToShine wrote: »

I see a lot more teenagers these days wearing skinny jeans and converse trying to make a fashion statement than I do wearing tracksuit bottoms. At least tracksuits are comfortable, what redeeming feature do skinny jeans have?

Fat people can't wear them.

dundalkfc10

Im 27 and still wear tracksuits, well tracksuit bottoms and a hoody or jumper every day apart from at work (unless its Friday) and if im going out pubs/nightclubs etc....

People who see people in tracksuits as scum, or see it as chavy looking are in my opinion ****

Festy

TimeToShine wrote: »

I see a lot more teenagers these days wearing skinny jeans and converse trying to make a fashion statement than I do wearing tracksuit bottoms. At least tracksuits are comfortable, what redeeming feature do skinny jeans have?

Old ladies don't have to cross the road when they see them coming in their direction.

Degringola

Tracksuits = babygros for grown up babies

Celly Smunt

Festy wrote: »

Old ladies don't have to cross the road when they see them coming in their direction.

well that's because they could batter the ponces who wear them.

Duck's hoop

Grey track suits. Everywhere. Manky and mindless.

Clandestine

Teen here, I never wear tracksuits. Don't put everyone under the same umbrella.

KeithM89

Clandestine wrote: »

Teen here, I never wear tracksuits. Don't put everyone under the same umbrella.

Jesus, i thought you were about 50.

greenpyjamas

Clandestine wrote: »

Teen here, I never wear tracksuits. Don't put everyone under the same umbrella.

Same here. I often find than individuality has more cons than pros to be honest, especially when you get condescending eye rolls from adults on the street or sniggers from your peers.

Clandestine

Scylla wrote: »

Jesus, i thought you were about 50.

Erm...what made you think that?

KeithM89

Clandestine wrote: »

Erm...what made you think that?

The face in your sig.

candy-gal1

Yep, I think so too OP, tbh its either an age thing on my part or else teens and some people in general are slowly but surely becoming sheep and individuality style wise will soon become seen as "bad", "wrong", or a waste of time! :rolleyes:

This would be one of the culprits imho, just one of many of the "great" :pac: popular shows on TV nowadays

Clandestine

greenpyjamas wrote: »

I often find than individuality has more cons than pros to be honest, especially when you get condescending eye rolls from adults on the street or sniggers from your peers.

That shouldn't matter. People project their own insecurities onto others, if they are going to give you sh!t for wearing what you want, they're not worth your time (Unless you look a right fool)

Scylla wrote: »

The face in your sig.

Oh right haha. Its just a screencap from a film... not actually me

Pumpkinseeds

dundalkfc10 wrote: »

Im 27 and still wear tracksuits, well tracksuit bottoms and a hoody or jumper every day apart from at work (unless its Friday) and if im going out pubs/nightclubs etc....

People who see people in tracksuits as scum, or see it as chavy looking are in my opinion ****

Nice attitude, and also why many people see some tracksuit wearers as scumbags

Pumpkinseeds

Clandestine wrote: »

Teen here, I never wear tracksuits. Don't put everyone under the same umbrella.

I said many teenagers, not all teenagers:)

greenpyjamas

Clandestine wrote: »

That shouldn't matter. People project their own insecurities onto others, if they are going to give you sh!t for wearing what you want, they're not worth your time (Unless you look a right fool)

Oh right haha. Its just a screencap from a film... not actually me

Yeah, I know that and honestly I don't care, I'm just saying in general people find conformity easier than individuality, from my personal experience.

Pumpkinseeds

Pumpkinseeds wrote: »

There used to be a crazy Gerry on a bus route I use, haven't seen him for a long while now. Angry man with a golf umbrella that had a rubber stopper on the end, didn't seem to matter what bus I caught, crazy Gerry was almost always on it. I think he spent most of his time on that bus route:D

Did he wear a tracksuit?

Pumpkinseeds

Deleted User wrote: »

Did he wear a tracksuit?

Nope he was actually quite expensively well dressed.

Grayson

I was in Amsterdam last year. Three days into my visit i realized the only person I'd seen wearing a tracksuit was running past me. And unlike when you see someone running in a tracksuit in Dublin, they hadn't just stolen a phone.

Dats me

Is wearing jeans (like moi) not conforming also? What would you have us wear? "Oh, that lad in the bee suit, really admire his originality"

Mr Benevolent

Oh look, another 'it was better in my day' thread.

Start thinking, really thinking about what you wrote, OP. You're just regurgitating the same bile that middle aged people have been spouting for 4000 years.

Pumpkinseeds

Dats me wrote: »

Is wearing jeans (like moi) not conforming also? What would you have us wear? "Oh, that lad in the bee suit, really admire his originality"

I suppose it depends on your idea of conformity. I wouldn't describe making an effort and taking a little pride in your appearance as conformity. Conformity to me is just settling into a saggy assed unisex tracksuit with an elasticated waistband. Although there does seem to be a broad spectrum of tracksuit, ranging from the lurid neon all the way through to the cheap heavy grey cotton saggy ones.

I just don't get the appeal of wearing the same thing as everyone else. At least EMO's make a bit of an effort, you can give them that much. There used to be a lot of style diversity, you just don't really see that much of it these days among teenagers. Usually the teen years are when people experiment with style etc.

Thataone

Surely there's nothing *that* wrong with average teenagers wearing trackie bottoms and hoodies?
If they were to wear anything else (some) people would still find cause for complaint in some shape or form, for example they'd be called sl*ts if they wore tight clothes/short skirts. You can't please everyone.
And I think in the grand scheme of things being an "individual teenager" is not an easy thing. Teenagers want to fit in 99% of the time. By dressing like their peers it's one less thing they've to contend with in a bid to fit in with other teens. I know somebody will now tell me that it's "not about fitting in" but I think that while a teenager is trying to find friends, sort out where they're going to uni, keep up with school work etc they have enough on their plates.

At least in trackies all their skin isn't on show and they're not wearing dead animals. Isn't that enough

Pumpkinseeds

Thataone wrote: »

Surely there's nothing *that* wrong with average teenagers wearing trackie bottoms and hoodies?
If they were to wear anything else (some) people would still find cause for complaint in some shape or form, for example they'd be called sl*ts if they wore tight clothes/short skirts. You can't please everyone.
And I think in the grand scheme of things being an "individual teenager" is not an easy thing. Teenagers want to fit in 99% of the time. By dressing like their peers it's one less thing they've to contend with in a bid to fit in with other teens. I know somebody will now tell me that it's "not about fitting in" but I think that while a teenager is trying to find friends, sort out where they're going to uni, keep up with school work etc they have enough on their plates.

At least in trackies all their skin isn't on show and they're not wearing dead animals. Isn't that enough

Yeah the thing is the tracksuit thing seems to carry through into adulthood. It's as though once people put one on they just don't bother with decent clothes anymore. I'm amazed at how angry so many people are about their beloved tracksuits being criticised. Honestly folks people who choose to wear nothing but tracksuits are really just look a tad lazy and slovenly.

Thataone

Pumpkinseeds wrote: »

Yeah the thing is the tracksuit thing seems to carry through into adulthood. It's as though once people put one on they just don't bother with decent clothes anymore. I'm amazed at how angry so many people are about their beloved tracksuits being criticised. Honestly folks people who choose to wear nothing but tracksuits are really just look a tad lazy and slovenly.

I agree that once it gets into adult hood, it does look slovenly! That's when things go too far.
As far as the teenagers go though, I'd say leave 'em off :P

greenpilot

Obesity equals Tracksuit.

Simples.

gobnaitolunacy

Unless you're playing sports or training, it's a lazy way to dress. Fcuk all thought goes into it.

Pumpkinseeds

Mr Benevolent wrote: »

Oh look, another 'it was better in my day' thread.

Start thinking, really thinking about what you wrote, OP. You're just regurgitating the same bile that middle aged people have been spouting for 4000 years.

Who're you calling middle aged:P, incidentally I've seen plenty of middle aged people wearing tracksuits.

EoghanIRL

Another vast generalisation . This thread pops up at least once a month in some form .

Ruudi_Mentari

The Backwards Man wrote: »

Still, better than the shellsuits teenagers wore when I was a kid.

*shudder*

Should have seen my pals one, he hit his teenage yrs just the wrong side of 1992 or whatever

unlucky. and there was this rocker, or regular lad as i knew em beside him it his slightly older cousin with just a basic denim jacket / flannel shirt looking free as a f'n bird in comparison, tbh