Middle School - Clothes for Boys

[C_leen]

Hello!

I have my only transitioning to middle school this coming August. We are in a public school. I need input on what is the cool boy gear/brands that I should be hunting for this spring and summer?

Are the boys still just wearing a t shirt, jeans and a hoodie like elementary school? What about athletic pants? I've got to admit I am pretty sick of this skater look, but I want to buy what he'll wear and not waste my money. My son hates to shop for clothes so he very rarely tells me what he wants or needs. He'd wander around in holey shoes and major 'flood' pants if I didn't intervene.

Thanks so much!

Colleen in Saint Louis area

 

[2disneyboys]

my son is in middle school, and while he has to wear uniforms, during his off time, it's mostly jeans, tshirts/hoodies and the plaid style shorts. Most of the middle schoolers in this area (coastal virginia) tend towards the sufer/skater look/styles. 1 style that my son has not embraced, which I am grateful for as I don't like it myself, is the skinny jeans on boys. I know lots of people like this look, but I dont. I would let him if he would want it, but thankfully, at this point he does not like this look. (for now!)

 

[Cindy B]

I wouldn't even buy anything until closer to school time. Your local middle school may have a culture all of its own: urban, skater, prep, sporty or even a uniform may be needed. In some public middle schools, uniforms are required. Some kids get really into subgenres: steampunk, cosplay, "anime"-ish-lots of Japanese/Asian influenced, geeky style (Tshirts with video games, scientific charts or math symbols)

I've noticed that the middle schools tend to "feed" off the high school fashions. If you know what the high schoolers are wearing, chances are that the middle school kids aren't far behind.

Boys are easier. My son did a bit of the skater look and it now just a tshirt, jeans, flannel pants kid- although he is now a junior in high school! He's had this look since about middle school.

 

[Sheaboys]

My boys are not large kids, so they wear Skinny Jeans, sweatshirts, sneakers (Reeboks or Nikes), t-shirts and long sleeve shirts. Popular stores: American Eagle, Aeropostle (great prices) and a few Old Navy items.

 

[sksjasams]

My DS is in 7th grade. Yes, still jeans, t-shirts and hoodies!

I think some boys may wear skinny jeans, but my DS does not like them at all. He thinks they look like girl's jeans. He doesn't seem to care about the brand of jeans, as long as they are a good shade and fit well. He has two pairs of athletic pants, but doesn't wear them too often. He defitniely prefers jeans.

I use coupons/sales to get him some nike or adidas t-shirts and hoodies. He does not care to wear anything from "the mall" (like aeropostale), but I know that is popular with some of the kids. One thing new this year was nike or adidas socks...very popular. Now I wouldn't think boys would care, but my son was very happy to get some.

I agree with waiting. Growth spurts abound during this age. You have no way of knowing what size he will be or what he will like in the fall.

 

[Sadie22]

It's best to get a copy of the student handbook and actual dress code. You wouldn't want to purchase something that is specifically not permitted at the school. Some schools ban baggy clothing, certain types of footwear for safety and other reasons, as well as clothing with some slogans and the like.

 

[amyr1]

Get a copy of the dress code.

Try to watch some middle schoolers and take note of brand names. If you ds is already in a school that feeds into the middle school then the dress will likely be similar to what they are already wearing.

I know that different parts of the country have different styles. Around us (E. TX) sports are huge. I have been able to find UnderArmor (not sure I spelled that right) T shirts at local sport stores. I even got a few on the clearance rack. Also kids around here wear Dallas Cowboys shirts all the time (even if the team stinks, as they usually do--at least the last few years. lol) so I snag them when I find them on clearance.

I have also noticed a bunch of boys wearing Hollister brand clothes. I looked online and didn't see any boy sizes--only men. Well, it turns out this brand rund VERY, VERY small. My 12 yo is able to wear a small at Hollister--I found a few tshirts online for like $6.50 each.

Around here jean brand doesn't seem to matter to the kids (you might want to ask around--maybe some other MS mom's?) My ds usually wears GAP jeans because he's tall and skinny and these are the ones that fit him the best.

Resist the urge to lay in a huge load of clothes right before school starts--get enough to get him through a week or two and then sit back and see what he wants to wear.

Amy

 

[spacemountainmom]

I just spent three years working in a midwestern middle school and my son still attends there. Most boys wear jeans, t's and hoodies. It's starting to get a little warmer so the shorts have been out in full force.

I would also suggest holding off buying too much. My young 7th grader (late June birthday) has grown nearly 4 inches since last August. He's 5' 9.5" and is still going. I can't wait for summer since it has been so impossible to keep him in jeans. He's very skinny, but needs mens sizes for the length. Any pants that are long enough are WAY too big around the waist.

I now work at the high school and the young men dress pretty much the same way. Brands are all over the place, I wouldn't get too caught up in having the right brand either.

 

[Cindy B]

Yes, growth spurts can happen in a matter of weeks. I'll never forget my sons freshman year. We bought clothes in late August for September. Between September and October he grew about 2 inches so all his pants got too small. In that same month he also went from a shoe size mens -10- to a 12 1/2-13.

He's now a junior and he's just a bit taller but I think he is pretty much done.

 

[njmom47]

My ds is a sophomore in HS. He has worn skater tees, hoodies and sneakers since I can remember. He wears plaid shorts and boot-cut jeans.

 

[findmewdw]

My DS is in 7th grade. He had about a four inch growth spurt after he started the year. So yes, wait about purchasing jeans. My son is skinny and had always worn Old Navy with the adjustable waist jeans. I have a hard time finding jeans that fit him now that he's in the adult size. He has to wear belts to keep them up. Not many boys his age wear the skinny jeans in our area.
My son wears hoodies, Aero shirts, Under Armour and athletic wear mostly, with tennis shoes. I swear I think he wears one of his favorite Aero shirts about every other day! He played basketball and I love that he had to dress up with a tie on game days. Although he wouldn't admit it, I really think he enjoyed dressing up, too. My son hates to shop, but he has told me what he likes this year and has requested some clothing. This is the first year that has ever happened! Perhaps its wanting to look good for the girls now that puberty has hit, too! He has requested some brands like Sperry and Northface. I have given into the Sperry shoes, but not the Northface, yet. It's amazing to watch the maturity from 6th grade to 7th. Enjoy!

 

[angierae]

I'm a big fan of waiting until a few weeks after school starts to buy back to school clothes for kids. It gives them an idea to see what everyone else is wearing, and decide what styles they want to copy. (Of course, my DD has never cared about what anyone else was wearing, but my mom did this for me and it was very helpful - I DID care what was "in style" and wearing whatever I had for a few weeks to get a feel of what was "in" was so much better than wearing something I'd bought months ago that might be out of style by then.

 

[burnurcomputer]

Around here Gap, Aeropostal or PS by Aeropostal, Limited, Abercrombie adn Fitch are what kids wear. Right now they are transitioning to summer wear.

 

[englishteacha]

I teach middle school. My boys wear jeans and t-shirts, hoodies, sneakers. Long shorts in warmer weather. Wait to get jeans...he'll grow. A lot. Wearing "high waters" isn't fashionable on any boy!

 

[momxx5]

I am so lucky....my 3 boys wear khaki (or similar type) shorts almost ALL year, with a colored polo/golf type shirt. Usually topsiders or sneakers.

Every once in a while they will wear sports team shirts or high school team shirts.

 

[wendypooh]

My DS is also in middle school, he wears a uniform, but in his off time, plaid or khaki shorts, american eagle, ralph lauren, etc.... he wears tee's, tommy bahama, life is good (Jake), LSU, or vaca tee's, like the name of a dive shop in fiji or maui, also he wears polo type button downs and hoodies. For shoes, he likes vans, new balance and crocs, he occassionally will wear topsiders. I do agree with OP's - I'd wait to buy until he needs it, growth spurts happen quickly and without warning!!! Good Luck

 

[mom23boys]

I would hold off on purchasing the jeans till late Sept or early October. My DS in 7th grade this year has grown at least 3-4 inches since last summer. He wears jeans and short sleeve shirts, mostly t shirts but sometimes he wears American Eagle shirts and a hoodie. Recently he has been wearing shorts and t shirts.

 

[iheartpeterpan]

I am so lucky....my 3 boys wear khaki (or similar type) shorts almost ALL year, with a colored polo/golf type shirt. Usually topsiders or sneakers.

Every once in a while they will wear sports team shirts or high school team shirts.

This is what my son wears (in high school). In middle school it was mostly athletic shorts and soccer t-s, some Abercrombie and Fitch, Aeropostale etc t-s. I don't think he's put on a pair of jeans in years. I agree with PP who say to wait, my son grew over 6 inches in one year and I had to replace his clothes twice that year.

 

[Sandy61]

Ds13 is in Middle School. He wears jeans, shorts (athletic or khaki), tshirts, and windpant/sweat pant things. He doesn't like to change clothes for PE or basketball so he wears shorts under windpants. He likes sports brands like Nike and has several school tshirts with the team name. He has one Hollister. He has to dress for basketball games away and band concerts. Khaki pants and polo shirt mostly.

He also grew enormously this past year but mostly in shoes. DS21 finally stopped at size 15! He is also 6'7"

One weird thing I notice, is boys this age stop wearing long sleeves. What is that???? Almost no boy or man I know can wear long sleeves and DS13 has now stopped this winter. I am very frustrated at the long sleeve tshirts etc hanging in his closet.

 

[momto2inKC]

My son still wears the same thing as in middle school now that he's in high school. Athletic pants/shorts, sport brands t'shirts (Nike, etc..) or AE or Aero t's, hoodies (brand not important to him), and Nike shoes. He refuses to wear jeans, he just *hates them. He doesn't even own a pair.