NBA Dress Code

“If you want to be taken seriously, as a professional… you need to dress responsibly, like you’re ready to handle the responsibility.”

– Malcolm Anderson, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist

While they shoot, run and dunk on the court… before and after games… NBA players now must wear collared shirts, sports jackets and slacks.

But do kids even care about the new NBA dress code?

Garin, who’s 19, says, “I don’t have any friends that are influenced by it.”

Edwin, who’s 18 is even less interested. “I don’t really care,” he says.

15-year-old Melvin explains what may be a common rationale among teens regarding the dress code. “People [aren’t] gonna be influenced by that,” he says. “See, if it was me and I saw them dressing in suits and everything, that wouldn’t encourage me too much to dress like them. I wouldn’t even – really. I probably wouldn’t even notice.”

So the baggy pants, bandanas and ‘bling’ are gone.

But kids like Melvin say those things never mattered anyway. “See in the NBA, it really doesn’t matter. I mean, people aren’t gonna be judging them because they have on a bunch of suits. They really gonna be paying attention to the game. They [aren’t] gonna really mind what they dressed like.”

But one expert says the NBA dress code sends a great message to kids: that sometimes in life… dressing well is important.

“How do you want others to see you?” asks Malcolm Anderson, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist. “How seriously do you want people to see you? How seriously do you want to be considered in this larger world? And the answer is: I want to be respected. I want to be seen very seriously. I want to have an equal opportunity for this job as the next person.”

He says, right or wrong, kids need to learn that often, they will be judged by how they dress. “If you want to be taken seriously, as a professional, as a budding adult who is ready to take on responsibility, you need to dress responsibly, like you’re ready to handle the responsibility.”

Teens like 19-year-old Andrew agree with that sentiment. Andrew says the NBA dress code is a good thing. “It’s a good image to have. It makes people believe that they’re professionals, so, I think it’s a good image.”

Teenage fashion may seem like a minor problem, but it’s actually big business. Consider the following statistics gathered by experts at SmartMoney:

• In 2006, an estimated 34.6 million 12- to 19-year-olds will shell out $190 billion of their own earnings, gifts and allowances, according to Packaged Facts, a consumer research group. That works out to $5,491 a year, or $106 a week, per person – much of it, presumably, on fun and fashion.
• Teen clothing stores are profiting nicely from these young bucks. Same-store sales for the group jumped 10 percent year-over-year in May, versus 3 percent for all apparel retailers. Shares of Aeropostale, Hot Topic, Pacific Sunwear of California, Abercrombie & Fitch, and American Eagle Outfitters are up an average of 18.1 percent year-to-date.
• Stock analysts are still pounding the table on teen-clothing stocks. “Given its significant spending power, we believe the teen population cannot be ignored,” wrote W.R. Hambrecht analyst Pamela Quintiliano on Tuesday. “Out of all of our retailers, we believe that teens will have the strongest showing,” wrote Lehman Brothers’ Jeff Black on Friday of the fall selling season.

Although sports figures and celebrities tend to set the latest trends in fashion, parents still have a great deal of influence on their teens. As your child begins exploring different kinds of clothing styles, Dr. Jim Burns of Homeword.com encourages parents to do the following:

• Discuss th e fashion “sex-connection” with your teenager. Ask your teenagers whether or not they believe that some types of clothes really promote an unhealthy sexuality.
• Discuss the concept of “modesty” with your teenager. What is “modesty?” Is modesty important? Why or why not? Are their times when an item of clothing can be appropriate while at other times inappropriate? How do you know the difference?
• Discuss with your teenager the concept of “clothes as statements.” Learn from your teenager about the various fashion statements today’s adolescents are making. Ask, “What do you think certain styles say about people?” Ask, “What do you think your clothes say about you?” Ask, “Are you looking to make the statement your clothes make?”

Many parents find themselves struggling to cope with their teenager’s fashion and what it all means. Clothing likes and dislikes can often be a bone of contention between parents and their teenagers. But don’t worry. After having time and space to grow up and explore, teens almost always reestablish a close bond with their parents. Carleton Kendrick and Laura Meehan of the Family Education Network tell parents to keep the following suggestions in mind:

• Don’t take it personally. They are not doing it to hurt you. This is an important part of their self-exploration: It’s all about them!
• Let them learn their own lessons. In general, a discovery has more impact when someone makes it by himself or herself than when it is pointed out to him/her (although it may take longer).
• Choose your battles. Of all the things you may disagree about, is this worth starting World War III over?
• Your support means a lot. They don’t expect you to approve when they dress outrageously. Surprise them for a change. You don’t have to wholeheartedly approve of the look, but you can admire the spirit behind it. They will remember that.
• Look for the good. Even if you hate your daughter’s hairstyle or choice of clothes, keep mum about it and find things you do like. Compliment her daily. It will boost her self-esteem and maybe even speed up her journey to self-discovery.
• Don’t forget payback! When your teen’s piercings, tattoos or dreadlocks are about to drive you nuts, close your eyes and imagine what forms of self-expression will make these seem tame a generation from now…when your child is a parent!

SmartMoney
Homeword.com
Family Education Network