Teenagers get a hard time about their fashion choices The Disney actress Bella Thorne was criticised by the media a few months ago for wearing a wacky minidress, but a little later she won fashion plaudits for attending an awards ceremony in a floorlength gown Let’s get real: which outfit you think she wanted to head out in? I doubt it was the billowing silk tent, but I guess she decided to conform to the adult world's idea of age-appropriate clothing What to wear – or what not to wear – as a teenager is a hot topic for adults and a no-win situation for teenagers It's hardly surprising we want to stay in bed all day, because the moment we get dressed in anything other than a sack we get scrutinized and judged Adults don't want their children to grow up I'm 14 and want to wear decent clothes when I go out I like wearing long necklaces, detailed collars, lots of rings, check shirts, high-waisted shorts, blazers, skinny jeans, knee-high socks, dresses with elasticized waistlines, wacky tights, Converse and vintage shoes I think my look is normal with splashes of crazy, but I can't believe the reaction of grownups sometimes when I dress up My mum rarely says I look nice I see a flicker of a sort of "gosh", but she looks mainly alarmed and in a cross voice (she denies this) says I need to dress appropriately for my age and that I look too grown up My friends all have the same problem It seems a miniskirt sets off some parental warning bell It's hard being a teenager: you feel a bit unsure of yourself, even without your mother implying every time you make an effort to look nice that your life is about to turn into an episode of Girls Parents need to realize that teenagers don't suddenly become different or too old for their years because they put on a bit of eyeliner Teenagers today are working like crazy to adhere to the pressure that we've got to be all-singing, alldancing academic whizzes – so it would be nice when we go out occasionally to be free, and encouraged to wear what we want I feel I am meant to be ashamed that I am growing up and starting to experiment with grown up clothes I might make mistakes I might look silly sometimes But let teenagers be teenagers (Adapted from: http://www.guardian.co.uk/fashion/fashionblog/2013/may/08/teenagers-hard-time-fashion-choices) TEENAGERS & FASHION Say if these statements are True or False Quote the evidence from the text a People didn’t like Bella Thorne’s evening dress ……………………………………………………… ………… b Teenagers are usually self-confident ……………………………………………………… ………… Answer the questions about the text in your own words Why does the author say teenagers like staying in bed? Give reasons to support the idea that being a teenager is really hard Find words in the text that mean the same as these a conform……………… b examined …………… c decorous ……………… d suggesting Rewrite the sentences without changing the meaning “You shouldn’t wear this sweater, Mandy; it’s too old-fashioned.” Tony advised …………………………………………… ……………………………………………………… ………… Mike spends a lot on clothes I wish ……………………………………………………… The dressmaker has taken up the hem of my Write a composition (100-120 words) on the topic: “Are you a fashion-victim?” KEY EXERCISE 1 FALSE “The Disney actress Bella Thorne was criticised by the media a few months ago for wearing a wacky minidress, but a little later she won fashion plaudits for attending an awards ceremony in a floor-length gown.” FALSE “It's hard being a teenager: you feel a bit unsure of yourself.” FALSE “My mum rarely says I look nice I see a flicker of a sort of "gosh", but she looks mainly alarmed and in a cross voice (she denies this) says I need to dress appropriately for my age and that I look too grown up.” EXERCISE The author says teenagers like staying in bed because they feel everybody can criticise their clothes and appearance The life of a teenager is hard because teenagers usually feel insecure themselves and have to face their parents’ comments on their clothes and looks Besides, it’s difficult for them to follow fashion, adapt themselves & adopt the new trends and, at the same time, make their parents understand that they have to right to make mistakes since they’re teenagers, something that parents seem reluctant to accept EXERCISE a ADJUST c DECENT b SCRUTINISED d IMPLYING EXERCISE Tony advised Mandy not to wear that sweater since it was too old-fashioned I wish Mike wouldn’t spend so much on clothes I have had/got the hem of my trousers taken up