What are popular stores to buy jeans and sweaters as a gift for a 14 year old boy?

December 1, 2008 1:45 PM

What are popular stores to buy jeans and sweaters as a gift for a 14 year old boy I've never met?

I am participating in a charitable "Secret Santa" program at my office, through a local charity we work with. My letter is from a 14 year old boy, who asks for, among other things, jeans and sweaters. The organizer in our office doesn't have any further information from the charity as to preferences, and the kids I'm related to are all a bit younger than 14 and still more interested in toys than clothing.

I'm in Manhattan and happy to go into a store or order online, though I'd like to include a gift receipt in case he needs to change the size or absolutely hates what I buy so I guess places that have a NYC store would be best.

All I know about him is his age (14), that he's living in the Bronx, and that his size is 18 (which appears to be the upper edges of boys' sizing, though if I'm reading sizing charts wrong, please let me know). I'd like to get him clothing he'd actually like, so if anyone has recommendations for where 14 year olds boys would like to shop, I'd appreciate it. Thanks for your help.

posted by Caz721 to clothing, beauty, & fashion (17 comments total)

Teens are incredibly picky when it comes to clothing: I think you should just let him buy whatever he likes, especially considering that you have no clue about his taste in fashion. Whenever I buy clothes for my teenage relatives, I just send them a link (to American Eagle, or Zappos) and ask them to pick what they like, and then I deliver it to them. Huge success every single time.

For someone you don't know, I'd suggest a gift card for American Eagle. They have decent quality clothing that can be bought at pretty good prices when on sale.
posted by halogen at 2:16 PM on December 1, 2008

I'd go to Macy's and ask a guy who works in the young man's section. There's a Macy's in the Bronx, so if he wants to exchange it, he can. Off-hand, I'm sure any kid in the Bronx would appreciate some Rocawear (found at Macy's), although that's more educated guess.
posted by incessant at 2:19 PM on December 1, 2008

I second the idea of a gift card - possibly to Gap or Old Navy.
posted by kdern at 2:19 PM on December 1, 2008

All the kids these days love American Apparrel.
posted by smithygreg at 2:34 PM on December 1, 2008

I would lean more toward The Gap than Rocawear. Neutral stuff like a single color sweater with a minimal logo and some normal jeans will have more chance of hitting the mark than trying to guess at his personal style. At that age I would guess he is going to outgrow this stuff pretty quick anyway, something like a nice belt or a watch might be a better bet.
posted by sophist at 2:37 PM on December 1, 2008

My boys are 13 and 14. I got them a couple of pairs of jeans & cargo pants at Old Navy. They have good sale prices and usually a bunch of stuff on clearance, so a gift card there would go a long way. Plus they have all different kinds --- skinny punk jeans (mine are into those these days), regular straight-leg, boot-cut, loose-fitting. All in the same styles. Size 18 is the largest of the kid sizes; next he'll be in 28" waist men's jeans.

Also, don't get sweaters. Get hoodies.
posted by headnsouth at 2:53 PM on December 1, 2008

The teens in my life (14 yo girl, 17 yo boy) despise Gap, so I'd steer clear of that. American Eagle or Abercrombie seem to be the brands of choice these days. Old Navy is sometimes passable for boys. And Target!
posted by chez shoes at 2:57 PM on December 1, 2008

There are a lot of Old Navys (Navies?) in the Bronx. And if he asked for jeans and sweaters, I would get him jeans and sweaters.
posted by spec80 at 2:59 PM on December 1, 2008

The high school age kids I know go to Hollister. However, good luck shopping there if you are older than say, 22. Upon entering, you will become disoriented from the strobe lights and loud music, and will stumble around with your hands over your ears until you buy the first suitable thing you see in your desperate desire to leave the store before your ears bleed or one of the size 0 clerks notices that you don't really belong there and mocks you as you blindly stumble into display of Hollister perfume... Or maybe that's just my experience.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 3:02 PM on December 1, 2008

I would def go to a big department store (Macy's? I guess there are a lot of them?) and ask in the young men's section, and get a gift receipt in case it isn't a good fit or not his favorite.

I feel like sticking to pretty basic clothes is a good idea because it is so hard to figure out exactly what is popular, especially in NYC which is often a couple steps ahead of the rest of the country on fashion trends. I tend to think the North Face and Nike are pretty standard though..

Also, you might find some cool yet inexpensive hoodies at H&M, again I would stick with basic solid colors, they always have a ton of the allover-print ones but those might be going out of style now.
posted by citron at 5:32 PM on December 1, 2008

A kid who is asking for sweaters and jeans is somebody who doesn't hate the Gap. Also: I'd go with sweaters, since there's less problem with fitting than jeans.
posted by General Malaise at 8:49 PM on December 1, 2008

Hollister, Abercrombie & Fitch or American Apparel.

Old Navy or Gap if you're on a budget.
posted by Mephisto at 9:58 PM on December 1, 2008

I'll nth the hoodies. Hoodies are generally considered cooler (as far I can tell) than sweaters for that 14-year-old boy set.
posted by fantine at 3:20 AM on December 2, 2008

Seconding Mephisto's suggestions, but also check out Aero Postale.
posted by BozoBurgerBonanza at 4:58 AM on December 2, 2008

I'm not entirely sure if everyone read this right -- this is a kid from the Bronx. Pleasepleaseplease don't go get him stuff from Abercrombie & Fitch or The Gap unless you want him to get beat up or think you're some crazy lady from Mars (or Kansas). A&F does not equal fun in the Bronx.

If a label's website features lots of grinning white people, move on!
posted by incessant at 7:49 AM on December 2, 2008

2nd Aeropostale--good prices.

really? kids in the Bronx hate A&F & Gap?
posted by sandra194 at 1:22 PM on December 2, 2008

H&M
posted by Ultra Laser at 3:18 PM on December 2, 2008