#YouthCulture: A guide for parents

Have you ever wondered why your teenager suddenly dresses in black or dyes their hair pink? Here's a guide to current youth cultures and why teenagers dress in a certain way.

Emo: Emos usually wear dark clothes, often black. They dye their hair black, too, sometimes with a streak of a very bright colour like pink or blue. Some emos like to have long hairstyles and use lots of hairspray to make it big. Some also have hair covering part of their faces. Emos often have piercings, like a lip piercing or large ear piercings called plugs. Emo music can be very emotional and the lyrics are about strong feelings.

Twee: Twee is a popular fashion which came up first in the 60s and 70s. Often, fashion is influenced by music. But twee fashion is influenced by TV and films, such as New Girl or Juno. The colours are usually pale, like olive or mustard. Lots of people on social media wear twee fashion. That’s why it has become so popular again. Another reason is that buying second-hand clothes has become very popular, especially among younger people who want to help protect the environment.

E-girls and e-boys: The term e-girl and e-boy is used for this kind of fashion because it is influenced by video games, anime and manga. Sometimes, e-girls and e-boys together are called e-kids. E-kids play video games online and perhaps also live stream their games. They wear bright colours and logos that are inspired by their favourite video games or anime. Some people also dye their hair, as you can see in the picture. Their make-up is also very bright and you can often find small symbols like hearts on their cheeks.

Hipster: The hipster fashion started in the 1940s. The idea is that hipsters want to show that they don’t care and don’t want to be mainstream. Denim is usually a part of their look. Hipsters often wear jeans that show off their socks or ankles. Jeans are often paired with a flannel shirt, t-shirt or hoodie. Beanies and baseball caps finish the look. Men like to grow facial hair, like a moustache or a full beard.

Photo: an e-boy