Irish teenage boys are trending like Beckham thanks to social media

Irish tweenie and teenage boys are going where Irish men once rarely ventured — they are playing with fashion and mastering trends they spot on social media, says Paula Burns

THERE is a new breed of teenage boys out there. The metro-sexual bloke of before has morphed into a fashion conscious, style-obsessed teenage lad.

It’s no longer just the girls clogging up the bathroom for hours getting ready, with sinks splattered in make-up, multiple wardrobe changes strewn across the bed and the lingering waft of whatever spray is in fashion filling the air.

The pubescent boy of today knows exactly what’s on trend and how to translate this to his everyday attire. A new world order has been set in place.

DISCOVER MORE CONTENT LIKE THIS

Gone are the days of Irish teenage boys donning a favourite t- shirt for the entirety of their puberty. A self-obsession pandemic has struck the wardrobe of our nation’s boys.

The modern teenager lives in a world obsessed with social media. Their daily lives are played out on the platforms of Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Portraying the right profile is a statement in itself.

It’s letting their peers know that they fit in, so wearing the right label is of utmost importance. Every moment of their teenage lives from a trip to the cinema or the local disco is documented through their smart phones and so looking your best is a priority.

Even Anna Wintour has nodded at their chilled self confident stylishness.

“They wear Rick Owens, Helmut Lang, and Hood by Air, styled simply and nonchalantly. They draw on their clothes and shrug at trends.

They look cooler than you, and seem to be better at shopping, too. They’re teenage (or very nearly teenage) boys, and it took us some time to admit it, but some of the most inspiring style right now can be found on their Instagram pages,” the style bible wrote last year.

Adam Gaffey, Editor in Chief of Men’s Fashion Ireland Magazine says this generation look far beyond their communities..

“There are wider varieties of culture within a youth today that has continuous access to inspiration and products from around the world at the click of a button,” says Adam.

While this newly evolved teenage boy may clock up just as many hours getting ready as their female counterparts, teenagers will be teenagers and while more style conscious, many continue to follow the pack.

The international label is what matters and stores such as Hollister and Superdry feed into this.

“I suppose it’s down to the ‘name’ and marketing choices of these brands that make them so popular; they know their consumer and how to reach them,” says Adam.

While the label they are wearing may be a priority there is also a new consciousness amongst the boys towards how they look that wasn’t there before.

They want to rock a look. As editor in chief of a men’s fashion magazine, Adam always has his eye on the street looking for that unique look.

“There are various trends arising at the moment, but the one that stands out for me is vintage, retro style. Old school trends are being modernised and brought back to life, and it’s great to see the youth appreciate fashion that existed before today,” says Adam.

Just as Kyle and Kendall Jenner and Alexa Chung set the trends for the girls, boys too have their fashion heroes.

When One Direction first hit the scene back in 2010 a new fashion uniform was established; the salmon pink or blue zip up hoodie matched with skinny jeans and trainers.

They also introduced the skinny chino style trousers in an array of colours while Premier League footballers added their foot candy with boys, aged five to 15, routinely wearing turquoise, pink, peach and aqua blue runners, with the most fashion forward wearing a different colour on each foot.

There’s also far more to boy hair too than a bit of gel, a few spikes or even a rat’s tail. School uniformed boys, aged 13 and 14, can often be seen getting off buses with a full pompadour, a rock hard quiff with shaven sides, looking like pasty Irish Beckhams.

We can’t but mention the Beckhams. From an early age we have watched the Beckham boys grow up and now 16-year-old Brooklyn is stepping out from the shadows of his fashionable parents, to showcase his own sense of style.

Younger brother Romeo, at the tender age of 12, isn’t far behind in the fashion stakes. The little hipster has already been signed to Burberry and is fast making his mark in the fashion world.

“The biggest celebrity role models for boys are sportsmen, musicians, and actors.

David Beckham has been one of the biggest trendsetters of all time for boys. No matter what haircut he has or what he wears, it catches on, and I’m sure Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz will take this position pretty soon too,” says Adam.

Over stateside, Kingston Rossdale, son of Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale, has been building his own repertoire of street style looks. At the young age of just nine, Kingston has already become a trendsetter in the making.

With his signature under cut and rock style this boy is definitely one to watch.

Maddox Jolie-Pitt has also been a fashion leader in the making. We’ve enjoyed watching his sense of style evolve from tween into a smart teenager strolling the red carpets.

Lets face it, past generations of Irish blokes weren’t known for a unique approach to fashion; comfort always won out. With the new generation we have a glimmer of hope.

DISCOVER MORE CONTENT LIKE THIS