Fashion is the trend or style   which is popular at that moment. Fashions exist   regarding clothes, shoes, make up and jewellery, and have been existing since times immemorial. But since the use of electronic means of advertisement and communication, people have much more exposure to the new fashion trends. Those who are interested get the information about the latest design in clothes and accessories.

Many people remain eager to adopt immediately whatever latest designs come and go ahead to buy them. This happens more with teenagers. Teenagers are much more influenced by the lucrative advertisements of dresses and accessories and adopt them as soon as possible. But they give scant regard to the fact that whether it is useful or suitable for them or not. The economics of the dress also usually does not bother them.

It is good to be fashion conscious and be in vogue. But before adopting a latest design one should see whether it is suitable or not for him or her. Individuals vary widely   in their height, skin colour, complexion and features. Therefore a particular type of   dress may not look good on all. For example, a little lose dress may look very good on a fat person but it may not look good on a skinny person. White and pastel colours look slightly better on people with a fair complexion, e.t.c., e.t.c. What is suitable for which kind of person is a very elaborate topic and is for fashion experts to discuss and decide.

But what I would like to add up is that before picking up a dress or its accessories, a teenager ought to know as how he or she would look in it.  Girls should be particular to see that the dress should cover their bodies modestly. Apart from being trendy, the clothes should also be comfortable physically.

Same thing applies to cosmetics. Before using creams and lipsticks, one ought to see that it should suit their skin texture and should not cause any allergy.

It is very important to give attention to the foot wear. Shoes worn ought to be very comfortable and suitable for walking. Shoes with pointed high heels are responsible for causing backache and pain in legs. They also result in broad hips because hips are put under stress along with legs due to very high heels. The shape of the shoes should be such that the toes and front portion of the feet fits comfortably in to it. Otherwise some stylish shoes are designed such that they are narrow in the front. When girls wear it for a few hours, they develop pain in the feet.

Jewels look nice along with dresses and add  to the dressing up of a young girl. Most of the times ears of girls are pierced  while they are young, by their mothers or elderly relative. But if somebody gets her ears or nose pierced on her own, due attention should be given to the hygiene to avoid catching any infection. Precious jewellery is very expensive and a security risk to wear hence most girls and women wear artificial jewellery made of plastic or metal.   Many individuals have allergy to the plastic or metal used in the jewellery pieces. Hence if somebody has any problem like pain or itching, after wearing a particular jewel, it must be discarded. Very heavy ear rings or danglers can make the ear hole big as they grow up making the ear look ungainly. Therefore it is preferable that young girls wear light ear rings only.

Financial aspect of the fashion trends is an important issue that cannot be ignored. Fashions change very frequently. Catering to the eternal human desire to look good, fashion designers keep on bringing out new designs. It is not wise to spend much on clothes and accessories as once something is brought and hardly worn, the design will change again.

A sensible teenager is the one who dresses up well, in clothes which look good on him/her, and are comfortable, while keeping it within limits of one’s budget.

Dr. Rachna Pande
E-mail-rachna212002@yahoo.co.uk