Dressing a growing teenager on a budget: what to buy, when and how

Measure, do not guess

The teenage years are when children move from children's sizes into adult ones, and sizing gets confusing. On Rewear, children's sizes go up to 11 to 12 years, so after that you will be shopping in women's and men's sizes, where labels such as XS, S, UK 6 or W28 vary between brands.

• Measure your teenager every few months: chest or bust, waist, hips, inside leg and foot length. Write the numbers in your phone.
• Measure the clothes that fit them now, laid flat, so you have something to compare with.
• Compare with the listing's measurements in cm before you buy. If there are none, ask the seller.

Our guide to measuring clothes for buying online shows how, and our UK clothes size conversion guide helps with foreign labels.

Buy for now, with a little room

It is tempting to buy two sizes up so things last, but clothes that are far too big rarely get worn, and by the time they fit, tastes have moved on.

• Allow a few centimetres in length and sleeves, not a whole size or two.
• Adjustable pieces help: elasticated or drawstring waists, roll-up cuffs, joggers with ankle cuffs.
• Hoodies and jumpers with a relaxed fit last longer than fitted ones.

Spend on what gets worn every day

Put the money where the wear is:

1. A warm, waterproof coat that fits over a hoodie.
2. Trainers or shoes for school and weekends. Check the insole length in cm against their foot, with a little room.
3. Jeans or joggers, two or three pairs.
4. Hoodies and sweatshirts, which teenagers live in.
5. School uniform, if they wear it. Our guide to second-hand school uniform covers what is worth buying.

Underwear and socks are better bought new.

Let them choose

A teenager who chose their clothes will wear them. One who did not may leave them in a drawer.

• Set a budget together for the season, and let them spend it.
• Browse together. On Rewear you can filter by size, condition, colour and price, which makes it quicker to find things that fit and fit the budget.
• Agree the rules, such as measurements checked before buying and nothing bought outside the app.

On Rewear, members must be 18 or over, so buying and selling happens on your account.

Second-hand works well for teenagers

• Branded pieces they want often turn up second-hand for much less, sometimes barely worn.
• Occasion wear for a prom, party or family wedding is ideal to buy second-hand, as it is usually worn once or twice.
• Sports kit for a season of a new activity is worth buying second-hand before you know whether it will stick.

If they are keen on a particular brand, check the labels and photos carefully, and be wary of prices that look too good to be true.

Sell what they outgrow

Clothes outgrown in months are usually still in good condition, which makes them easy to sell.

• Clear out at the change of season, when you are buying the next size anyway.
• Wash, check and photograph each piece in daylight. Photograph clothes on their own rather than on your teenager.
• Give the measurements in cm, since older children's and small adult sizes are confusing for buyers too.
• Group pieces by size and set a bundle discount, so buyers can take several at once and pay postage once.

On Rewear there is no selling fee, so the price you agree is the price you are paid. Buyers pay postage and a buyer protection fee of 30p + 3%. Our guide to selling kids' clothes has more tips that apply to teenagers' clothes too.

Common mistakes

• Buying far too big in the hope it will last.
• Trusting the size label instead of the measurements.
• Buying a lot at once just before a growth spurt.
• Choosing for them without asking.

The short version

Measure your teenager and the clothes, buy what fits now with a little room, and spend on the coat, shoes, jeans and hoodies they wear every day. Let them choose within a budget, buy second-hand where it makes sense, and sell what they outgrow to fund the next size.