Exams over, freshers hit fashion streets with a Big Bling Theory

Bhavna Shah is a mix of nerves and excitement. The SSC pass-out’s happiness has more to do with her parents’ nod for a tattoo on the nape than her good score. “Mom told me that she’d let me get a tattoo if I scored above 80%. Ever since I scored 82.13%, I’ve been ecstatic,” says the Vakola resident. “After all these years of being straitjacketed in a school uniform, I want to look my coolest best in college,” adds the teenager, who hopes to study at Sydenham or HR college.

Her homemaker mother, Deepti Shah, 48, admits that it is difficult to keep pace with her daughter’s demands. “Her brother is 25 years old and is studying engineering. He wore whatever we bought, but she has an opinion not only on what she wears but often on what I wear too,” Shah complains, smiling.

She has drawn the line at hair tints though. “Dikra vaal kharab thase (It’ll ruin your hair),” she warns, but Bhavna rolls her eyes and is already checking out colours.

Not far from the salon, Avinash Dikshit and his friends are out on Bandra’s Linking Road, shopping. “I want neon coloured jeans, shorts, tees and a cool bracelet,” says the 14-year-old who moves with a practised swagger. “My parents have given me a budget which allows me to only shop here or Fashion Street. High-end brands are not only expensive but outlast the trend. The stuff here makes sense because it’s cheap and has attitude,” says Avinash, while his gang stifles giggles over a singlet with a ‘loaded’ message that interests him. “I joined the gym during the vacations and this will show off my biceps more,” he laughs. His friend Neville D’Souza wants to buy clip-on ear studs to stand out, but is chuffed on the head by Avinash.

“Arrey, your braces are enough to work as jewellery,” he says making everyone, including Neville, crack up.

Nearly 20km south of Colaba causeway, Hari Makhija, 41, wonders what to make of the bright orange rip-off Crocs his son Akash insists on buying. “When we were growing up, forget boys, even girls didn’t wear such colours,” he laughs, trying to coax his son into buying a more muted grey. “My friends will call me uncle for wearing something so dull,” says Akash, picking up the orange footwear. He grabs his phone to click a picture for Facebook and tells dna, “I told dad to upgrade to an iPhone and I took his S4. You can’t go to college with some Stone Age phone, can you?”

Psychiatrist Pavan Sonar laughs, saying he’s not surprised at the choices. “This time of self discovery can be stressful. Teens are trying to be different from parents, a distinct person, but also trying to fit in with peers. Physical, hormonal, and emotional changes are occurring as a child’s body is transformed into a young adult’s. Often these changes can help make sense of their peacocking as they ready for intimacy as adults.”

Counsellor-psychologist Deepak Kashyap feels another factor is at play, too. “The yearning for all things flashy is particularly prominent in this generation more than ever before because of acute attention deficit. With both parents working, many of these children hunger to be noticed and flattered. They try to make up for this with flashy gadgets, neon or blingy accessories and fluorescent clothes.” While admitting that it can just be a phase, he advises, “Parents and teachers should know that reprimanding the child will only make things worse. Patience and positive reinforcement to nudge them away gently will show better results.”