Hilarie Stelfox: How to horrify a teenager when out shopping

Nov 7 2009 by Hilarie Stelfox, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Hilarie Stelfox: How to horrify a teenager when out shopping

WE HAD a girls’ day out in Manchester over half-term, doing girly things like getting lost and failing to find anywhere good to eat in a city with several hundred restaurants.

The day had been talked about for some time so there was really no excuse. All we had to do was Google a street map and get there early enough to avoid the lunchtime queues at every half decent eaterie.

Instead, we went for the spontaneous option and found ourselves sitting in a fake New York diner surrounded by fake memorabilia, eating the usual suspects: pizzas, spag bog, burgers and chicken Caesar salad.

Over the meal the four teenagers in our group announced they wanted to go to Afflecks, a famous emporium that is a magnet for the young and young-at-heart.

“Yes,’’ I said, because I like to think I fall into the latter category, “let’s go to Afflecks.’’ My friend Susan was less sure, particularly when we arrived half an hour later (after asking three innocent passers-by for directions) and it became clear we’d be the oldest shoppers in the building.

I don’t think it was just an age thing. It was more that she didn’t envision herself in a dayglo pink net tutu or Goth-black T-shirt with multiple piercings, which seemed to be the costume of choice for everyone we could see on the ground floor. But I have certain powers of persuasion and suggested we might try one of the other three floors in the building (formerly, I’m told, the Affleck and Brown’s department store).

“If I was 16 I’d buy my entire wardrobe here,’’ I commented, as we browsed the puffball minis, wacky T-shirts and outrageously cheap sequined dresses.I even tried one of the dresses on for a laugh.

We’d planned to leave our daughters to browse the fancy dress, tarot cards, belly button rings and other covetable objects but, in the end, became absorbed by the microcosm of teenage fashion, fads and cults. Our own teenagers were a bit horrified to discover we actually intended entering the hallowed portals of young fashion so we had to be a bit sneaky.

It was the day before Halloween so the place was heaving, although, to be fair, it was difficult to tell which outlets were selling fancy dress and which weren’t.

As it turned out we’re not quite past our sell-by dates and Susan was seduced by a military-style coat at a bargain price. Her daughters have renewed respect for her fashion sense.

I bought a trilby hat for Firstborn, who aspires to a look that’s somewhere between English gentleman, caver and casual student.

Secondborn appeared with a pair of gloves emblazoned with glow-in-the-dark skeleton hands and her friend had found an unusual chiffon flock skirt.

It was, we all agreed, a most successful shopping venue and one that we will be revisiting. If you’re interested check out www.afflecks.com or you could ask your friendly neighbourhood Goth and they’ll be able to point you in the right direction.