For a good duration of the average childhood, you're dressed by your parents. You have very little choice or input, and certainly no financial means to make different decisions. But then, you start to care and exercise some agency: First a little bit, then a lot more. Before you know it, the way you present yourself to the world becomes a key component of your persona, something within your control. Today's episode of KnockBack is dedicated to both eras of childhood, the helplessness of school shopping with mom and the heady days of charting your own fashion course, with tons of stories, anecdotes, and choice gear from days past. The styles, the brands, and more. As always, we go deep.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices