veimloachshuv:
1) if one can afford it, who are you to say not to. not to mention, those shirts with alligators do last longer, so technically in the long run, that shirt may have been the more expensive choice at the time, but in the long run, it will be cheaper.
2)the “chevra” who wore pink ties first, well maybe they went to the store before the later “chevra” and saw that was what was being sold! some people have it in them to wear something before it is hugely popular. sometimes these people look ridiculous because the trend doesnt catch on (priest collars on suits is one that comes to mind, another 5 button single breasted suits), and they get burned on their purchase. their is nothing inherently wrong, as long as one can afford it.
as for their being a halachic problem with wearing a ball players name on a tee shirt, sorry but that just isnt not true. no one agrees about that! yes, posters in a childs room should be frowned upon, but assur! stop throwing around the word assur, or assur becomes the boy who cried wolf, and things truly assur lose their value.
as for wearing nikes and other name brands, this actually is very imporatnt. wearing cheap footwear, especially when running around, can be very harmful to your feet, ankles, calve muscles, up to your back and spine. nikes, reeboks, nu-balance, these companies all invest alot of money into technology that places the stress on the shoe in special ways as to not effect the body. this is especially important as jews of european decent tend to be more flat and wide footed then the rest of the populace. it isnt the name of the sneaker, but the technology inside it. go speak to any podiatrist, and ask them how important a good pair of sneakers are to children and teens, you will be surprised!