Nadya Labi

Rock stars often inspire American fashion, especially adolescent styles. One recent example is the bellybearing trend fueled by pop idol Britney Spears. Britney's scantily clad performances have impacted the way teen girls dress-and think about their own bodies. Many critics feel that Spears's influence on fashion has left girls feeling compelled to dress in sexy clothes to gain approval from their peers, especially boys. The trend toward increasingly erotic dress has prompted some schools to enact dress codes forbidding clothes that are deemed too revealing. Schools charge that such outfits are distracting and trigger "bad attitudes."

The following article, which originally appeared in Time magazine, discusses how Britney Spears has influenced several teens-and preteens-around the country. The author also explores how the growing popularity of sexy adolescent clothing is resulting in...