Pressure about wearing certain clothes to school is pretty oppressive and can be hard to ignore. First, I would have to disagree that "clothes make the person." There are so many different styles out there, and so many different ways to express yourself. Think about what you like, not necessarily what is cool.

That said, sometimes it is necessary to get new clothes--especially when, as you say, you are growing out of your old ones.

Talk to your mom and see if she is willing to pay for a portion of what you need. Then determine what else you want and how you can pay for the balance. Do you have a summer job? Can you babysit or do odd jobs for some extra dollars? Being able to earn your own money shows your mom that you can be responsible about shopping.

One way to change your look is with accessories, like inexpensive jewelry, a temporary tattoo, frequent haircuts or whatever. Also consider shopping in discount stores, outlets or secondhand shops to see if you can find what you like for less money. Sometimes you can find good discounts online.

Dealing with the pressure to dress a certain way can be hard. But figuring out your own style is an entire creative process in itself. It's good to experiment to learn what you like and what you respond to--and it can be a lot of fun.