Tonight with your 13 to 17 year old
The prompt
“Is there a piece of clothing or a style thing that just feels like "you"?”
What to listen for
If they answer easily and with enthusiasm, that's a great sign they feel free to express who they are without worrying about your judgment, and that self-expression feels safe in this house.
If they get a little defensive or say "why, is something wrong with it," that might mean they've felt criticized about their look before, even lightly, so keep your reaction curious and warm rather than evaluative.
If they say nothing really feels like "them" yet, that's a completely normal part of still figuring out identity, no need to fill in the blank for them.
What this tells you
This tells you how comfortable they feel expressing their own identity out loud, and whether they trust that you'll accept it rather than judge it.