to wonder if peoples definition of Chav/Chavvy varies greatly

[GirlOutNumbered]

This is a bit of a post about a post. Some one said that a girl in a barbour jacket would be chavvy. I have never, ever seen a Chav in a barbour jacket.

A chav down here is someone who wears a tracksuit most of the time and jeans with a polo shirt when going out on the town. The girls would wear tracksuit tucked into ugg style boots, the boys trainers.

Whats a chav where you are?

Germy - the branded fashion so Burberry etc. We would call someone like that a Janner. Which is weird as when I lived in Cornwall, a Janner was a farmer.

Very confusing!

I thought it originated from the place Chatham in Kent?

Dances! Wow.
SweetKitty - I think Ned is the closet description to what we use the word for.

Not a husky dog though, but definitely a staffy (but not all staffy owners, staffys are lovely dogs.

I am certainly vulgar and ostentatious so I suspect I am a chav by whatever definition you use.

Can I just ask if your Barbour smells of dog and has been sent back to Barbour for re sealing and repairs are you still a Chav?
I love my Barbour nothing better for rainy days it's virtually an antique.

There are so many judgey people on MN- names, clothes, where someone lives, benefits, spelling etc etc etc etc.

Their heads must be full of it all day long, judging every person they encounter.

Then they come and talk about it on here..

It does my blooming head in.

I think previous posters have covered the use of the word.

Re the barbour jacket - I think the popularity of the Polar Quilt jacket has made it more downmarket than it's usual image.

A bit like burberry baseball caps

Chav seems to be a term used obsessively by MN for someone who is deemed to be less worthy than the middle class norm on here.

I think it includes people not from council estates , but MNers do prefer a chav to know their place and remain on the estate . I suspect I would be classed a chav.

What absolute bullshit. I can think of no other place other than public services where the term 'chav' is less accepted.

Used so often on here usually by those that love to inform us of their shopping trips to John Lewis, would never use the word pardon or toilet but happy to use slang

I won't use the c word, but hello? Have you lot slept through last year's adoption of Barbour style padded jackets as high street fashion?

The neon pink ones with Barbour written on the chest are pretty rank looking imo.

My DP wears one, has for years, and its funny to see the meaning of Barbour change as it did for Burberry. They're just jackets but they can say a lot about which 'tribe' the wearer identifies with.

Chav is from a Romani word.

Also my belief is that chav has just become the new way of saying common. Particularly on mn and amongst the middle class people of the uk. Chats used to be the whole sportswear, rough, loads of gold, working class, sun reading types. Now you can live in a great big house, earn lots of money, wear expensive clothes and still be 'chavvy', think how footballers and wags are described or this thing with Barbour jackets, its just a new way of saying common.

I thought it originated from Charva.

There was a time when The Beckhams were known as the King and ueen of Chav. Remember that wedding, those thrones? definately Chav and F all to do with a council estate.

Sasha agree.

Barbour jackets worn for fashion rather than function = people trying to portray themselves as rich country types (like the Queen and Princess Anne) same goes for fashion wearers of 'Hunter' wellies and drivers of shiney white Land rovers. HTH.

I needthatfork, I think there are a few quite vocal posters who loathe the term chav but there is an obsession on here with being seen as a chav. If I call my child this am I a chav? If I wear this coat am I a chav? I have this flooring am I a chav? if I have this sofa am I a chav?

Well I grew up on a rough council estate married a footballer and love Barbour jackets oh and my pink hunter wellies, if I'm a Chav so be it! I think it's a term used to keep lower working class people in their place.

MrsLouisTheraux is right!

I think there are so many apparent origins of the word that nobody really knows where it came from.

But without a doubt it is a insult used by people who like to put others down to make themselves feel better and using it says rather more about the one using it than it does about the person being called it,it's a very good indicator of a lack of security in yourself.

And if your so worried about an item of clothing or a name making you appear to be one then you are not as far removed from the people you ridicule as you think you are.

I think your definition of chav is the same as mine really. Actually ralph lauren polo shirts seem to be a favourite

Men who wear jeans and a polo shirt are chavvy? Isn't that most of them, then?

A Ralph Lauren one is chavvy but a Topshop isn't. And white trainers would be chavvy but suede sneakers wouldn't be.

When I think of chav I'm thinking of people who wear unnecessarily ostentatious clothes or just have bad taste. Style and taste really. Definitely like the Beckhams on their thrones.

I certainly don't think of it as being about people who live in social housing. But maybe I'm a cunt anyway. < shrugs >