What makes a person ‘posh’ ?

[ethelfleda]

Yep - blatantly inspired by the other thread!
What do you think makes a person posh? Judging by the other responses it’ll be no tattoos, no swearing and never visiting a Greggs

(Lighthearted!)

The poshest people I knew at university had cheque books from private banks like Coutts, has parents who were titled and were genuinely lovely people. The loud mouthed rahs were rich and stereotypically posh but they were no where near as posh or nice as the old money, aristo types.

Lots of hairy dogs, horses, a boot room, an Aga, tartan picnic blankets, flagstones, Barbour jackets, cut glass vowels, scrunchies as long as they're velvety, slightly grubby houses, muddy children, Alice bands, an air of entitlement, mismatched tumblers, ash blond mid length hair, a Range Rover...

It’s all relative, isn’t it...

I am not British so it took me a while to get used to the fact that Britain still has such strong class divides.

I work with quite a few people who I guess are “posh” - Eaton educated, etc. I am not posh - very middle class - but when my dd was in primary school she was called posh by some other kids (very mixed central London primary - some seriously well-off families as well as families on the opposite side of the spectrum).

Taking an organic turnip to the cinema.

Posh Spice isn't.

HTH

Pink cheeks
Wild hair
Dusty houses with really old, fascinating things in, that smell like old books. Almost like walking into an antique shop i suppose.

And the really posh can be as unintelligible as the most common people. When they talk its almost like their tongues have gone to sleep.

Most of my friends and family are very wealthy and fairly grounded I only know one family I think of as posh - but I see posh in the comedy sense - a bit ridiculous...she is totally jolly hockey sticks has no clue about life - assumes that every thing she does is top notch and is quite bitter about those who seem to have more despite not being as posh as her - she doesn't seem to get the concept of being rewarded for hard work and talent!

My boss is posh. She drives a battered old car and loves a brown cordoroy knee length skirt!

@MrsPear. Just on the second hand uniform point: because it’s better for the environment to try to reuse than keep producing new and wasting perfectly good clothes.

The loud mouthed rahs were rich and stereotypically posh but they were nowhere near as posh or nice as the old money, aristo types. Those buggers who work hard and earn their money are always bleating on about it - whereas those people who were lucky enough to be given it - have the good manners to not mention it loudly - just as well, boasting that someone else has done all the hard work wouldn't seem quite so impressive.

Old money, ie their family has been wealthy for several generations. This is key. ‘New money’ will always struggle to be accepted as properly posh.

Elite private schools, eg Marlborough, Eton, Wycombe Abbey.

Higher education is less important. It’s all about social connections and family background.

Interests in culture and the arts, alternately country pursuits such as shooting and horse riding.

As a PP said....red trousers!

Didn't it used to be your family name was mentioned in Debretts or something like that?

I had a lovely posh friend who had a family crest and a proper double barrelled name that wasn't cobbled together.
He used to say "Jolly' a lot and "Gosh". His voice was so posh that on a trip to Sainsbury's once where he said " Jolly good ( daughter's name)" people were staring. He actually made William and Harry sound quite common.

Very posh people in my opinion, tend to be pretty broadminded and interested in getting to know people from all walks of life. They don't feel the need to brag about their latest purchases or do one upmanship. They are pretty modest.

I grew up on an estate and I don’t mean a Persimmon one.

;-) @Sadie789

Posh...country rather than town. Grubby old wellies and a beaten up wax gilet. Dogs - usually lollopy ones. Supper in the kitchen. Money sloshing around in various places - not from earning a high salary. Books. Pursuing interests, not as a hobby, but because earning a living really isn’t a priority.

I grew up on a non-Persimmons estate too ;-)

I was at a party at the weekend with super posh people (royalty / titled, kids all at boarding school together, party on their estate) and the height of excitement was that we were getting a drive through Greggs in the area soon

Mustard shorts. That’s the clincher

I grew up on a non-Persimmons estate too ;-)

When you hear "Persimmon", thinking either of a racehorse or a fruit? ;-)

The only people that give a shit what class anyone belongs to are the middle classes.
Lower/working people and upper class don't seem to get so bogged down and take people as they are more.
I wish we could get rid of the whole idea.
One of my good friends is very middle class, dad was a banker, big house in nice area, all kids well educated, two degrees each and work as professionals.
Lovely guy and I'm happy for him he got good opportunities and made the most of them but fuck me it gets boring hearing about how middle class he is and analysis of the working classes.
I don't need your analysis, I am working class, grew up in an ex council house, normal school, couldn't afford to go to university.
I work hard and am good at what I do, I read and like culture and want to give my child a better chance than I had.
I'll never be posh and that's fine by me.

Really posh people don't give a fuck. And when they say fuck the U is pronounced ever so slightly more like an A than a U. Hard to explain that one but I know what I mean.

I do have a slightly grubby house and drive and old banger. Maybe I'm posher than I thought.

Having staff

upper class don't seem to get so bogged down and take people as they are more. Utter bullshit - the upper classes benefit hugely from the class divide and they’ll defend it to the end - they’ll wave politely and seem very jolly but don’t ever be fooled and think you can become one of them, we all know your just not good enough - if you were someone would have gifted you your wealth.

Posh people say parse me the farkin Jam

upper class don't seem to get so bogged down and take people as they are more.

Yeah that’s total bollocks. Their superficial ‘manners’ mask multitudes.

Also I have never found upper class types to be into culture, arts, books particularly.

They may own books but that doesn’t mean they’ve ever opened them. Lots of them aren’t particularly intellectually curious.

Country stuff, horses, sport, yes.