To ask how do you know which things are 'tacky/common'?

[TheHydrangeas]

On here I sometimes see certain items, behaviours, homeware, fashion, makeup, etc classed as "tacky" or "common". Sometimes I can understand it, but other times it is things that seem pretty innocuous. Despite this you see this kind of unanimous belief that those things are "common". However I can't really find an underlying pattern to what is deemed to be tacky/common and what is not. Is there any kind of theme or pattern to this? One example is I remember reading a thread where a pretty popular brand of scented candles were classed as tacky.

I also want to say that I am not trying to portray other users negatively as judgemental or anything, we are all entitled to our opinions. I am just interested from a broader point of view - how do certain things become tacky or common?

I like them because I'm lazy and I like food.

@Polnm thank you! So people just wear white and call it a white party? Sounds dull.

Ooh! My list:
Live laugh love signs/wall stencils. Anything with an inspirational quote actually.
Ted Baker
Michael Kors
Loads of air fresheners in cars
Dodgy 'animal ear' filters in selfies
New build houses

I dont think it is related to trend necessarily because there are some really nice 'trendy' things out there - maxi dresses with trainers, natural looking fake tan, ladder shelves etc

It's more when something is objectively ugly, fashionable or not, and people throw themselves at it. Whereas if it wasnt in fashion they would never go for it.

The only thing that’s really vulgar is not being true to yourself in an attempt to impress others. Like Hyacinth Bucket types.

Remember when someone on MN actually posted a photo of a French hotel room and pretended it was her own bedroom, because she was so desperate to make people believe she was affluent and upper class? That’s the very definition of common and vulgar.

@whattodo2019 isn't that funny that for you high buns and ponytails are tacky - for us it's the other way round! My mother would never put my hair in a low ponytail growing up - there were a group of girls in my older sister's year who from used to smoke outside the secondary school and they always had severe middle partings and low ponytails, so I think this was her reasoning

I wouldn't worry. You like what you like.

My taste leans towards style more than fashion. I have always hated that Louis Vuitton bag. I like Loewe for example though, not averse to an expensive purchase. Occasionally I like something common and I just go for it.

I've never knowingly been tempted to buy anything tacky but I saw an ad for Guess bags on sale the other day and I found myself thinking ''that would do for work''. I spend my life dressed in navy and muted colours. I can carry off one Guess bag. And if I can't, at least I can fit a lunch box, an umbrella and a book in there.

Don't over think it!

I’m obviously out of touch. The only White Parties I know are those thrown in places like Miami and Fire Island which are primarily for wealthy or very attractive gay men, and which turn pretty wild.

Why are (all) AI tacky?

The theory is that we should all be either (a) seeking out un-touristy local restaurants off the beaten track serving obscure food for every meal, preferably somewhere recommended to you by a local friend (if you want to be MC / arty / intellectual); or (b) staying at a friend's villa, where the help sorts out all your meals, maybe occasionally venturing to an exclusive restaurant (if you want to be UC).

Those options are inconvenient or impossible for most people, which is why people go AI. For the same reason, AI is seen as 'tacky' (because it's easy and available to everyone, no prior knowledge or connections required).

If you are on a normal holiday with 3 small kids, it's fair enough not to have the inclination to search out a different eatery every night, and risk being served dross - so be 'tacky' and proud!

Doesn't it all come down to a matter of taste?

Thinking in terms of home decor for example, some of the most expensive and minimalist style design can be, in my opinion, awfully tacky and common looking.

You could on the other hand spend time scouring charity/vintage/thrift stops and make your home look absolutely beautiful and unique for a fraction of the price - then of course some people would look at it as a load of old tat.

One mans trash is another mans treasure as they say

@Grottyfeet

Oh FGS, what's wrong with Yankee Candle?

This is a perfect example of how ridiculous people can become about class. I know there are far more expensive brands of candle. But if you want a scented candle and yankee candle make one you like, then I find it beyond ridiculous to knowingly pay twice as much for a candle that will be burning, unseen, in your own home.

I recommend Max Benjamin , Torc and Brooke and Shoals if anybody is looking for a candle not even half as expensive as Jo Malone or Dyptique. Torc may have gone out of business but they did their candles in lovely jars. Their lime and basil candle came in a beautiful green jar and was a quarter of the price of jo malone's lime and basil

Name changed because I sound like a judgemental bitch, but you did ask.

Too much foundation

See-through leggings

Crushed velvet furniture

Mirrored furniture

Endless grey rooms in houses

Inspirational quotes on walls

Inspirational quotes posted to Facebook

Oversharing on Facebook and treating the comments like personal text conversations

The words hun, hubby, babes

Checking into hospital on Facebook with a cryptic accompanying status

Brand names which are ostentatiously plastered everywhere

A lodge at Centre Parks is not tacky according to mumsnet but a lodge at Haven is

Even in the context of this thread, this is bonkers.

Someone getting a lodge at Haven, because that's what their budget stretches to, is not doing any of the things that supposedly make something 'tacky'. They're not trying to be something/someone they're not, it's not 'blingy' or 'in your face', they're not showing off in any way, they're literally just buying a budget holiday.

The example above makes 100% clear that what most people who use the words 'tacky' / 'common' are doing is simply sneering at those who they consider to be beneath them in social status. It's not about behaviours or crass displays of wealth - it's simply about being less well off or from a lower class.

@ttigerlilly

Yes of course and frankly it is petty to care about somebody else's likes.

I personally think the epitome of class is managing to make normally 'tacky' things look lovely. Some people just have innate style and can make anything look good.

I, sadly, am not one of them.

@ReceptacleForTheRespectable

A lodge at Centre Parks is not tacky according to mumsnet but a lodge at Haven is

Even in the context of this thread, this is bonkers.

Someone getting a lodge at Haven, because that's what their budget stretches to, is not doing any of the things that supposedly make something 'tacky'. They're not trying to be something/someone they're not, it's not 'blingy' or 'in your face', they're not showing off in any way, they're literally just buying a budget holiday.

The example above makes 100% clear that what most people who use the words 'tacky' / 'common' are doing is simply sneering at those who they consider to be beneath them in social status. It's not about behaviours or crass displays of wealth - it's simply about being less well off or from a lower class.

That was the point that I was trying to make

The old I look down on you comedy sketch.

@formerbabe

True class and manners is not pointing out someone's mispronunciation of a word, even better, to make them feel comfortable, you mispronounce it too in the following conversation.

Maybe a regional thing but theres a Place In The Sun where one of the house hunters says she’s looking forward to sitting on her terrace drinking Cava. Only she pronounces it “Cav a ” rather than “car va”. The nice presenter misses half a beat but calls it Cav a herself the rest of the show.

Gosh this thread is turning out to be a real litmus test for opinionated snobbishness and snootiness but bloody entertaining so carry on and fill your (non UGG) boots! Presumably Le Chameau not Hunter and Goyard not LV?

Wear buy and live the life you want and sod the fashion police! Given the economy any spend spend spend I think is welcomed even all sorts of fragrance candles? Incidentally are Goop smells like my you know what tacky!?

I don’t get the point about being snobby though.

Lots of people are happy to have things that are tacky and common. So none of the sneering matters surely? I have a friend who puts up pictures of her new enhanced lips or latest massive tattoo or photos from her blingy bedroom. She’s not stupid, she’s knows lots of people think they’re tacky or common but she likes that look.She doesn’t want herself or the house to look mumsy middle class or scruffy posh.

@mrshoho

😅 This has reminded me when I was a very unwordly twenty year old and organising a work do in town. The restaurant was in Beauchamp Place and I was relaying the address to colleagues and sorting out arrangements. I was doing my best French accent 'Bowsharm' and v posh manager called me aside and whispered 'Beecham darling please'. I was so surprised and quite embarrassed that I had no clue 😅

Oh, feel your pain! this reminds me of when I was young and a foreigner in London and somebody stopped me to ask me the way to Peeps street! and I ''corrected'' them! Ha ha. I drew a blank and then said, um peppiss street? oh that way. In my defence, I am not English and the history I learnt did not include this character.

@Leflic but cava is right because it's a spanish word!

Why would you take a spanish word, give it a south of england pronunciation and decide that that is correct !

cavva is how it's said. If any English speakers say caaaahva with a long ah, they are just going to leave a trail of people wincing behind them.

I feel like that when Americans say pasta, but for them, it's the norm. That's how they all say it.

@Colom

Someone round the corner from where I live has got a Ford Fiesta. They've had it sprayed brown and the Louis Vuitton logo put across it.

No?! I assume you're joking? If not that's the best example of common as muck tack that ever was

I don’t know, I think it is top-level tongue-in-cheek hilariousness. It is grade A meta, and shows the owner to be someone who likes what they have and doesn’t take themselves too seriously.

She’s not stupid, she’s knows lots of people think they’re tacky or common but she likes that look.She doesn’t want herself or the house to look mumsy middle class or scruffy posh

I wear a lot of stuff which I know lots of people think is tacky...blingy earrings, lots of foundation, shimmery pink lipstick. It's what I like. I see lots of mums wearing stereotypically middle class mum clothes but I don't like that style.

"In this house we laugh, love, eat, prey, poop etc"

If I saw one that said “prey” I would definitely buy it - only one person preys in our house, and that is the dog!

L8Bloomer Sure you’re right. It just sounds odd as I’ve never heard it pronounced the Spanish way by anyone with an English accent . Bit like paella. However not derailing with the whole Paris vs Par ee thing.

I think anything that shouts look at me be it clothes,cars,home furnishings anything is tacky!Understated is always the way to go.it provides a certain something that screams I am confident and sure in my choices. Someone once said no clue who but it went along the lines of "if everyone can have it I dont want it"!!!
If I won the lottery I would never buy a massive mansion that would be tacky but I would buy a beautiful old farm house or cottage and have it designed internally to just show what it is at its best. All subective like anything else I think!!! Brill topic OP

@veryvery

I think being loud, judgmental, rude and swearing is common and uncouth.

Oh the irony!😂