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?

My mum is very "in the know" about what is common and she would say:
- different coloured pegs on the same items of washing

This is hilarious!

Of course [places tongue firmly in cheek] everyone knows that coloured (and therefore plastic) pegs are non-U to start with.

The truly posh know nothing of pegs - they don't hang out their own laundry.

Those who have fallen on hard times may use wooden pegs, but never, ever plastic. The very idea!

ColourMeExhausted

My parents used to have the Complete Naff Guide! It was given as a present and they eventually threw it away

I never knew most of the rules on this thread, but I do wear Iris by Prada!

@AlwaysOnAbloodyDiet

When a character like Kat Slater starts wearing it? my leopard print coat

My mum never liked her very expensive curtains after someone pointed out they were the same fabric as the ones in pat butcher's living room.

It's because they've had good manners, courtesy and politeness drummed into them from early infancy and it's a hard habit to break.

If courtesy and politeness is drummed so firmly into the upper classes, why has Prince Phillip made so many appalling racist comments to people over the years?

The forelock tugging on here is so ferocious that people are in danger of pulling their hair out.

@coldplay

Everyone's view of what is tacky is different... I live in a city with a lot of working class neighbourhoods and in my view, based on experience, the following things are tacky/common.

• babies with unusual American type names. That are supposed to be different but they aren't because so many others have had the same idea.
• eyelash extensions. Just no. If you are going somewhere special, stick on some strip lashes.
• very long plastic nail extensions
• overly inflated lips
• anything branded with Michael kors
• houses with excessive ornaments on display outside or visible from windows
• kids going to school with all matching frilly elaborate hair accessories, usually holding up 2 high buns, scraped so tightly to the child's head, she is bound to have a terrible headache.
• crushed velvet sofas and curtains (think mrs hinch)
• Mirrored furniture and elaborate centrepieces with crushed glass. So expensive and terribly gaudy.
• small children in branded sports wear
• babies with their ears pierced, bangles era
• elaborate christening robes / holy communion dresses

The list goes on

Disclaimer, this is my opinion only!

Add inspirational quotes painted on walls and dressing siblings in the same outfits to that list and you're just about done.

This thread is brilliant

To the people saying that we look down on new money in this country, I don’t think that’s true. Although we definitely look down on new money acquired by people who are intellectually challenged. Footballers, their WAGS, the towie generations and social media influencers for instance. And this this the thing, people who made their new money from literature, enterprise etc generally don’t tend to look like cartoon characters with their caricature like displays of wealth.

@TWAMSWIAO

This thread is brilliant

It's like being back on the Mumsnet of 2013. Marvellous

In my mind, I have extremely firm, non negotiable levels of opinions on whats tacky, chavy, common and vulgar. That's where they are going to stay. The only person that I have ever disclosed my thoughts on taste and style to is my husband.
He would be one chavy fucker if I didn't rein him in.

@Featherstep

No offense to Yankee Candle fans, but to me they are tacky because the fragrances seem so artificial and headache-inducing. Even the dye on the candles look artificial and cheap. Sorry... that said I've enjoyed a couple of festive candles from there.

Leopard print is an interesting one, a lot would class this tacky but it's a tackiness that sort of transcends into fabulousness on some people. I think that's when kitsch comes in, and there's a very fine, undefined line between knowingly/ tastefully kitsch and plain tacky.

Giant hair bows on babies are tacky because they are ostentatious and unnatural. Likewise fake nails and the Love Island look.

The Burberry check is the classic example of an item becoming tacky from being too 'mass market' and lost the luxury, exclusive veneer. Similar examples: Tiffany, LV, Michael Kors.

Grey interiors aren't tacky to me, so much as identikit and boring. It is everywhere and trendy but the opposite of ostentatious.

I know someone who's loaded and has sensible taste but somehow loves dressing her young daughters in matching outfits from Juicy Couture and the like. That to me is tacky but I will never say so.

The Burberry Check is back amongst the knowing teens who are snapping up all the raincoats on Depop!

Being a dick seems to be very common.

You just know. Who gives a flying f*ck what others think?

No, you can’t be smart in leopard skin print anything.

I think it's more to do with artificiality than anything. Artificial hair, nails, tan and scents are seen as tacky. Polyester clothes are tacky but wool and linen clothes aren't. When you're selling a house you're advised to paint everything in magnolia to keep it neutral (and non tacky) the Mrs Hinch style of cleaning is seen as tacky because she advocates using strong cleaners with artificial fragrances eg Zoflora. The Organised Mum is not seen as tacky because she advocates using natural cleaners like soda crystals and vinegar etc and she has a big mumsnet following.

I have to admit, I'm a member of a few gardening groups and I feel real dismay when people paint all their lovely wood items grey, replace their grass with artificial grass and cover up beautiful old courtyard style walls with shower curtains! I do think it looks a bit tacky, I love natural beautiful gardens, but I would never say that - it doesn't matter what I think, and wouldn't the world be boring if we all had the same taste.

It’s funny that some things identified as “common” in the past have become acceptable again. Tattoos and leopard print for example. Sports wear too, although some is more middle class than others but trainers are very desirable these days. And the idea of wearing tights all the time is nuts. I saw someone in nude tights wearing shorts and sandals, looks awful and must be so hot and sweaty. I presume it’s to hide legs if the skin tone is uneven. I guess people are healthier and use fake tan and moisturisers now so don’t need to wear them as much.

The middle classes are obsessed with this shit and it changes so often. I think plantation blinds are one that’s gone from being Uber middle class to ubiquitous and tacky (especially with pvc window frames, they only look good with sash style windows). I’m definitely in the dark about these rules, although the working classes have their own rules too and I didn’t fit in with them either despite being working class. It very much feels like being a member of a tribe and signalling where you fit. Grey tracksuits or Breton stripe top, both are uniforms of a sort.

The best thing is to not care and just buy things you love and enjoy and try not to be swayed by “fashion”.

@NotNowPlzz

If you judge people for being common based on what they like or the trends they follow, frankly you're a bit small minded and insecure. It's almost as stupid as judging someone by their job.

What’s really sad is that so many people still do judge people by their jobs.

@sst1234 actually I think you’re right - in Britain it’s looked down on if you make your own money and then spend it with glee on gaudy baubles and flashy extravagant things because the people who earn their money through sport (primarily) are seen as less deserving as those who make it through intellectual pursuits.
And yet football, for example, is able to be so well paid because it brings an enormous amount of pleasure to a huge number of people, from a variety of classes.
It’s very interesting - I find watching the British whilst not living there very fascinating. I do love the U.K. and so much of our history etc but whoever said upthread that the first “new money” people who presumably earned their money through fighting wars and being handed land by kings spent their money on massive portraits of themselves, truly fancy clothes, massive ostentatious houses and a load of tiaras was totally correct, they were the first tacky spenders.

I think a lot is down to "visible effort". By and large, the more visible effort something shows, the naffer is is perceived to be.

This is why these things are often seen as chavvy:

• matchy matchy anything (furniture, accessories, outfits, decorations, etc)

• noticeable body modifications including tattoos, numerous piercings, fake nails, lash extensions, deep fake tan, over-whitened teeth, heavy makeup, artificial-looking dyed hair

• clothing or possessions intended to flaunt wealth or status, e.g. heavily branded clothing, flashy cars, very noticeable jewellery.

'Posh' stuff is usually intended to look low-effort: subtle make-up, quiet clothes without logos, stuff which goes together without matching, etc etc etc. Obviously the irony is that we all know the 'natural look' can actually involve a huge amount of effort and time! But crucially it mustn't look as if it did.

Clothing brands that are considered MC on MNs like White Stuff, Boden, Joules, Seasalt etc are shops I will never shop in because I love fashion.

I love leopard print, people who think it's naff tend to be old ime & haven't moved on from the twinset & pearls advice.

This is a personal thing but I cannot take people seriously when they wear clothes with anything cut out of them. For the last few years it has been these tops with the cut outs on the upper arm and in floaty, gaudy print fabrics as well. I don’t know why anybody thinks these are flattering because they look bloody awful.

I just want to add that none of the examples I have given are my own personal opinion. I have nothing against any of the examples given and the world would be very boring if everyone liked the same thing. I was also working class growing up so I am not a snob. I am just genuinely interested in this topic.

Branded handbags, especially Vivienne Westwood and Chanel, are now frequently seen as tacky after they became an item that working class mothers would save up for to buy their teenage daughters for their birthdays.

I love my Chanel bags, are people really buying teenagers 4k handbags?

People like to feel superior to others, especially the middle class

It's all very keeping up appearances, I have no time for it.

Didn't Prince William drive a Range Rover