Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Original poster

Brands you think of as tacky

824 replies

Themammy101 · 12/02/2026 10:19

Lighthearted! Was chatting to some ladies at a group I attend and they were talking about fashion brands that is seen is tacky and trashy, superdry, Tommy Hilfiger, juicy couture, Adanola etc. do you agree with this? FWIW I do wear hilfiger jeans the odd time but seem to live in adanola as I find it nice fitting for my shape and very comfortable and never thought the brands as tacky per se but now I’m a bit paranoid, not that I care too much but nobody wants to appear tacky let’s be honest

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
Highlighta · 12/02/2026 12:25

HypnoToads · 12/02/2026 12:18

Absolutely do not understand the dry robe hate. They are just big, warm, waterproof coats. They might have been originally designed for using after swimming but doesn't mean they aren't practical for other things. (I don't own one FYI.)

They also look nothing like a bath robe. They have a zip!

To answer original question, only Juicy Couture comes to mind. It takes a brave person to pull off crushed velvet and diamante.

😂 my dd recently bought a vintage velour Juicy Couture track top. So you might be seeing more velour and diamante creep out of the woodwork soon as they seem to be getting snapped up on second hand sites.

I don't like anything with a very visible logo, it doesn't matter the brand.

I did however, breathe deep at someones comment of Victoria Secret. I have just bought some leggings and they are up there with some of my nicest. They don't have a logo though, so they can do discreet. And the bra I bought pre covid is still going strong. No one sees that though so it might be tacky but no one is seeing it.

xOlive · 12/02/2026 12:25

I think anything can be tacky if it isn’t being worn for it’s intended use or purpose.
I had a colleague who regularly came into work (an indoor office) in branded wellies or branded horse riding boots just because they’re expensive (had never been on a horse and this was in the summer so wellies were not required).

BellesAndGraces · 12/02/2026 12:27

Clarabell77 · 12/02/2026 12:25

I knew this would be the sort of comment someone would make.

”Anybody off the street” as opposed to what, dare I ask?

Show quote history

Online??

Coffeeishot · 12/02/2026 12:28

ForRealViper · 12/02/2026 11:05

Personally, I find brands which are pretending to be fancier than they really are to be much more tacky than honest cheapo brands.

When I see £40 Pandora trinkets set up in their fancy pink window displays, tricking people into thinking they're walking into a high-end jewellery store - yuck. It's not just tacky, it's exploitative.

People know they are not going into a "High end jewellers* they are not as "thick" as you think.

ChefsKisser · 12/02/2026 12:29

I find kids in Hugo Boss or similar tracksuits very tacky. Not so much teens but toddlers and small kids- just why?
Pandora v tacky
Most designer brands end up looking tacky due to the type of people that wear the ones with the logo and writing all over it...

MilanoCortina2026 · 12/02/2026 12:31

Ophy83 · 12/02/2026 11:53

I don't find any brand tacky as such, but particular items from within the brand may be e.g. a dad on the school run always wears this bright white puffy onesie outfit to walk his dog round the park afterwards. It is no doubt expensive as he is into his brands but also looks completely ridiculous (my view of his clothing choices may also be tainted by the fact that he is a nasty bully who was very threatening to one of my mum friends whose son plays for the same football team as his son).

I bet he looks like the Michelin guy.

Sparkletastic · 12/02/2026 12:31

Radley

KimHwn · 12/02/2026 12:31

I know this is going to sound snippy but I do really mean it- I think judging people for what they wear is tacky. I think everyone has preferences, but to sit in a circle and discuss what is tacky- I just don't think it's a classy thing to do. I think you have to examine what it is you mean by tacky, and whether it's something to do with social class, income, or something else. Good-hearted people just don't look at someone's clothes and make judgements about them. It just isn't done.

PauliesWalnuts · 12/02/2026 12:32

North Face and Arc’teryx - but then I am a middle aged hill-climbing snob.

More sensibly, I wouldn’t have the confidence that either of those brands would keep me safe and dry on a week’s winter fellwalking in the Lakes which is the more important point.

Iocanepowder · 12/02/2026 12:33

Oh I live in Superdry hoodies 😂

They are good quality and have lasted me years though!

MilanoCortina2026 · 12/02/2026 12:34

Vinvertebrate · 12/02/2026 12:21

@wishingonastar101 I once lived in Mereseyside, where those of us who declined to wear rollers shopping on Saturday morning in Liverpool stood out like sore thumbs! Just, no.

They did it in Wigan too

Coffeeishot · 12/02/2026 12:34

KimHwn · 12/02/2026 12:31

I know this is going to sound snippy but I do really mean it- I think judging people for what they wear is tacky. I think everyone has preferences, but to sit in a circle and discuss what is tacky- I just don't think it's a classy thing to do. I think you have to examine what it is you mean by tacky, and whether it's something to do with social class, income, or something else. Good-hearted people just don't look at someone's clothes and make judgements about them. It just isn't done.

Yes this, i know i could have scrolled on and left it but putting "lighthearted" in a post seems to give permission to be horrible and snooty.

BonBonDong · 12/02/2026 12:34

PauliesWalnuts · 12/02/2026 12:32

North Face and Arc’teryx - but then I am a middle aged hill-climbing snob.

More sensibly, I wouldn’t have the confidence that either of those brands would keep me safe and dry on a week’s winter fellwalking in the Lakes which is the more important point.

Years since my hillwalking days, but North Face back in the day was highly regarded.

stargirl27 · 12/02/2026 12:35

IMO any fast fashion brand.

dernt · 12/02/2026 12:35

Marble10 · 12/02/2026 11:21

Most ‘brands’ can come across tacky, I definitely class Guess and DKNY as this. Just because something is expensive doesn’t mean it’s not tacky. Also partial to adanola myself but agree it is a bit tacky 🥴 especially the massive slogan jumpers. Talking of jumpers…Blakey (?) seems to be extremely popular around here with a huge logo on, as well as white fox both I cringe at.

I came here to say nearly all this

JustToBeMe · 12/02/2026 12:36

This thread has made me laugh 😆

Whatever happened to buying an item of clothing etc because you like it, and not what name/brand/price tag or whatever on it?

dernt · 12/02/2026 12:37

Children in anything branded,except maybe their trainers, is tacky. Especially the All Saints kids’ stuff.

Grammarnut · 12/02/2026 12:38

Marble10 · 12/02/2026 11:21

Most ‘brands’ can come across tacky, I definitely class Guess and DKNY as this. Just because something is expensive doesn’t mean it’s not tacky. Also partial to adanola myself but agree it is a bit tacky 🥴 especially the massive slogan jumpers. Talking of jumpers…Blakey (?) seems to be extremely popular around here with a huge logo on, as well as white fox both I cringe at.

adanola looks boring and sloganny.

LostThestral · 12/02/2026 12:38

Crocs

AllTheChaos · 12/02/2026 12:39

Clarabell77 · 12/02/2026 12:25

I knew this would be the sort of comment someone would make.

”Anybody off the street” as opposed to what, dare I ask?

Show quote history

This confused me too. Are they saying that ALL pret a Porte clothes are tacky? Only made to measure is acceptable?!

dernt · 12/02/2026 12:39

There’s a massive camo dry robe here at softplay. It’s not even raining today

Grammarnut · 12/02/2026 12:39

JustToBeMe · 12/02/2026 12:36

This thread has made me laugh 😆

Whatever happened to buying an item of clothing etc because you like it, and not what name/brand/price tag or whatever on it?

I buy things I like. Brand doesn't matter. Sometimes I buy cheap dresses because they hang right and suit me - label and price don't register.

WiltedLettuce · 12/02/2026 12:39

KimHwn · 12/02/2026 12:31

I know this is going to sound snippy but I do really mean it- I think judging people for what they wear is tacky. I think everyone has preferences, but to sit in a circle and discuss what is tacky- I just don't think it's a classy thing to do. I think you have to examine what it is you mean by tacky, and whether it's something to do with social class, income, or something else. Good-hearted people just don't look at someone's clothes and make judgements about them. It just isn't done.

I agree. Any social group which has a kind of 'uniform' to guage acceptability is a bit tacky, regardless of whether it's North Face, Lululemon or Superdry.

Ellie1015 · 12/02/2026 12:40

Is "lighthearted" how we excuse judgemental and rude behaviour nowadays?

Wear what you like. Some people will like it , others wont. Most will be indifferent so suit yourself.

dernt · 12/02/2026 12:40

The head to toe beige/brown/cream skin tight outfits are now tacky. Just so over done

Swipe left for the next trending thread