What determines something as common and tacky

Both ‘common’ and ‘tacky’ are, on the surface, expressions that denote poor taste. The underlying sentiment in both is ‘I’m a better/more intelligent/more cultured person than anyone who likes that stuff’. The use of the words says as much about the person who says them as the object they describe.

I dare say most of us have our private opinions about that - I know I do - but we wouldn’t normally voice them because it’s in poor taste/considered bad manners. Not to mention that we’d more than likely get flamed on here!

Oh dear what a minefield. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder I suppose.

I’ve not heard the word common used for about fifty years,

Saw a couple of young women on their way into town last Friday. Politely I would describe their figures as extremely ....um....generous, and their outfits (bright red hot pants and boob tube for example) as um....ill-advised
But I never said tacky or the other word.

Lucca

I’ve not heard the word common used for about fifty years,

Saw a couple of young women on their way into town last Friday. Politely I would describe their figures as extremely ....um....generous, and their outfits (bright red hot pants and boob tube for example) as um....ill-advised
But I never said tacky or the other word.

So you mentally judged them, but didn't actually use any words to do so. That's OK then

Oh we need Gabriellahere for this one...come back soon!?

Bathsheba you might think that but I couldn’t possibly comment.
In fact how I judged them was nothing to do with tacky it was to do with a poor choice of outfit for their shape teamed with enough make up to sink a battleship meaning they’ll probably ruin their skin.

Lucca ???

Opinion determines common and tacky - and everyone thinks their own has the most importance!

farview

Oh we need Gabriellahere for this one...come back soon!?

?

I always think that a certain extremely rich man manages to look common and tacky

As Dolly says: "It takes a lot of money to look this cheap"

I thought common was something you see too much of-----like leggings Oh dear, that's me for the high-jump.

Anything my inlaws or DH's ex partner would have in their houses. Bitchy....oh yes

I'd wear them underneath trousers in winter, but not looking like Max Wall or Humpty Dumpty.

Well I am sitting here in my 3/4 length black leggings and floral tunic and I look neither common or tacky.
So you got that wrong

I remember years ago being told that white high heels were common

remember years ago being told that white high heels were common

Especially when worn with American Tan stockings or tights.

When I was at school I was summoned to the Headmistress as I had been reported for 'eating in the street' which was considered very common behaviour and reflected badly on the school.
(I had eaten an orange whilst sitting at the bus stop waiting for my bus home)!

It worked though - I've never been comfortable to 'eat in the street' since then!!

Bathsheba, don't we all mentally judge people at times? But say nothing and keep our thoughts to ourselves. Plenty of times I have looked at someone and thought" What a dogs dinner" as my mother would have said but not voiced my opinion. There is an expression in Lancashire "Look at her for the price of fish" you get the gist then! You can be discreet with your private thoughts!

Tacky is “cheap and tawdry” by dictionary definition but I think what looks cheap and tawdry to one person, will look attractive to another.

Being common applies to us all, if we don’t have a Title, by dictionary definition.

Anything else is just our own eyes’ judgement.

For most of us women on here I think we were brought up in an age when mothers had a horror of looking 'common'.
Eating in the street as mentioned, not wearing gloves to chapel, short skirts, ladies smoking,
swearing in public, definitely no public displays of affection. The list was endless.

like that vampirequeen

Long white socks were only worn by girls who frequent coffee bars, ie common, according to our headmistress!

As for white high heels . . . . . I'm sure she would have been apoplectic! ?

I remember how Paw used to tease me by saying how sad it was that not everybody shared my infallibly good taste

toscalily

I remember years ago being told that white high heels were common

Especially worn with fluorescent socks.

Eating on the street. Talking to someone sitting down eating whilst you’re standing, poor table manners, too much jewellery, long fake nails, plastic shoes except when gardening, animal prints and sparkly clothes combined, hmm so many, not thanking a host with a handwritten note after a stay,