What do you consider trashy? - YouLookFab Forum

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What do you consider trashy?

ironkurtin

Veteran

Must something always be too sexy to be trashy?

Dressing

34 replies

Latest reply was from teeandcee

Aziraphale

Veteran

That's a good question. I'm not sure. My gut response is that "trashy" equals "trying really hard to look attractive by using an excessive display of 'sexual' body parts". Or something like that. Like, too tight clothes, too short skirt with too much visible breast action, that sort of thing. The thing is, to my eye (and I'm sure I'm not alone), trashy does not in fact look sexy at all -- it simply betrays questionable taste and desperation.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I'm reminded of something Nina Garcia said on Project Runway: "Short, tight, and shiny is the quickest way to look cheap."

I don't know if "trashy" always contains an element of overt sexiness, but there seems to be that connotation. I associate it with tacky, low-quality clothing.

rae

(website)

Veteran

That's a pretty ephemeral word in my mind... I definitely think that trashy is unattractive, even to most guys, so I'm not sure sexiness is the key. There's a falseness, desperation, and and lack of class that goes into "trashy" - but then of course we get into the semantics of "class."

ManidipaM

Veteran

No, don't think so.

I would include an excess of any kind of showing off (not just *supposedly* sexy bits) in 'trashy' --- thus, an excess of gold/gems, aka bling, looks trashy to me, personally. So does an overdose of logos, trying to advertise that one has 'arrived' in terms of wealth or fashion knowledge/access. Trying to look deliberately 'trashed', ie drunken or coked up with the bloodshot eye makeup or the drippy/smudgy mascara, is well... what it sounds like! Dropping names to get a table at an upmarket restaurant reads trashy to me as well.

I guess in my book it is a behaviour or impetus more than a look.

DonnaF

Veteran

To me, trashy means dressing like a 'ho'. Like the ones I see hanging in front of the motel a mile or two away. And the shiny gold leggings DD bought as a joke for Spirit Day then found out they were too hot to wear and that she had to be very, very careful where she wore them so as not to be taken for a you know what.

RandomThoughts (Andrea)

Veteran

IMO, "trashy" is more in the execution than a particular type of item. And as Janet pointed out it seems in my mind to also equate with lack of good quality construction.

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

I agree with all of the above esp. Janet's and Manidipa's definitions!
I looked up "trashy outfits" and found several links to a singer named Ke$ha (anyone that has a dollar sign in their name must be trashy, LOL!).
Here is a bunch of her outfits, and yes, they do look trashy:
http://en.terra.com/music/pict.....chic/57301
and apparently she does source her outfits from the trash, literally:
http://www.dailymakeover.com/b.....thing.html

And here's another link from a show called Jersey Shore:
http://thestir.cafemom.com/ent.....owws_dress
I don't watch this show but it sounds really trashy and the outfit is pretty trashy too.

Oh, and PS I used to dress kind of trashy myself back in 1985 when Madonna's Like a Virgin album was popular. I had the floral blazer and lace hair bows and lace fingerless gloves and armload of black rubber bangles--we all wanted to dress like her! Anyone else remember that?

Vildy

Veteran

I suppose clothing that calls too much attention to yourself in a venue where that's not the reason everyone else is there. That's why too much clangy jewelry is considered trashy in the workplace. So I think trashy outfits are just in the wrong context. If you imagine your version of what would be a trashy outfit in your eyes but out on a couples date in an evening venue, I no longer would consider it trashy, even if other couples, folks, who are strangers to you are not dressed that way. In the context of the dyad, it's what they they're doing with each other.

Though I have to say that a good deal of Ascot is trashy.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/fem.....olice.html

ETA: oh you know, most folks consider the gigantic gypsy wedding dresses as shown on tv, trashy. Some of them are low cut and revealing as well but not all.
That would be trashy in the sense of class judgmentalism, I guess. In terms of behavior, the young girls are closely chaperoned and taught not to have physical
contact with young boys.

Anonymous

I must admit that when I think of trashy, DonnaF's definition is what first comes to mind. It's a cheap look. Still, there are people who don't dress that way and still look trashy, even though they're not exposing certain body parts. I think the best way to define it would be to say it's a cheap look that involves both poor quality clothing and poor judgement in how to put together pieces to make a nice, decent and respectful outfit that's both age and occasion approprite.

Anonymous

Micro minis can look trashy.

Over, revealing tops.

I've even seen a tight latex mindress in public.

Meredith1953

Veteran

I don't think "trashy" necessarily means excessively sexy. I sort of look at it as meaning attire that is "vulgar" and that can mean a whole lot of things!

Vildy

Veteran

Agree with Meredith, a vulgar display of... something.

Anonymous

Ummm... Trashy is on my list of "no no" words. I hate the word, because it is charged with judgment. I think the world is hard enough without us women, passing judgment on one another.
However, since I know you did not mean it in a derrogatory way, I think trashy depends a lot on the context. A brazilian thong bikini might look trashy in a VA beach, however, it looks quite appropiate in Rio.

Anonymous

Certain garments are never appropriate, and those are what I'd define as trashy. If that makes me judgemental, then so be it.

mrseccentric

(website)

Veteran

Zapotee, i'm glad you spoke up! i was raised that it's vulgar and unkind to judge a person based on their appearance. i realize that this is a very idealistic way of approaching the world, but the more life experience i get the more i find the wisdom in it. Context is always important, and there are so many things going on in people's lives that we don't know about.

I had a friend who wore out of date, ill-fitting clothing (shiny, baggy suits) and who really let his grooming and even hygiene go (dirty hair and nails, months between haircuts).

It would have been very easy to judge him as a slob or worse - until you knew that he was in his mid-90's and the sole caretaker of his wife, who was terminally ill with Alzheimer's. He took care of her himself at home until 6 weeks before she died. After she died and he had a spare minute to himself, he became cleaner and tidier in his appearance. i was always proud to be seen with him, though we did get looks.

At the same time, it is prudent to dress in a manner that won't provoke negative judgement in a variety of situations, such as on the job, meeting fiancee's family, church, and so on. In which case it makes sense to pay attention to what people in that context tend to see as 'trashy'.

I've found that judgements of 'trashy' also depend on how 'sexy' a person's body is judged to be. At a particular volunteer organization, i took up wearing a tank top when everyone else on my team had already worn them with no one expressing concern (temps were in the 90-100F). Apparently, when you have a more expansive bosom (34E), you shouldn't feel the heat - policies were put in place and everyone had to cover up. oh well.

my two cents, "Little Miss Goody Two Shoes"

MsMary

Veteran

Team Zap. I don't want to be all holier-than-thou, but "trashy" isn't a word I use for the reasons stated so eloquently above!

ironkurtin

Veteran

I'm trying to get to a style and word conversation, not a cultural one. Assume that "trashy" carries no more negative connotation than classic, trendy, high-end, etc. Look at the example of Ke$ha. She self-identifies as trashy. What does that mean?

Also interesting that no one is talking about men dressing trashily. To me there is a difference between trashy and slobby. But I have definitely seen men dress in a style that I would call trashy.

Lori

Veteran

I think Britney has the trashy look down pat, and here are are some visual examples of what a trashy look means to me.

Also I believe IK asked what makes "something" trashy, not "someone," so not judging the person, just the look of the item/outfit.

ETA: BTW I don't think there is anything sexy about any of these oufits either.

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MsMary

Veteran

But, but... I think that to "[a]ssume that 'trashy' carries no more negative connotation than classic, trendy, high-end, etc." pretty much assumes the meaning out of the word! I am not familiar with Ke$ha but there is certainly a long history of entertainers and others co-opting negative words for their own purposes, which doesn't make those words any less negative when used about non-celebrities.

And no, people don't talk about men being "trashy" because in my view, "trashy" is a concept particular to women, and is most often used to judge women and put them down for their appearance and sexuality in a way to which men are not generally subject

/rant

Anonymous

My $10 worth: I guess I'm "Little Miss Goodie Two Shoes." I'll wear that title proudly. I'm fairly conservative and feel that certain garments are never appropriate to wear under any circumstance, and that most people are capable of recognizing that and dressing accordingly. While living in Central America for 8 years, I saw many a poor (we're talking really poor, not the U.S. definition of poor), yet they all were clean and neatly dressed. Does clothing that is considered trashy make the person trashy? Maybe, maybe not. I personally prefer to get to know a person before passing judgment on his/her character. Still, first impressions count, and anyone who wants to make a favorable first impression will wisely pay close attention to how s/he dresses.

Lori

Veteran

Ahhh, but it is a word. . .

Merriam Webster dictionary entry for "trashy"

trashy adj \ˈtra-shē\

trash•i•ertrash•i•est

Definition of TRASHY
1: being, resembling, or containing trash : of inferior quality
2: indecent

— trash•i•ly \-shə-lē\ adverb
— trash•i•ness noun

Examples of TRASHY
Her outfit was a bit trashy.

<I know that sequined shirt cost a lot of money, but I still think it looks kind of trashy.>

First Known Use of TRASHY
circa 1620

Related to TRASHY
Synonyms: cheesy, dowdy, inelegant, styleless, tasteless, ticky-tacky (also ticky-tack), 1tacky, unfashionable, unstylish

Antonyms: chic, classic, classy, elegant, exquisite, fashionable, fine, posh, ritzy, smart, sophisticated, stylish, tasteful

Related Words: graceless, inappropriate, incorrect, unbecoming, unseemly, unsuitable, wrong; outmoded, out-of-date, passé; coarse, crude, unrefined, vulgar; cheap, common, inferior, junky, lousy, low-grade, second-rate, shoddy, sleazy, tawdry; flashy, garish, gaudy, glitzy, grotesque, kitsch, kitschy, loud, ostentatious, overdone, showy, splashy

Near Antonyms: appropriate, becoming, correct, fitting, proper, right, seemly, suitable; conservative, genteel, handsome, neat, quiet, refined, restrained, simple, understated; contemporary, modern, up-to-date; à la mode (also a la mode), happening, in, modish, swank (or swanky)

Anonymous

In the job I have right now, customer service is our #1 priority, and I'm keenly aware that perception is reality. The same is true for one's appearance. Like it or not, that's the way it is. And yes, certain outfits look trashy and ruin a person's image.

mrseccentric

(website)

Veteran

hi Ruth!

my signing off as 'little miss goody two shoes' was meant to poke fun at myself and no one else. in real life i often come across that way, friends and family rib me about it a lot! i should have explained myself in my original post and i apologize for not doing so. everyone has different opinions about these things, there's nothing wrong with people expressing their thoughts and experiences and i didn't mean to make anyone feel uncomfortable.

off to the optometrist!! steph

Anonymous

Interesting, when I look at Britney I see a performer, so yes, I see NOTHING wrong with her outfits, they are not my taste, but I see nothing trashy about it. Trashy to me means vulgar and cheap clothing. I would never call anything vulgar or cheap.
Same thing with Ke$ha, She is a performer as well, plus her style represents a whole musical genre and culture.
My conclusion is that I don't seem to be able to evaluate an outfit, without taking into consideration both the culture and the context. I'm not made for this conversation, it seems.

citygirldc

(website)

Veteran

My definition of trashy: short short skirts, short short shorts, ill fitting clothing, too many rings on both hands, too much makeup (think Tammy Faye eyelashes). Clothes don't have to be cheap to make them look trashy. Just my 2 cents.

Anonymous

I think Stacy and Clinton have done a pretty good job of educating the TV-watching public about what looks trashy. The Tammy Faye makeup is part of it, too. It's an overall "look" that screams cheap, and it's not necessarily about how much or how little $ was spent on the outfit.

Lori

Veteran

Citygirldc my definition aligns with yours, and IMO the pics of Brit depict this look. These pics are not of Britney performing, to me it appears this is her everyday wear (ok maybe not the black wig outfit, but it looks trashy all the same).

I could put on what I believe to be a trashy oufit, and look the part of trashy, doesn't mean "I" am trashy, slutty, or another connotation that one be might attaching to this look. It's clothing, ill-fitting, too tight, too low cut, too short, too blingy, too much. . .so many, many ways to define trashy. I've seen pics on the local society pages (San Diego/La Jolla) of socialites at upscale events in very expensive dresses/shoes, looking very trashy IMO - too much make-up, over the top hair, too much cleavage, too short, too tight all in one outfit - i.e., trashy to me. I'm sure these ladies would never think of themselves this way. Different strokes for different folks - we all come different backgrounds with different perspectives.

Victoria

(website)

Veteran

I am with Ruth and Donna on this one-people do judge you by your appearence, that is just a fact of life. If you are showing every body part, that is rather trashy as well as dressing in a dirty, torn up and sloppy clothing, as well as garish, too bright and plastered on makeup.
I recently saw a woman when I was out shopping, who had on shorts so short that I could see her butt cheeks. She looked to be in her 50s. She had a great figure but that was a trashy look.
As for men-I find that barechested look is rather trashy, as well as guys wearing their pants halfway down their knees, as well as very sloppy clothing.
Having said that, I don't think that people who do that are bad people and I would not treat them any differently from anyone else. I just think that they don't know how to dress appropriately. And what is appropriate for Britney Spears and Madonna onstage is not appropriate for real life

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Trashy=from the gutter IMO, it is referencing those in the most desperate positions (prostitutes, drug addicts, gang members) outwith the original context for example Heroin Chic or Ghetto Fabulous. This item would be trashy if it had not been pulled from sale http://uk.lifestyle.yahoo.com/.....ulled.html

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