The Art of Tacky
Tacky, trashy, or even cheugy this term or concept in all derives has plagued the fashion industry for years. It is a term that comes from the idea of gaudy, cringe-worthy taste that has become a death sentence to any trend or concept for at least the next 10 years before it can be considered socially acceptable to sport again. However, contrary to popular belief and standards, tacky is not definitive and in my opinion non-existent. The twenty-year trend cycle is a familiar idea, though this concept has been sped up due to fast fashion and micro-trends, representing how nothing is truly out of style forever. A relentless pattern to maintain trends at a given moment in time because, at some point, it will die, then be reborn and reinvented in some way.
“Camp” was 2019’s, Met Gala theme, and despite the overall underwhelming performance from celebrities alike, it was an homage to the art of excess and the unexpected in design (Yotka 2019.) Tacky walks a thin line along the conceptualization of “camp.” We see over-the-top performances of fashion everywhere: on runways, in magazines, and in ad campaigns but, when it crosses the line of expensive or designer into homemade or hand-me-downs it becomes the forbidden “tacky.” This seems to stem from outdated ideas of class and wealth, making it unachievable for the average middle-class person to maintain these trends and cycles without falling behind unless they cave into fast fashion.
Dolly Parton’s personal style was inspired by the “town tramp” to her own accord and as some tried to sway her away in an effort to refrain her from participating in the forbidden glamour, her response was “well that’s I’m gonna be […] trash.” She has since been the inspiration and beloved muse of western and country styles (Blanton 2020.) She flaunts rhinestones, fringe, jewels, tight silhouettes, and big wigs and though people once sneered and criticized her; she has now solidified her icon status with her music and taste just the same.
Christmas sweaters are another cult classic staple that was once the butt end of every joke about tacky wine aunts around the holidays who “could not recognize taste if it hit them the face,” but now have evolved beyond family dinner and into the runway, as seen by Stella McCartney’s AW08 and Givenchy Fall 2010. The idea of an ugly Christmas sweater was created following the mass consumerism of Christmas beginning in the 1950s (Wu 2022.) Since then, the funky, over-the-top sweaters were donned every season by those who embraced a wacky and eclectic style that was often subject to jabs by the public before being later embraced on a larger scale where others felt comfortable participating in the joke.
P.O.C. culture has fallen victim to leeches of the fashion industry who replicate and steal ideas from minority innovators to claim them as their own. This is contrast to the overall historical mockery of their styles and traditions. The Chicano style of thin eyebrows, brown lip liner, and flannels buttoned by the neck, along with other punk and hip-hop references, was subject to mockery for years until rich celebrities capitalized off these concepts (Estiler 2017.) This is also seen in Black culture which brought the world fake nails, hoop earrings, and sneakers which were widely criticized until the ’90s and early 2000s when they expanded their consumer audience (“A Brief History” 2020.) The mockery of someone’s personal style is deeply rooted in classist, racist ideals that do not take the artistic expression of others seriously until they find a way to claim it as their own.
Without “tacky” there is no fashion. Innovators who push this line of what is acceptable versus artistry and expression define the fashion industry as a whole and pave the way for new designers to expand creativity in an ever-changing world. Pushing the boundaries and rules of a standard creates something beautiful and eventually acclaimed past original offenses. This is where fashion is born. You cannot expect to revolutionize style by staying within the means of comfort.
References
“A Brief History of Trends That Originated from Black Communities - Bricks Magazine.” BRICKS Magazine - If You Have a Voice, Use It., 29 June 2020, https://bricksmagazine.co.uk/2020/06/29/black-culture-in-fashion-a-brief-history-of-trends-that-originated-from-black-communities/.
Blanton, Kayla. “Dolly Parton Revealed Her Iconic Look Was Actually Inspired by the ‘Town Tramp.’” Prevention, Prevention, 2 Nov. 2021, https://www.prevention.com/life/a34315506/who-does-dolly-parton-look-like/.
Estiler, Keith. “The Influence of Chicano Culture in Fashion as Told by Leading Latino Pioneers in the Industry.” Hypebeast, Hypebeast, 21 Feb. 2017, https://hypebeast.com/2017/2/chicano-influence-in-fashion.
Wu, Phyll. “The Origins of the Ugly Christmas Sweater Festive Tradition.” BURO., 14 Dec. 2022, https://www.buro247.my/fashion/the-origins-of-the-ugly-christmas-sweater-festive-tradition.html.
Yotka, Steff. “Inside the Metropolitan Museum of Art's ‘Camp: Notes on Fashion’ Exhibition.” Vogue, 6 May 2019, https://www.vogue.com/article/camp-notes-on-fashion-exhibition-andrew-bolton-interview.
