Young fogey

Last updated

"Young fogey" is a term humorously applied, in British context, to some younger-generation, rather buttoned-down[ clarification needed ] men, many of whom were writers and journalists. The term is attributed to Alan Watkins writing in 1984 in The Spectator . [1] However, the term "young-fogey conservative" was used by Larry Niven in Lucifer's Hammer and by Philip Roth in The Professor of Desire, both in 1977. [2]

Contents

"Young fogey" is still used to describe conservative young men (aged approximately between 15 and 40) who dress in a vintage style (usually that of the 1920s–1930s, also known as the "Brideshead" look, after the influence of the Evelyn Waugh novel Brideshead Revisited ). Young fogeys tend towards erudite, conservative cultural pursuits, especially art and traditional architecture, rather than sports. The young fogey style of dress also has some surface similarity with the American preppy style, but is endogenous to the United Kingdom and Anglophone areas of the Commonwealth such as Australia, Canada and New Zealand.[ citation needed ]

History

The movement reached its peak in the late 1980s and early 1990s with champions such as A. N. Wilson, Gavin Stamp, John Martin Robinson, Simon Heffer and Charles Moore when it had a relatively widespread following in Southern England, but has declined since. Though generally a middle class phenomenon, it had a wider influence on fashions in the 1980s. Young fogeys are rarely rich or upper class and sometimes make a style virtue of genteel poverty, especially when rescuing old houses. [3] They often combine a conservative cultural outlook with a distaste of Conservative political activity. Often Roman Catholic or Anglo-Catholic in religious observance, their conservative outlook extends to refuting progressive theology.[ citation needed ]

Today committed young fogeys may be found amongst students at Oxford, Cambridge, Durham, Edinburgh and St Andrews universities; and at some universities in the Commonwealth, notably the University of Queensland and the University of Sydney. Adherents tend to concentrate in some professions: in particular the antiques and art dealing, residential estate agency, conservative classical architecture practices and certain strata of the Roman Catholic and Anglican churches.[ citation needed ] Strongholds of young fogeys include the Oxford University Conservative Association [ citation needed ] and Trinity College, Cambridge,[ citation needed ] but they are also seen elsewhere, with a smattering being found among Englishmen in University Conservative Associations everywhere.[ citation needed ]

People

Former British Member of Parliament Rory Stewart was referred to as a "young fogey" during his schoolboy days. [4]

Irish broadcaster Ryan Tubridy, who hosted Tubridy Tonight between 2004 and 2009 and then The Late Late Show between 2009 and 2023, described himself as a "young fogey" in the early stages of his career. [5] [6]

British Member of Parliament Jacob Rees-Mogg was described as a "young fogey" after his 2010 election to Westminster.[ citation needed ]

British writer, editor, and broadcaster Anthony Lejeune was described by The Times as: "always out of period, a misfit in the modern world for whom the term 'young fogey' might have been invented". [7]

Resurgence

During the early to mid 2020s, young fogey style underwent a revival in the UK and America. Sometimes known as "grandpa-core" or "eclectic grandpa," it is characterized by vintage-inspired casual fashion from the late 1940s to early 1960s. It draws inspiration from the fashion sensibilities of grandfathers from the silent generation and incorporates colorful knitwear like patterned sweater vests or shawl collar cardigan sweaters, braces, loafer shoes, corduroy, high waisted dress pants, and various tweed accessories especially flat caps. Celebrities such as Harry Styles, Kendall Jenner, Gigi Hadid and Tyler, the Creator have played a significant role in popularizing this trend among the mainstream fashion public in the UK and America. [8] [9] [10] [11]

Publications

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fashion</span> Stylish clothing

Fashion is a term used interchangeably to describe the creation of clothing, footwear, accessories, cosmetics, and jewellery of different cultural aesthetics and their mix and match into outfits that depict distinctive ways of dressing as signifiers of social status, self-expression, and group belonging. As a multifaceted term, fashion describes an industry, styles, aesthetics, and trends.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jumper (dress)</span> Sleeveless, collarless dress worn over a blouse, shirt or sweater

A jumper, jumper dress, or pinafore dress is a sleeveless, collarless dress intended to be worn over a blouse, shirt, T-shirt or sweater. Hemlines can be of different lengths and the type of collar and whether or not there is pleating are also variables in the design.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">School uniforms in Japan</span> School uniforms used in Japan

Japanese (sailor) school uniforms replicate the traditional English clothing piece that is heavily based on the British Royal Navy sailor uniform. These school uniforms were used in Japan in the late 19th century, replacing the traditional kimono. Today, school uniforms are common in many Japanese public and private schools. The Japanese word for this type of uniform is seifuku (制服).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cardigan (sweater)</span> Type of knitted garment with an open front

A cardigan is a type of knitted sweater that has an open front, and is worn like a jacket.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Preppy</span> Modern, widespread subculture in the United States

Preppy, or prep, is an American subculture associated with the alumni of college-preparatory schools in the Northeastern United States. The term, which is an abbreviation of "preparatory", is used to denote a person seen as characteristic of a student or alumnus of these schools. Characteristics of preppy individuals include a particular subcultural speech, vocabulary, dress, mannerisms and etiquette reflective of an upper class and old money upbringing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hip hop fashion</span> Various styles of dress that originated in the United States

Hip-hop fashion refers to the various styles of dress that originated from Urban Black America and inner city youth in cities like New York City, Atlanta, and Los Angeles. Being a major part of hip hop culture, it further developed in other cities across the United States, with each contributing different elements to the overall style that is now recognized worldwide.

Clothing terminology comprises the names of individual garments and classes of garments, as well as the specialized vocabularies of the trades that have designed, manufactured, marketed and sold clothing over hundreds of years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Casual wear</span> Western dress code suited for everyday use

Casual wear is a Western dress code that is relaxed, occasional, spontaneous and suited for everyday use. Casual wear became popular in the Western world following the counterculture of the 1960s. When emphasising casual wear's comfort, it may be referred to as leisurewear or loungewear.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Twinset</span> Cardigan sweater with matching short sleeve pullover or shell

A twinset, twin set or sweater-set is a matching set of a cardigan and a (usually) short-sleeved jumper or pullover. The twinset first appeared in the early 1930s and is still common in western women's attire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1990s in fashion</span> Costume and fashion of the 1990s

Fashion in the 1990s was defined by a return to minimalist fashion, in contrast to the more elaborate and flashy trends of the 1980s. One notable shift was the mainstream adoption of tattoos, body piercings aside from ear piercing and, to a much lesser extent, other forms of body modification such as branding.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1980s in fashion</span> Costume and fashion in the 1980s

Fashion of the 1980s was characterized by a rejection of 1970s fashion. Punk fashion began as a reaction against both the hippie movement of the past decades and the materialist values of the current decade. The first half of the decade was relatively tame in comparison to the second half, which was when apparel became very bright and vivid in appearance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2000s in fashion</span> Fashion in the decade 2000–2009

The fashions of the 2000s were often described as a global mash up, where trends saw the fusion of vintage styles, global and ethnic clothing, as well as the fashions of numerous music-based subcultures. Hip-hop fashion generally was the most popular among young people of both sexes, followed by the retro-inspired indie look later in the decade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1960s in fashion</span> Costume and fashion in the 1960s

Fashion of the 1960s featured a number of diverse trends, as part of a decade that broke many fashion traditions, adopted new cultures, and launched a new age of social movements. Around the middle of the decade, fashions arising from small pockets of young people in a few urban centers received large amounts of media publicity, and began to heavily influence both the haute couture of elite designers and the mass-market manufacturers. Examples include the mini skirt, culottes, go-go boots, and more experimental fashions, less often seen on the street, such as curved PVC dresses and other PVC clothes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1945–1960 in Western fashion</span> Costume and fashion in the post-war years 1945-1960

Fashion in the years following World War II is characterized by the resurgence of haute couture after the austerity of the war years. Square shoulders and short skirts were replaced by the soft femininity of Christian Dior's "New Look" silhouette, with its sweeping longer skirts, fitted waist, and rounded shoulders, which in turn gave way to an unfitted, structural look in the later 1950s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clothing fetish</span> Sexual fetish relating to particular type of clothing

Clothing fetishism or garment fetishism is a sexual fetish that revolves around a fixation upon a particular article or type of clothing, a particular fashion or uniform, or a person dressed in such a style.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ivy League (clothes)</span> Style of 1950s northeastern USA fashion

Ivy League is a style of men's dress, also known as Ivy Style, popular during the late 1950s in the Northeastern United States, and said to have originated on college campuses, particularly those of the Ivy League. It was the predecessor to the preppy style of dress.

<i>The Late Late Toy Show</i> Irish TV show

The Late Late Toy Show is an annual, special edition of the Irish chat show The Late Late Show. Airing annually on RTÉ One near the end of November or early December to coincide with the holiday shopping season, the Toy Show showcases the popular toys of the year, as presented by the host and demonstrated by various children on-stage, along with appearances by celebrity guests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Couple costume</span> Practice of a couple wearing the same clothing


Outfit matching or couple costume/look are Chinglish and Konglish terms, respectively, for the practice of a couple wearing the same clothing in public to signal their relationship. It is mainly found in South Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam and is becoming more common in mainland China.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010s in fashion</span> Fashion-related events during the 2010s

The 2010s were defined by hipster fashion, athleisure, a revival of austerity-era period pieces and alternative fashions, swag-inspired outfits, 1980s-style neon streetwear, and unisex 1990s-style elements influenced by grunge and skater fashions. The later years of the decade witnessed the growing importance in the western world of social media influencers paid to promote fast fashion brands on Pinterest and Instagram.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020s in fashion</span> Fashion-related events during the 2020s

The fashions of the 2020s represent a departure from 2010s fashion and feature a nostalgia for older aesthetics. They have been largely inspired by styles of the late 1990s to mid-2000s, and 1980s. Early in the decade, several publications noted the shortened trend and nostalgia cycle in 2020s fashion. Fashion was also shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic, which had a major impact on the fashion industry, and led to shifting retail and consumer trends.

References

  1. Watkins, Alan. "Spectator Diary". The Spectator. Spectator.
  2. You've actually done it, David – you are a full-fledged young fogy, p. 58, UK Corgi paperback edition of The Professor of Desire.
  3. John Martin Robinson & Alexandra Artley, The New Georgian Handbook. Harpers, London, 1985
  4. Moore, Charles. "The Spectator".
  5. "Living the life of Ryan". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2021-04-23.
  6. McBride, Caitlin (30 December 2009). "I won't stay on Late Late Show forever, reveals Ryan – Making plans: Tubridy doesn't see 'dream job' as his final TV gig". Evening Herald. Independent News & Media.
  7. Anthony Lejeune. The Times, 26 March 2018. Retrieved 30 March 2018. (subscription required)
  8. "The Eclectic Grandpa Trend Encapsulates Our Personal Style Dilemma". Vogue. 2024-01-05. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
  9. Siddiqui, Yusra (2024-01-13). "Eclectic Grandpa Is the Controversial Trend That's Already Defining 2024". Who What Wear. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
  10. Goh, Amanda. "Move over coastal grandma, 2024 is all about grandpa core". Business Insider. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
  11. "Eclectic Grandpa Is the New Aesthetic & We Are Here for the Cozy Quirkiness". E! Online. 2024-01-09. Retrieved 2024-01-14.