[eyedoc2180]

I am curious about the GTH look, whose moniker I had never heard until reading AAAC. It is a perfect characterization of several people that I know and see regularly. Some are prep/ivy/to the manor born, and some are not. Do GTH aficionados describe themselves as such, or admit to it? I won't generalize from knowing only these few gentlemen, but I will say that GTH describes attitude as well as attire. Thusly, I seek to spend as little time with them as possible. Does that go with the territory?
Happy Holidays to all! Bill

 

[Topsider]

Does that go with the territory?

No more than any other stereotype.

 

[chatsworth osborne jr.]

You got punk'd! GTH!

...I will say that GTH describes attitude as well as attire. Thusly, I seek to spend as little time with them as possible.

I should say that a grown man in lime green pants had best have a sense of humor. Despite the characterizations given by Caddy Shack movies, I doubt any dour curmudgeons are running around in Royal Stewart trousers today.

GTH is really not an all-the-time look unless you are a jack-ass. Lighthearted clothing has a time and place.

 

[P Hudson]

GTH as used here doesn't mean having a bad attitude toward humanity in general. It usually means nothing more than that one sometimes wears something a bit incongruous, and doesn't care if somebody says, 'hey mate, your socks don't match your pocket square'--or 'isn't that tie a bit loud for an office party?'--or other similar nonsense. The most common GTH item that I've noticed in these fora tend to relate to socks. I think the point most people are making is, 'I didn't get overly worried about the brand of socks in this WAYWT pic'.

It means little more than not being overly concerned with what other people think. Since we're talking about clothing here, it might include a somewhat smug belief that most people who comment don't have any sense of who they are in terms of style anyway. I know I hold to that belief.

 

[eyedoc2180]

GTH as used here doesn't mean having a bad attitude toward humanity in general. It usually means nothing more than that one sometimes wears something a bit incongruous, and doesn't care if somebody says, 'hey mate, your socks don't match your pocket square'--or 'isn't that tie a bit loud for an office party?'--or other similar nonsense. The most common GTH item that I've noticed in these fora tend to relate to socks. I think the point most people are making is, 'I didn't get overly worried about the brand of socks in this WAYWT pic'.

It means little more than not being overly concerned with what other people think.

I am glad for this perspective. Perhaps my problem is that I have encountered more of the "dour curmudgeons" (LOVE that term!) that Chatsworth O. mentioned above. Agreed on the socks, though the GTHers that I know tend not to wear them when they should. Let's not restart the sock wars, though. Thanks for the insight! Bill

 

[rojo]

Pocket squares and socks? I don't mean to sound flip, but what on earth?

Go-to-hell pants are those brightly colored trousers, sometimes embroidered with little sailboats, martini glasses, whales, etc., that you wear on the golf course or to the yacht club. Or the men's trousers from Lilly Pulitzer.

Rather than going to great lengths drafting my own postings, I've decided that it's easier to quote brief passages from the Official Preppy Handbook:

"GO-TO-HELL PANTS
"In casual wear it is considered very spirited, very fun-loving to wear one offbeat, loud item -- usually the pants. Only one item of clothing may be this way, however. The total outfit must be traditional -- the usual uniform -- with the one exception. Tom Wolfe refers to pants in 'go-to-hell' colors; that's okay, but the pants must never be in a go-to-hell cut -- that remains strictly classic. The favored color is lime green, but go-to-hell pants come in other similar shocking colors. They may also have embroidered figures on them, but only appropriate figures... or a wild print -- but only an approved wild print. Being fun-loving should never be confused with being nonconformist. Occasionally a go-to-hell blazer may be worn with plain pants. There is not a go-to-hell shirt." p. 193.

 

[P Hudson]

Rojo,

"Pocket squares and socks? I don't mean to sound flip, but what on earth?"

Thanks for the reply, and the call for greater precision on my part. That was meant to be a caricature of people who have a restricted view of fashion without having any style (sorry if that sounds condescending toward my associates). I have little interest in how the Preppy Handbook defines these things, since I am not a preppy nor do I encounter any in day to day life. My response concerned how the term is used here, though of course I must concede your correctness in that sometimes here the term is used in its "proper" sense to refer to exactly the pants (or whatever) you have described.

You are therefore no direct correct if your point is that there must be some degree of continuity between GTH as found in the Handbook, and here on these fora. I don't deny that. I'm just saying that the term is rather useful, and has therefore been extended to express an attitude of insouciance rather than defensiveness when putting on an offbeat pair of socks or maybe a non-trad item in a trad picture. I pretty much substitute "I don't care" for GTH in my own thinking, even though sometimes the item is chosen in an attempt to avoid looking too "put together" (in other words, I do care a bit, but want to look like I'm not trying too hard).

 

[rojo]

"When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, 'it means just what I choose it to mean.' "

Certainly, any word or term can mean whatever you say it means. It's just that, having been part of the original trad thread since it started (mine was the original reply to the original posting), long before there was a separate trad forum, I've never seen the term used here the way you use it, until just the other day. Perhaps I don't pay close enough attention. Or perhaps the forum has drifted far enough away from what we started that it's no longer relevant to me.

Best regards.

 

[Bog]

I have little interest in how the Preppy Handbook defines these things, since I am not a preppy nor do I encounter any in day to day life. My response concerned how the term is used here, though of course I must concede your correctness in that sometimes here the term is used in its "proper" sense to refer to exactly the pants (or whatever) you have described.

If you aren't a prep, don't encounty any in day to day life, why would you be concerned with redefining a preppy term?

 

[P Hudson]

I'm not at all interested in redefining a preppy term. My response was solely based on what I have found on this forum, i.e. the way the term is often used here. Since word definition is observation based on usage, I threw in my two cents about how I have seen the word used here. I may be totally wrong.

Furthermore, I'm not sure that a group really retains any governance over a word's usage. In fact, as a teacher of ancient languages, I'm sure it doesn't.

 

[Topsider]

Or perhaps the forum has drifted far enough away from what we started that it's no longer relevant to me.

Ditto.

 

[vwguy]

I'm not at all interested in redefining a preppy term. My response was solely based on what I have found on this forum, i.e. the way the term is often used here. Since word definition is observation based on usage, I threw in my two cents about how I have seen the word used here. I may be totally wrong.

Furthermore, I'm not sure that a group really retains any governance over a word's usage. In fact, as a teacher of ancient languages, I'm sure it doesn't.

Well, GTH is what it is, so if you want to think it's something else...

Brian

 

[hbs midwest]

I always took it to mean that an individual was comfortable enough in his (or her) own skin to push the envelope and bend the sartorial rules and have a bit of fun in the process.

hbs

 

[P Hudson]

hbs,

That is how I understood it too, but only based on what I've found on this forum. I didn't mean to wade into something beyond my depths. I was just commenting on the way I had seen GTH used around the place--which I took to be a handy and versatile expression.

I'll happily defer to those who want to preserve the preppy definition, esp as I wouldn't want to contribute to any drifting: I've consistently appreciated the posts by those who disagree with me here--Topsider, VW and others.

 

[eyedoc2180]

hbs,

That is how I understood it too, but only based on what I've found on this forum. I didn't mean to wade into something beyond my depths. I was just commenting on the way I had seen GTH used around the place--which I took to be a handy and versatile expression.

I'll happily defer to those who want to preserve the preppy definition, esp as I wouldn't want to contribute to any drifting: I've consistently appreciated the posts by those who disagree with me here--Topsider, VW and others.

P H, don't genuflect, as that never works here. Stick to your guns, as I among others agree with you. The Preppy Handbook is one thing, and usage here is quite another. Posts here show that GTH is indeed a nebulous term. Don't defer.

 

[Topsider]

I was just commenting on the way I had seen GTH used around the place

Don't let that influence you. Many of the people posting here nowadays don't know what the hell they're talking about.

Present company excepted, I'm sure.

 

[P Hudson]

Here's a link with another interesting statement. I refer to the one by egadfly, about midway down.

https://askandyaboutclothes.com/community/showthread.php?t=65190

 

[Topsider]

^ Yeah, he pretty much nailed it.

 

[eyedoc2180]

Egadfly

I couldn't help but notice Egadfly's absence of several months. He and I foiled on a couple of occasions. Any news amongst the UberTrads?

 

[S. Kelly]

GTH means fun. On Christmas Eve, I wore a nice white BD shirt with plaid tie from Lands End. And I wore a pair of Vineyard Vines wide whale cords in Maui Blue (light blue?) and some winter Sperrys. It was a great look, fun and I got tons of compliments. We should wear GTH more often.