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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 toAlan Watkins writing in 1984 inThe Spectator.[1] However, the term "young-fogey conservative" was used byLarry Niven inLucifer's Hammer and byPhilip Roth inThe Professor of Desire, both in 1977.[2]
"Youngfogey" is still used to describeconservative young men (aged approximately between 15 and 40) whodress in a vintage style (usually that of the 1920s–1930s, also known as the "Brideshead" look, after the influence of theEvelyn Waugh novelBrideshead 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 Americanpreppy style, but is endogenous to the United Kingdom andAnglophone areas of theCommonwealth such as Australia, Canada and New Zealand.[citation needed]
The movement reached its peak in the late 1980s and early 1990s with champions such asA. N. Wilson,Gavin Stamp,John Martin Robinson,Simon Heffer andCharles Moore, when it had a relatively widespread following inSouthern 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 orupper class and sometimes make a style virtue ofgenteel poverty, especially when rescuing old houses.[3] They often combine a conservative cultural outlook with a distaste ofConservative political activity. OftenRoman Catholic orAnglo-Catholic in religious observance, their conservative outlook extends to refuting progressive theology.[citation needed]
Today committed young fogeys may be found amongst students atOxford,Cambridge,Durham,Edinburgh andSt Andrews universities; and at some universities in the Commonwealth, notably theUniversity of Queensland and theUniversity of Sydney. Adherents tend to concentrate in some professions: in particular theantiques and art dealing, residential estate agency, conservative classicalarchitecture practices and certain strata of the Roman Catholic andAnglican churches.[citation needed] Strongholds of young fogeys include theOxford University Conservative Association[citation needed] andTrinity College, Cambridge,[citation needed] but they are also seen elsewhere, with a smattering being found among Englishmen in University Conservative Associations everywhere.[citation needed]
The former Britishmember of Parliament (MP) andCabinet ministerRory Stewart was referred to as a "young fogey" during his schoolboy days.[4]
The Irish broadcasterRyan Tubridy, who hostedTubridy Tonight between 2004 and 2009 and thenThe Late Late Show between 2009 and 2023, described himself as a "young fogey" in the early stages of his career.[5][6]
The British MPJacob Rees-Mogg was described as a "young fogey" afterhis 2010 election to Westminster.[citation needed]
The British writer, editor and broadcasterAnthony Lejeune was described byThe Times as: "always out of period, a misfit in the modern world for whom the term 'young fogey' might have been invented".[7]
During theearly-to-mid-2020s, young fogey style underwent a revival in Britain and America. Sometimes known as "grandpa-core" or "eclectic grandpa," it is characterised by vintage-inspiredcasual fashion from thelate 1940s to early 1960s. It draws inspiration from the fashion sensibilities of grandfathers from theSilent Generation and incorporates colourfulknitwear like patternedsweater vests orshawl collar cardigan sweaters,braces,loafer shoes,corduroy,high waisteddress pants and varioustweed accessories, especiallyflat caps. Celebrities such asHarry Styles,Kendall Jenner,Gigi Hadid andTyler, the Creator have played a significant role in popularising this trend among the mainstream fashion public in Britain and America.[8][9][10][11]
