I'M SURE that by now, almost everybody is familiar with the word 'chav'. From the early 2000s, chavs have been like Marmite; you either love them, or you hate them. Make no mistake, chav fashion is as love/hate as fashion gets.

Although the word 'chav' can be seen as quite derogatory, it is a label like any other, such as 'goth' or 'indie'. Origins of the term are unclear; while some believe that it derives from the Romani word 'chavvy', meaning 'youth', others believe that the word has roots in the Geordie dialect word 'charva', meaning a 'rough child', as well as other theories.

Chavs have been at the centre of controversy over many things, including their fashion sense. Of course, it wouldn't be a subculture if it appealed to everyone. And the most popular and well-known item of chav fashion certainly doesn't appeal to all; the tracksuit. In many colours and brands, the tracksuit is worn by both men and women, and not just when in the gym. They are usually of famous sportswear brands such as Adidas or Nike, and tracksuit bottoms are often worn with a brand t-shirt or a hoodie. A whole new wave of controversy was caused by the wearing of the hoodie, especially when the hood was worn up, adding to the chavs already not-so-flawless reputation. Aside from hoodies and tracksuits, trainers are the chosen shoes for most occasions, and it was not altogether uncommon to see the trousers tucked into the socks. Of course, we can't forget baseball caps, worn at an angle and often in Burberry.

Speaking of Burberry, there was a lot of it. Hats, coats, bags, scarves, and perhaps even the odd complete tracksuit. Burberry is a very popular brand among the subculture. In fact, Burberry have since tried to re-brand themselves as they are not happy with their brand being so associated with chav culture.

Fake designer clothing and accessories is also highly favoured, with D&G handbags and belts being a familiar sight among followers of the fashion. Although this would seem like taking the cheaper option, sportswear is by no means cheap, as anyone who has ever had to buy a decent pair of trainers will know.

As mentioned, the fashion is worn by both men and women, therefore you may expect certain elements to cross between genders, such as the ton of jewellery worn, whether fake or the real deal. However, the females of the subculture, often known as 'chavettes', made the fashion their own in the way of hair and make up. This could mean applying a lot of fake tan or foundation, a heavy spread of lip gloss, thickly applied mascara and a strip of eyeshadow, in the more popular colours of white, light blue or baby pink. Hair would often be pulled tightly back into a high pony tail and then stiffly gelled, leaving not a hair out of place. Golden hoop earrings completed this look, with the general idea being the bigger the better.

At the end of the day, whether you view the fashion as tacky, appealing or just plain comfortable, try to remember that variety is indeed the spice of life. Each and every subculture has their own attached stereotypes, often negative, ranging from the 'loutish, violent' chavs to the 'satan-worshipping' goths. There is good and bad in every subculture, not to mention some serious fashion no-nos. So, why can't we all just get along?