I'd like to know if there is a (subtle) difference between gaudy and tawdry?
And are either of these words used in normal speech if the occasion calls for it? Or are there uses weird and maybe obsolete?
Google cannot really help me out here, so I'm asking you guys, hihi. And girls :)

Gaudy is usually applied to things that are brightly and crudely coloured, whereas tawdry can refer to almost anything else that is supposed to be impressive but is of poor quality.
I've been known to use them quite often but then again I am nearly sixty, so a lot of my vocabulary is probably archaic and obsolete now .

Thank you! And I doubt your lingo is obsolete!
Can you use these words for people? Or for how they're dressed for instance? Or more used for things?
I sometimes pick up the interpretation and use of words the incorrect way, hence me asking :p

I use gaudy but in reference to things rather than people. Tawdry is a tad old fashioned so not used as much but there again, who am I to say seeing that English isn’t my first language haha

Usually, tawdry is used to refer to clothing etc but can be used to describe people in a slightly abstract way as in "they were a tawdry band of circus performers and down on their luck actors".

Well, I'm happy to know anyway! Until just now I didn't know gaudy in this sense, I did know tawdry though. So I'm happy to know that it's better to use gaudy, and like you both say and for things not people.
Then what do you say when someone looks cheap and showy in a cheap way? So basically for someone who's gaudy, hihi.

There is a saying people use rather than just one word ‘All fur coat and no knickers’

*Edit - garish, tasteless, vulgar, crass are words that are similar

Hahahahahaha, rolling out of my chair laughing here, LOL.
I'm going to remember that one

Thank you both for helping out! Much appreciated!

A lady dressed in tawdry clothes could be called a 'second hand rose', like in op-shop clothes, or poorly made home made clothes, or ill fitting hand me downs;
and a man dressed in tawdry clothes could be called a homeless bum, dole bludger, sh-t kicker, pov, or like me, a working man who doesn't wear his sunday best to filthy work places.

Gaudy example is like privately owned over decorated buses and trucks in asia, with bright paint, crude paintings, dingle dangles, and all manner of accessories bolted on all over.

I think the word I was looking for when it concerns people is tacky or trashy.

Trashy: Examples are wearing excessive amounts of make-up, wearing provocative clothing (whether they're in shape or not), driving a vehicle that is excessively large for their needs, getting drunk and behaving obnoxiously in clubs and bars, yelling at strangers from car windows, making derogatory statements, promiscuity, and talking loudly in profane and explicit language in public. Although they may think they're cool, most other people find them obnoxious, stinky, immature, irresponsible, and unattractive.

Tacky and trashy can relate to people and things.

Trashy often associated with women and how they look, or their style - makeup and/or clothes, cheap, slutty look, also a term used on actual beauties by jealous rivals.

Trashy can also refer to a low quality or cheap place, eg. a trashy club, shop, and cheap, or suggestive items.

Tacky, well I'm a bit tacky, but it is a mild term for uncouth / unsavory / low brow, but not quite disgusting. You may disagree !
Tacky can also refer to someone's house decor, choice of paint colour, clothing, art, and similar.

Thanks!

Oh my gosh , That sounds like me, have we met?

I have to date not met anyone with "ask me for my photo' written on their face, or anywhere else for that matter, so I don't think so?

Lol

Instead of being so concerned about how someone dresses , gaudy, tawdry, slutty, librarianish maybe some people should just think about that maybe just maybe THAT person could care less what others think, the world would be a better place

Glad you didn't take offence, it wasn't meant like that :) Just that I cannot judge for myself as I don't think you've ever had a photo on here. So we could have met... in the short time I was in the USA, hihi.