"Hipster" refers to those who are adopting an exaggerated form of 'Indie' style purely for cultural acceptance, whereas the indie style consist of those who are genuinely just 'INDIEpendently' minded and it just happens to show through their image and outlook.
There needs to be a realization that 'Hipsters' and 'Indies' are two different cultures.
There needs to be a realization that 'Hipsters' and 'Indies' are two different cultures.
'Jack' likes a band called "Maps & Atlases", so he wears their T-shirts. Jack wears straight legged jeans because he doesn't like the way baggy jeans feel on him, and wears bigger glasses because he likes being able to see more. Jack genuinely thinks, listens to music, dresses, and acts outside of what is 'popular', because that is just who he is. Jack is an independent thinker, or "Indie"
'Nick' wears a "Maps & Atlases" shirt, straight legged jeans and bigger glasses because he saw it on Jack. Nick envy's people like Jack. Nick tries to copy their style of dressing so that he can feel more like Jack. Unfortunately, Nick can't realize that there IS NO style of 'independent thinkers', and that as a result of his trying to be 'indie', he has bastardized the entire culture. Nick is a hipster.
'Nick' wears a "Maps & Atlases" shirt, straight legged jeans and bigger glasses because he saw it on Jack. Nick envy's people like Jack. Nick tries to copy their style of dressing so that he can feel more like Jack. Unfortunately, Nick can't realize that there IS NO style of 'independent thinkers', and that as a result of his trying to be 'indie', he has bastardized the entire culture. Nick is a hipster.
by ThinkinSpace April 14, 2013
Hipsters are a subculture of men and women typically in their 20's and 30's that value independent thinking, counter-culture, progressive politics, an appreciation of art and indie-rock, creativity, intelligence, and witty banter. The greatest concentrations of hipsters can be found living in the Williamsburg, Wicker Park, and Mission District neighborhoods of major cosmopolitan centers such as New York, Chicago, and San Francisco respectively. Although "hipsterism" is really a state of mind,it is also often intertwined with distinct fashion sensibilities. Hipsters reject the culturally-ignorant attitudes of mainstream consumers, and are often be seen wearing vintage and thrift store inspired fashions, tight-fitting jeans, old-school sneakers, and sometimes thick rimmed glasses. Both hipster men and women sport similar androgynous hair styles that include combinations of messy shag cuts and asymmetric side-swept bangs. Such styles are often associated with the work of creative stylists at urban salons, and are usually too "edgy" for the culturally-sheltered mainstream consumer. The "effortless cool" urban bohemian look of a hipster is exemplified in Urban Outfitters and American Apparel ads which cater towards the hipster demographic. Despite misconceptions based on their aesthetic tastes, hipsters tend to be well educated and often have liberal arts degrees, or degrees in maths and sciences, which also require certain creative analytical thinking abilities. Consequently many hipsters tend to have jobs in the music, art, and fashion industries. It is a myth that most hipsters are unemployed and live off of their parent's trust funds.
Hipsters shun mainstream societal conventions that apply to dating preferences and traditional "rules" of physical attraction. It is part of the hipster central dogma not to be influenced by mainsream advertising and media, which tends to only promote ethnocentric ideals of beauty. The concepts of androgyny and feminism have influenced hipster culture, where hipster men are often as thin as the women they date. The muscular and athletic all-American male ideal is not seen as attractive by confident and culturally-empowered hipster women who instead view them as symbols of male oppression, sexism, and misogyny. Likewise, culturally-vapid sorority-type girls with fake blond hair, overly tanned skin, and "Britney Spears tube-tops" are not seen as attractive by cultured hipster males who instead see them as symbols of female insecurity, low self-esteem, and lack of cultural intelligence and independent thinking. Hipsters are also very racially open-minded, and the greatest number of interracial couples in any urban environment are typically found within the hipster subculture.
Although hipsters are technically conformists within their own subculture, in comparison to the much larger mainstream mass, they are pioneers and leaders of the latest cultural trends and ideals. For example, the surge of jeans made to look old and worn (i.e. "distressed"), that have become prevalent at stores such as The Gap, American Eagle, Abercrombie and Fitch, and Hollister, were originally paraded by hipsters who shopped in thrift stores years before such clothing items were mass produced and sold to the mainstream consumer. The true irony here is that many of the detractors of hipster culture are in fact unknowingly following a path that hipsters have carved out years before them. This phenomena also applies to music as well, as many bands have become successful and known to mainstream audiences only because hipsters first found and listened to them as early-adopters of new culture. Once certain concepts of fashion and music have reached mainstream audiences, hipsters move on to something new and improved.
Because of the rise of various online photo-blog and social networking sites, insights into urban hipster culture is reaching sheltered suburban audiences at an exponential rate. Cultural "norms" have been deconstructed by hipster culture as a whole. Hipsterism is often dismissed as just an image thing by some, but the culture as a whole is effecting changes in society, leading to feelings of insecurity and resentment in people who are no longer a part of the cultural ruling class. For example, a lot of anti-hipster sentiment evidently comes from culturally-clueless suburban frat boy types who feel that the more sensitive, intelligent, and culturally aware hipster ideal threatens their insecure sense of masculinity. Anti-hipster sentiment often comes from people who simply can't keep up with social change and are envious of those who can.
Hipsters shun mainstream societal conventions that apply to dating preferences and traditional "rules" of physical attraction. It is part of the hipster central dogma not to be influenced by mainsream advertising and media, which tends to only promote ethnocentric ideals of beauty. The concepts of androgyny and feminism have influenced hipster culture, where hipster men are often as thin as the women they date. The muscular and athletic all-American male ideal is not seen as attractive by confident and culturally-empowered hipster women who instead view them as symbols of male oppression, sexism, and misogyny. Likewise, culturally-vapid sorority-type girls with fake blond hair, overly tanned skin, and "Britney Spears tube-tops" are not seen as attractive by cultured hipster males who instead see them as symbols of female insecurity, low self-esteem, and lack of cultural intelligence and independent thinking. Hipsters are also very racially open-minded, and the greatest number of interracial couples in any urban environment are typically found within the hipster subculture.
Although hipsters are technically conformists within their own subculture, in comparison to the much larger mainstream mass, they are pioneers and leaders of the latest cultural trends and ideals. For example, the surge of jeans made to look old and worn (i.e. "distressed"), that have become prevalent at stores such as The Gap, American Eagle, Abercrombie and Fitch, and Hollister, were originally paraded by hipsters who shopped in thrift stores years before such clothing items were mass produced and sold to the mainstream consumer. The true irony here is that many of the detractors of hipster culture are in fact unknowingly following a path that hipsters have carved out years before them. This phenomena also applies to music as well, as many bands have become successful and known to mainstream audiences only because hipsters first found and listened to them as early-adopters of new culture. Once certain concepts of fashion and music have reached mainstream audiences, hipsters move on to something new and improved.
Because of the rise of various online photo-blog and social networking sites, insights into urban hipster culture is reaching sheltered suburban audiences at an exponential rate. Cultural "norms" have been deconstructed by hipster culture as a whole. Hipsterism is often dismissed as just an image thing by some, but the culture as a whole is effecting changes in society, leading to feelings of insecurity and resentment in people who are no longer a part of the cultural ruling class. For example, a lot of anti-hipster sentiment evidently comes from culturally-clueless suburban frat boy types who feel that the more sensitive, intelligent, and culturally aware hipster ideal threatens their insecure sense of masculinity. Anti-hipster sentiment often comes from people who simply can't keep up with social change and are envious of those who can.
A conversation outside a hipster bar in downtown NYC:
Frat Boy #1: Dude, are you having any luck picking up chicks in there?
Frat Boy #2: Man...I haven't experienced anything like this before. These chicks are totally rejecting me and going for all these hipster guys in tight pants and shaggy hair instead.
Frat Boy #1: Maybe we should head back up to that bar in Murry Hill where you hooked up with that drunk b*tch from Alpha Sigma Phi last week?
Frat Boy #2: Yeah...I don't think we have what it takes to compete with these guys in here. These hipster chicks won't even give us the time of the day!
Frat Boy #1: Dude, are you having any luck picking up chicks in there?
Frat Boy #2: Man...I haven't experienced anything like this before. These chicks are totally rejecting me and going for all these hipster guys in tight pants and shaggy hair instead.
Frat Boy #1: Maybe we should head back up to that bar in Murry Hill where you hooked up with that drunk b*tch from Alpha Sigma Phi last week?
Frat Boy #2: Yeah...I don't think we have what it takes to compete with these guys in here. These hipster chicks won't even give us the time of the day!
by Trey Parasuco November 23, 2007
Someone who believes that they are being unique and non-conformist, while in actuality they are all the same. Hipsters, while stressing individuality, all like the same general things: combat boots, cross jewelry, mermaids and american flag apparel for girls; skinny jeans and beanies for guys. Hipsters try so hard to be different that they are actually all alike. Hipsters most likely have a tumblr.
I'm such a hipster, I listen to indie music that nobody else has heard of, and buy all my clothes from vintage stores that nobody else goes to.
by justanotherconformist February 16, 2011
A variation on no homo used when the speaker has made a statement suggesting he/she is a hipster. The phrase implies that the speaker is aware of the hipster nature of his/her statement and wishes to clarify that he/she is in fact not a hipster.
Use of this statement generally solidifies the speaker's status as a hipster, especially if he/she uses it ironically.
Use of this statement generally solidifies the speaker's status as a hipster, especially if he/she uses it ironically.
No hipster, but I think the music of Justin Bieber is a harbinger of the death of high culture in this century.
by le lit March 01, 2011
by Stormageddon Dark Lord Of All October 07, 2011
A pretentious, self-indulgent, usually a 20-to-30 something that believes because they posses a college education, particularly within the Liberal Arts & Sciences, that they are somehow more "enlightened" than the rest of society. The hipster in most instances falls within the "talker" side of society as opposed to the "doer" side, as defined by the Conservative/libertarian economist Thomas Sowell. Hipsters are fond of using terminology such as "misogynist" "androgynous" "feminist" "racist" and other "progressive" or "enlightened" politically cultural marxist or left-wing catch phrases meant to denote the feeling that "they care...YOU don't" "they are intelligent....YOU aren't." The irony to hipster logic, is that, despite often being described as having an appreciation for the "ironic" the hipster doesn't understand that whether a particular trend is mainstream, or counter cultural, that they are still buying into something that is marketable, despite the "dumb sheeple" that continue to buy into the mainstream. Their "brand" is just as altogether marketable and fashionable as Mainstream trends. Urban Outfitters, and other retailers are still making money off of the hipster's self-righteous dissent. The above said definition isn't meant to apply to all individuals that self identify as being a hipster, it is merely a generalization.
An assumption amongst the hipster is that all individuals that do not partake in their cultural charade are intellectually or socially inadequate or inferior, alluding to their self-righteous sense of grandiosity.
by Steel Reserve May 27, 2012
Capitalism's ultimate victory over socialism.
A hipster defines themeslves as part of a supposed counterculture through what he or she buys, not what they do do. In other words, consumption instead of action.
Thus actually going out there and doing things has been replaced by wearing skinny jeans and a Che Guevara shirt and appearing like you actually care about major issues.
A hipster defines themeslves as part of a supposed counterculture through what he or she buys, not what they do do. In other words, consumption instead of action.
Thus actually going out there and doing things has been replaced by wearing skinny jeans and a Che Guevara shirt and appearing like you actually care about major issues.
An activist will join or start a demonstration bringing public attention to the plight of immigrant farm workers.
A hipster will buy a pair of Toms shoes because the company will send some poor kid another pair of shoes, thus making them feel like they did something without not actually having done anything meaningful.
A hipster will buy a pair of Toms shoes because the company will send some poor kid another pair of shoes, thus making them feel like they did something without not actually having done anything meaningful.
by TheFrankfurtSchooled September 11, 2011