What is a Hipster?

 Hint: It is neither a guido or 'trendy'

A beginner's lesson for Tommy

Do's and Don't of Hipsters 

(like Vice Magazine's Do's and Don'ts - tres hipster)

Do's of being a hipster• Be cool at all

costs              • Listen to really cool

music      • Do things ironically • Have vaguely artistic

proclivities • Ride bicycles or take

public transportation • Dress outlandishly • Drink and do lots of drugs

Dont's of being a hipster• Act like you're trying to be

cool• Listen to music everyone

else does • Do things seriously • Have a serious

job                 • Have a sweet

ride                  • Look Normal• Be straight edge

Hipsters Like Being Cool Hipsters enjoy the fact that they live 'outside' of mainstream culture, this makes them 'alt' therefore cool and not a 'normal' bro or girl.  NEVER call a hipster  a hipster, that makes them less cool in the eyes of their hipster brethren.  You may confuse a hipster for a scenester or other categories of 'alt' (to be discussed in a future presentation), but for now just group them all together.  Hipsters show how cool they are by listening to the 'right' type of music, wearing the 'right' things and going to the 'right' places.

  Hipster Bro/Chick trying too hard

Hipsters like to listen to really cool music• Hipsters pride themselves on their excellent taste in music.  Not all hipsters listen to

the same types of music, but it's a safe bet that they listen to some sort of combination of indie rock, punk (not too punk - they would get beat up by punks), bloghaus, club and hip-hop.  

• Chances are a hipster will not listen to anything you've heard of or like.  The exception to this rule is top-40 hip-hop and yacht rock.  

• A hipster will call a band that 'normal' bros/chicks now listen to a sell-out and lament that they were going to shows '2 years' before the band/artist hit it big in the 'mainstream'.

A visual representation of how hipsters view music: 

Hipsters like to listen to really cool music (cont'd)

• Though it is important that a hipster be 'alt' and listen to music no one's ever heard of, it's also important for a hipster to listen to the 'right' type of music.  In the 21st Century hipsters find out what music is correct through 'blawgs' and the 'interwebs.'   This is how a hipster knows s/he is 'authentic.'

• How hipsters find out what is the 'right' music is only for an advanced level presentation. 

Example of a current 'hipster band.'  Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks

Hipsters like ironyHipsters think irony makes them 'alt' and hence cool.  They use it as a way to show their 'individuality' and a way to stay outside 'mainstream' and society.  You will often see 'hipsters' trying to be ironic through their personal BRAND in clothing, tattoos, decor, taste in music, life.

Ironic Tattoos

Hipsters like to be 'artistic'• Hipsters like to think that they are artistic and like to do 'art' and design.• Many hipsters are 'artists' or at least party photographers or graphic designers• Hipsters also like to join bands to combine their 'like' of music with their 'artistic'

tendencies.  They either 'learn' an instrument of just become DJ's and make music on their 'computers.' 

• Some hipsters will start 'blawgs'.   

Hipsters being 'artistic.'

Hipsters ride bicycles and use other forms of transit

• Hipsters like to ride bicycles.  Usually 'older' looking bicycles, fix gears or other forms of road bikes.  It is good for the environment and is usually the only form of exercise a hipster will get besides going to dance parties.  Extra points for making your own bike

• Hipsters will also ride skateboards, scooters or other forms of transportation that make them 'alt.'

• If a hipster owns a car it is never a 'sweet ride'.  A hipster would never spend $$$ on a car.

Hipsters dress ridiculously • The proper dress is very important for a hipster, it identifies him/her as 'outside'

the mainstream and as an 'alt'. • Hipsters generally 'shop' at thrift stores and American Apparel.  It is not

acceptable for a hipster to buy clothing at mainstream stores like American Eagle, Abercrombie or Department stores.  H&M and Urban Outfitters are also acceptable. 

• A hipster's choice of eye wear is paramount.  Hornrimmed glasses, any kind of exaggerated retro sunglasses (ex. aviators, wayfarer's), and anything that draws attention to your face (shutter shades).

• Hipsters can only wear either neon, neutrals, reflective materials, graphics and plaid.  Mixture of these color/patterns in encouraged.

• SKINNY JEANS ARE KEY FOR ANY MALE HIPSTER. (Unless you are wearing short shorts or overalls).

• It is important for a hipster to not look like s/he spent a lot of money on his/her clothing even if s/he did.  A hipster can never look put together, too mainstream.

• Hair cannot be symmetrical for male hipsters unless it is unruly.  Various colored hair is acceptable so long as you don't look 'punk rawk'. Extreme, shaggy or unique facial hair is encouraged for males.  Bangs are strongly encouraged for females (especially if uneven).  Females must also have extreme hair color and blunt cuts. NOTE: Either males and females who don't do anything to their hair are always correct.

 

Hipster Sartorial Choices*The elusive blipster

Hipsters like to abuse substances• Hipsters enjoy abusing substances and drinking large quantities of alcohol.  This

serves the dual purpose of making them 'alt' and inspiring their creativity.  This also makes most experiences more 'relevant.'

• Typical hipster alcohol: PBR (other cheap domestic beers can be acceptable, but are not the first choice); whiskey; Sparks (RIP); anything free.

• Typical hipster drug choices: Marijuana (duh), Coke, Pills (any kind)

Hipsters are NOT Guidos (unless they are doing so ironically)

Guidos Hipsters

Hipsters are NOT Trendy* (though they do care about being cool)

Trendy People Hipsters

*What the fuck does that even mean?