Those who follow the alternative style of hipsters probably love clothes, music, food and activities that are outside the common social context. If you want to embrace this lifestyle of independent music labels, vintage clothing and artisanal coffee, read this guide.
Steps
Part 1 of 5: Hipster Fashion
Step 1. Dress up as an alternative
Fashion is as important as music. Shopping in vintage stores is the gospel for many hipsters, but it is neither mandatory nor vital to have an alternative wardrobe.
- Choose the right brands. There are several that relate to the hipster scene: the best known include American Apparel, H&M, ASOS, CobraSnake and Urban Outfitters.
- Avoid buying merchandise in chain stores. Instead, turn to the local boutiques because supporting underground fashion is "super cool". For example, shop at clothing stores in your city that sell a little bit of everything.
Step 2. Wear skin-tight jeans
Classic skinny jeans are the right look for both men and women. Guys tend to choose even tighter models than women.
- Hipster guys wear almost only skinny jeans, while women prefer leggings.
- Alternatively, women also wear high-waisted trousers known as "mom's jeans".
Step 3. Wear glasses
Hipster fashionistas like the ironic ones, such as shutter models or huge ones with plastic frames, Buddy Holly glasses, nerd glasses and - for those who can afford them - the real Ray Ban Wayfarers in all the colors of the rainbow.
Some hipsters wear glasses even though they have perfect eyesight! In this case, remove the lenses from the frame or make sure they are not graduated
Step 4. Bring shirts with ironic writing
These are the best choices: shirts from groups like Pink Floyd, Van Halen and Metallica, checkered and flannel shirts, checked and floral patterns.
- Many hipsters wear t-shirts and shirts with appliqués, images of animals or forests, characters from children's programs, ironic writings or book titles.
- Fitted hoodies are perfect.
Step 5. Vintage dress
For women, vintage dresses with lace and floral motifs are perfect. The grandmother's wardrobe in this case is the treasure island; however you should know how to sew to fit the dress to your size.
Step 6. Find suitable shoes
Cowboy boots, Converse and ballet flats.
- Converse are no longer so universal. They are nice and comfortable to wear under anything, but since everyone wears them, it would be best to wear Doc Martens or any other vintage style footwear.
- If you are looking for sneakers, choose the Reebok Classic.
- For girls: heels are not popular but if you like them, wear them without a problem. Sandals, Keds, boots and ankle boots not only have the advantage of practicality, but testify to the effort you made to find them.
Step 7. Use lots of accessories
For example, large headbands with flowers, fluorescent enamels, brooches, shiny belts, necklaces with birds and colorful leggings.
- Don't forget random plugs, piercings, and scars that you are supposed to have inherited from working wood or doing other carpentry work.
- Ironic accessories, such as those a child would use at school (an image of an animal on the lunchbox) are required.
- The essentials include: shoulder bag (not a backpack), preferably by Freitag, where MacBook, iPhone and vinyls (never CDs) of your favorite band can fit.
Step 8. Mix different styles and layer them
Layering clothes that don't match is very alternative. It gives you that "I don't give a damn" look that still requires some study before it becomes automatic.
Remember that hipster clothing doesn't have to be retouched even to go to the beach - bring the whole city ensemble with you, even to the beach or if you want to surf
Part 2 of 5: Alternative Health
Step 1. Ignore the comments on hygiene
Some associate alternatives with hippies and assume that they don't shower regularly or take care of personal hygiene. It is a misconception. While some hipsters are part of the anti-shampoo movement (which is pretty clean anyway), most know what hygiene is (and care with ecologically sustainable, handmade soaps!).
- Alternatives shower regularly and brush their teeth, while they are less interested in spending money on a hairdresser, spa, pedicure / manicure, and makeup bag that are a sign of conforming to canonical ideals of beauty.
- Likely, those who are alternative are not interested in "getting the most out of their resources" because they consider themselves a resource; from the point of view of self-esteem it is a rather positive aspect.
Step 2. Keep your hair natural
Unkempt hairstyles are perfect. The "just awake" look, long hair that is unruly and that stands up to any attempt to stay straight without chemicals are acceptable.
- Unisex cuts and styles are also part of the hipster culture.
- Greasy hair is considered ok by some alternative fringes. That's not to say you need a polished look - the disheveled style may be for you.
- Some hipsters like to color their hair.
Step 3. Choose natural food
Consider growing your own food or becoming a vegetarian. Use compost if you can. Eating meat is not always accepted by hipsters and many tend to be vegetarians or vegans. If you eat meat, you say that vegetarianism's attempt to save the world is a useless cynical transcendence.
- Fruit, coffee and Asian cuisine are very hipster.
- If you don't have room to grow your produce (not even a balcony or window sill), go to the market.
- Often times, alternatives are also foodies and love gourmet meals. If you can't cook, buy cookbooks.
Part 3 of 5: Hipster Lifestyle
Step 1. Become a recycling artist
You have to be frugal, respect what it once was and show that the new doesn't define you. Of course, you don't need to struggle with the contradictions of your love of Apple or the clothes of a certain label, but since we're all basically a bunch of contradictions, the sooner we accept them the better off we'll be.
Old things usually associated with hipsters are: Parliament cigarettes (and ignore anti-smoking laws), Pabst beer, grandparents' clothes (or thrift shops), racing bicycles (often used to go to nightclubs)), analog cameras and the reuse of anything (which implies naivety, common sense and fun)
Step 2. Reject vulgar consumerism
Those who are alternative belong to a "niche consumerism". If you shop in local shops you help them and do good to the environment, to people, to those who do things for themselves … all hipster stuff.
Step 3. Remember that most hipsters are of a certain age
They tend to range from adolescence to 30 years. This is a part of today's "extended adolescence" which consists of existential anger, pursuit of purpose and self-affirmation as well as the meaning of anything.
Of course, it doesn't mean that you can't be alternative even if you're older, but if you've reached a certain age and feel less interested in how the world is going or not, it probably means that: a) you are no longer so inclined to label everything, b) you don't feel the need to belong to any sub-culture and / or you are c) less angry than you used to be. It is also possible that you are trying to go through your youth while dealing with various problems and that you do not want to devote yourself to anything else
Step 4. Go to alternative places
Hipsters all tend to congregate in very urban places and are globally connected via the internet. In the United States you will find them mainly in metropolitan areas where "everything is fine". Search for art galleries independent or arthouse cinemas.
- Go to New York City, especially Brooklyn, Chicago, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Minneapolis, the suburb of Williamsburg (known as the unofficial capital of the hipster world).
- Places like Glasslands and Pianos are an ideal destination.
- Los Angeles is also acceptable if you don't get swallowed up by Californian culture.
- For a less urban America, try to find towns that have moderately large colleges: in some states, a place that houses a college may be the only liberal part of the state, such as Austin, Texas, or Lawrence, Kansas.
- In the UK, London is your destination, in Canada go to Montreal, and in Australia go to Melbourne. YouTube video:
- Don't force yourself to move to one of these places just to be a hipster. Apart from the lack of practicality and the cost, especially if you live on the other side of the world, you can also become an alternative in your home. One of the advantages here is that if less is known from you about the alternative culture, fewer people will discriminate against you and criticize you. The internet will always be your best friend.
Step 5. Cultivate
Alternatives also study at university, especially in the faculties of liberal arts, graphics, mathematics and science.
- Read a lot, even if it means sitting in a bookstore without buying anything. Always try to improve your education level if you are in college.
- Hipsters are a sub-culture that uses the right side of the brain a lot, more than the rest of people, that's why they choose their careers based on music, art or fashion. Even if they are not really job opportunities, they are probably an outlet for creativity.
- Education is what helps a hipster not to consider the clamor of others: he knows that history always repeats itself and that therefore it is a lot of ado about nothing.
Step 6. Be a forerunner
Those who are alternative understand what is valuable before fashion makes them popular. Many bands only become famous after hipsters flock to their concerts. Many fashions have become popular starting from those who were alternative and then ending up incorporated by the haute couture maison. Many technological gadgets are first discovered by alternatives and then become global.
- Of course, the irony of being the first to spot these things is that once it becomes the popular product or trend, it's time to move on. This is one of the problems of being a free spirit: you lead the way but then you have to move on.
- If you are good at things like math, physics, medicine, psychology, political analysis, ecology etc., you can make sensational discoveries that are light years ahead of the rest of the world. You know you've actually found something that really matters, but others won't be convinced by the "unknown" factor. Remain calm and determined in your certainty that, one day, others will understand too.
Step 7. Don't define yourself according to common categories
One of the key elements of being a hipster is the ability to avoid labels. Don't flaunt under the roof which party you vote for; it would mean allying yourself with those who love to schematize everything and everyone.
- The moment you define yourself too clearly is when you start to settle, risking being trapped by the status quo. Many alternatives will renounce being "hipster" as soon as possible.
- To protect themselves from those who make fun of them, many hipsters have developed a sense of self-irony, recognizing and making fun of their alternativeness (for example, wearing a T-shirt with the words "I hate hipsters"); in this way, making fun of themselves first, no one else can do it as effectively.
Step 8. Always take the pulse of the alternative community
There is a strong sense of community in the hipster culture. If you want to discover new bands or great hangouts, stay actively in touch with the community and in step with alternative trends.
- When some unknown band shows up on Pitchfork (preferably earlier), you should be interested.
- Check out Brooklyn Vegan (even if you don't live there), Stereogum, Gorilla vs. Bear, and Hype Machine frequently, but obviously not every five minutes.
Part 4 of 5: Indie entertainment
Step 1. Read the alternative classics
Your reading sources are important because what you read connects you to others, informing you about cultures, problems and giving you knowledge. There is a lot to read, so separate the business from the enjoyable and jump into what's most important. Here are examples of interesting reads:
- Hipster magazines like Vice, Another Magazine and Wallpaper. The foreign press is fine too.
- Great works and poems by Jack Kerouac, Alan Ginsburg and Norman Mailer. Books that you think are fabulous. Just books: reading distinguishes alternatives from ordinary people. He often visits the political, anthropology and sociology sections of libraries and bookstores.
- Other alternative blogs. You may also find inspiration to write your own.
Step 2. Watch alternative cinema
Independent and foreign films, theatrical productions such as those of Ann Liv Young. Watch films by Wes Anderson, Hal Hartley and Jim Jarmusch.
Step 3. Listen to new and independent music
Indie music really sums up the concept of alternative. Think of the endless and ever-renewed list of independent artists on the music scene, especially in the areas of nu-rave, techno minimalist, indie rap, nerdcore, Elephant 6, garage rock, classic rock (Beatles usually) and punk rock.
- Alternative artists also include Animal Collective, Grizzly Bear, Belle & Sebastian, Electric President, Stray Kites, Jens Lekman, Neutral Milk Hotel, M83, Neon Indian, Neon Neon, Margot & The Nuclear So and Sos, King Khan and the Shrines.
- Music Blog: Gorilla vs. Bear, Indiehere, / mu /, and Stereogum are the ones that can help you choose which bands to listen to. Meeting those who are already listening to them also helps.
- Perhaps the most popular alternative music site is Pitchfork Media. If you rate an album well, it must be really alternative.
- A good way to tell whether or not an artist is a hipster is to ask a non-alternative friend if they've ever heard of them.
- Of course you are free to listen to ethnic and other country music as well as most of the songs from this decade come from America, Great Britain and South Korea.
Part 5 of 5: Socialize
Step 1. Use social media
Hipster girls like Blogspot, Tumblr or Wordpress, taking pictures with the Holga camera, getting overlays and blurred images like dreams. Social media is also a great way to discover new things before they become famous.
Step 2. Hang out with other hipsters
The reason of course is that with other alternatives it will be easier to find a connection and agreement on many things. The fit guy or the tanned blonde are probably not the one for you, so the alternative is the answer.
Step 3. Dance
If you want to find a hipster, the next time you go to a show, turn the corner: you will see them secluded arguing with a Stella Artois or a canned Pabst Blue Ribbon (PBR). Sometimes, if the music is right, you can even see them dance.
- A well done alternative dance involves little use of the hips and a lot of upper body movement. Let your arms swing, move your head back and forth but only if you don't feel embarrassed in doing so (as an alternative, this shouldn't touch you anyway).
- While you will rarely see an alternative dancing in public, it may happen at parties where they can find more suitable music.
Step 4. Look after your language and attitude
There may not be many variations - in the hipster scene things are constantly changing - but there are key points you need to know:
- Remember to always use the more famous alternative phrase: "I liked them before they became so popular.". Another good statement to make in exploiting the wave of recent disasters is: "I sent contributions to Haiti … before the disaster."
- Show off your knowledge often. Talk about unknown bands you love and your friends have never heard of. When someone tells you about a band you don't know, say you've heard of them even if you've never heard them play. Then listen to them to always be well informed.
- Insult bands. If you love everything you will pass for a fanatic. Make sure you get the message across that you are too cool and elite for most groups.
- If, on the other hand, you still want to appear elite but polite, the right phrase is "I liked the first album but after that they expired.".
- Use clichés as often as possible. Or words that no one knows and whose meaning you have searched for (eg specious, apologetic, empiriocriticist).
Step 5. Refine the humor
Those who are alternative are known for their strong sense of irony and sarcasm. When they ask you a question, refuse to give a straight answer, instead responding with another question or a totally sarcastic statement.
- Of course, laugh at it to indicate that you are not serious, as there are people who can mistake sarcasm for sincerity.
- For example: when you are watching a movie at the cinema and whoever is next to you exclaims, "Oh my, it was very strong. Did you see?", You replied in a dry tone "No, I paid € 8.50 to fix the ceiling. ".
- Watch English comedies to get an idea of the kind of sarcasm you can be inspired by.
- Always use a sense of humor and don't take yourself too seriously. Hipsters often get parodied - knowing how to laugh at the teasing really helps.
Step 6. Prepare for criticism
Being alternative means being made fun of, mocked because you often annoy others. You will have to get used to outrageous attitudes and to develop reruns that make you feel better.
- Often, they will insist that your sub-culture is "inferior to" anything else.
- Given the hipsters penchant for progressive politics, you're likely to meet the ire of conservatives, so it's a good idea to freshen up your repertoire of responses to these situations.
- As for those who criticize your sense of fashion, remind the so-called "trendy" crowd that their tattered and faded jeans are made by children held in bondage and that if they want to continue feeding on this crap, they can do it without you..
- Find the root of the problem. Many people will attack you because they are unsure of their place in society, because you have more ideas about what culture means while others cannot reconcile their lifestyle and preferences with culture. Show some compassion.
- Geeks have a strange relationship with hipsters. Some dodge them, others recognize the overlap of various cultures.
Advice
- No Crocs.
- Many hipsters are interested in "geek" subjects such as philosophy or film criticism. If you like them, talking about them in conversation will give you additional credits.
- Instead of going to Starbucks for coffee, go to a local coffee shop or make it yourself. Bring a thermos with you to keep it warm; if there's a sticker against genetic engineering on it, so much the better.
- It is common for an alternative person to play instruments and create a band to demonstrate a love for independent music. You don't need to be good, enthusiasm is enough.
- Go to different types of shows: concerts, dramas, opera, poetry reading, comedy etc. The more, the better.
- Always find an alternative when your favorite artists and items come out of the niche.
- Be patient with those habits you just quit and the new ones you are embracing. It won't take you more than a month or two to adopt that lifestyle.
- There is a rumor that hipsters don't live with their parents. Some leave, while others, while embracing this sub-culture, prefer to remain under the paternal roof.
- Do your hair yourself. The bowl is perfect for cutting. Flip it over your head and with a pair of scissors cut the strands that come out from below.
- No expensive cars. You shouldn't even have the car. It's a waste of gasoline and money, plus parking makes your brain haywire! A bicycle is better, especially a racing one. It has thin tires, a leather saddle and no front brakes. Even if you don't have it (but you drive the car), roll up your right trousers to give the impression that you have crossed the city without increasing the carbon emission in the atmosphere. Rolled up pant isn't complete without a carabiner full of keys. The more you look like someone who works as a delivery boy or janitor, the more alternative you will be.
- A simple and inexpensive way to achieve the all-in-one look is to take the lenses off your 3D cinema glasses. Put them on and go!
- Never watch MTV. Not good as a source of music. Instead, some trashy reality shows are great that are considered ironic.
- Don't listen to songs that don't have any vibes or depressing lyrics.
- Buy a Mac, Apple TV, and iPad. The iPod and iPhone are too cheap now so choose a Windows smartphone, preferably from a hispter brand like Huawei.
Warnings
- The purpose of being alternative is to look natural, if you can't, you're not trying hard enough. Just accept it.
- Sometimes, just sometimes, you can get frustrated because others don't understand what's so good about your choices in music, fashion and everything else. Forget it; to you, the things they like will never go down because we are all different.
- Try not to take yourself too seriously.
- This article shouldn't be taken seriously either, just consider it a set of guiding principles to adapt to your person. Alternatives pride themselves on their independence from the mainstream.
- Negativity can invade alternative culture, perhaps as a counter-reaction to the excessively optimistic, "anything is possible" attitude that pervades business and the consumer world today. However, negativity is not the answer: it is a reaction. Always try to find the right balance and inner peace instead of acting tired and overwhelmed. Yes, society is full of problems but being negative does not solve or change them, while a pragmatic and realistic approach can make the difference for a better world. Also remember that every generation is cursed with the thought of what things were like and how they could be better. We are time-bound and body-bound creatures, we need to recognize our limitations while doing our best. Continuously subtracting and criticizing society can lead to a paralytic-analytic lifestyle, in which complaining becomes a modus operandi while the status revolution is something you can't work on.
