Trademark Apparel

Pictured above is clothing advertised by American Apparel. The picture is made to look very natural as though the model is in a "party scene" even holding a beer in her hand.

Fashion will ulimately range for Hipsters from season to season, to keep up with their hip appeal, but there are certain stores now that sell their vintage and funky looks, looks that appear to be thrift-store material, without the "used" factor. American Apparel has become a trademark of the hipster culture, and is the face of the vintage, retro, innovative appeal. Even more interesting is that American Apparel actually now has parts of their website dedicated to the culture of a hipster, without blantantly saying it. A section entitled, "Urban Experiences" which reflects artistic pictures of the urban underground. Pictures that range from scenes along a highway to pictures taken within Las Vegas and random parks. Even the models on their site are average people, almost always looking as though they are depicted in youth party scenes. Another section "Deep Thoughts" depicts short films, that reflect the hipsters interest in independent film. Furthermore the company reflects politics as they openly stand for "Legalizing LA" a movement for immigration. The company essentially mimics the same attitudes as the hipster culture, and in return the hipster culture has openly accepted them as the poster child for their fashion (or perhaps it is the other way around). To get a sense of the company's methodical advertising techniques visit http://www.americanapparel.net/gallery/investors/qt.html .

Hipster Olympics: Stereotypes of the hipster

Pictured above, clip from youtube video depicting which hipster can find the most "ironic tee-shirt" the quickest. It overemphasizes the hipster cultures tendency to shop in thrift stores.

Click on the first youtube depiction on the right called "Hipster Olympics". This youtube further emphasizes the stereotypes of the "hipster" depicting them as "coffee/nicotine addicted, ironic vintage shirt wearing, over-artsy" individuals. This youtube acts as a humorous addition to poke fun of the hipster culture. This video only further emphasizes overgeneralizations and assumptions about the culture. It may be ideal to read all the blog posts to understand the hipster culture before reviewing this "overgeneralized" video. Please be aware that the stereotypes/humor could be viewed as offensive.

Iconic hangouts

Female hipster lays down her bike to sit down and enjoy the music.

Drummer from band Japanthar, who initiated the party.

Crowd of Hipsters on Williamsburg Bridge, a bridge that connects Manhattan and Brooklyn.

Williamsburg Brooklyn is noted as a popular location where hipsters either reside or enjoy visiting.  The pictures represented in this blog post are actual images from a party that a hipster band known as Japanthar played a music show on the bridge.  Hipsters attended the party on the Williamsburg bridge.  It is obvious that Japathar's decision to play on the bridge is to emphasize the iconography that the bridge has for the Hipster culture.  Furthermore the bridge acts as symbolism the hipster cultures from their most popular locations.  For example, the Bridge actually connects downtown East Village with Williamsburg.  It became a clear celebration of their artistic, trendy, independent culture.  

Hating on the Hipster, Oh the Irony

Pictured above, flyer for a club in area of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, flyer explicated below.

It appears that the hipster community often gets a bad reputation, and is often openly disliked. Their culture creates stereotypes and vicariously prejudice. There is even a website devoted as a "Place to laugh at Hipsters" known as www.diehipster.com, in which people constantly poke fun of the hipster culture. Reviewing the urbandictionary.com's hipster definition archive reveals clear over assumptions with such labels, as "maybe gay" "complains" and "probably living off parent's money". These entitlements are unjust overgeneralizations and near impossible to pin any truth behind them. Interestingly enough all of these phrases are listed in urbandictionary's top voted "Hipster" definition. For those who do not know, urban dictionary is a archive of defined popular terms about today's urban and suburban youth by but not limited to today's urban and suburban youth. Even the website has a disclaimer that some of the information could be offensive to users and further promotes the site only for people above age thirteen. Nonetheless, researching what it means to be a hipster through various sites, it proves that some of the explanations mentioned on urbandictionary do seem to have some factual understanding toward the hipster culture but likewise strengthen the non-factual information as well. Take for example the beer Pabst Blue Ribbon, urban dictionary states that Hipster's drink this beer, and this bears similarities across the board. Pabst Blue Ribbon beer has become almost a icon of the Hipster culture. Interestingly enough in the picture above which is a flyer for a dance party in which they are openly discriminating against hipsters, Pabst Blue Ribbon beer is crossed out in the corner. Going onto the Free Williamsburg Website there is a further description about the party in which it states, "The dress code? No tight pants, ironic t-shirts, or "Plad" (it's ok, hipsters can't spell either). No dirty sneakers, shoes, ungroomed beards, and the number one rule: YOU MUST HAVE GOTTEN A HAIRCUT IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS. Well, shit. There goes the neighborhood." At first glance the information seems offensive claiming that hipster's are also illiterate but then the irony is revealed... "Zeps, of the Point Dot Period crew, is throwing a "No Hipsters Allowed" dance party, tomorrow night, with a lot of music by DJ Johnny Mambo. But here's the thing....they're hosting a Street Fighter 2 tournament on the big projector screen at Public Assembly (70 N. 6th Street between Kent and Wythe streets in Williamsburg, Brooklyn)!!!! WTF? So this is an invasion invitation to everybody out there with tight pants and a taste for the irony." The location of the dance party is in Williamsburg Brooklyn which is deemed a popular area that hipsters live, and the flyer acknowledges this. It appears this flyer is pure satire by the hipster community. Playing on the stereotypes about their culture and even agreeing with some of them. It reveals the type of clothes they wear which are for the most part the trends of today with an additional bohemian vintage touch. The most interesting part about the Hipster culture is that stereotypes seem to be a fine line between reality and overgeneralization. The hipster culture acknowledges the irony of their culture which is greatly based on "what is deemed cool by the cool" notes www.hipsterhandbook.com. It is also further revealed in such articles by New York Times, "Will The Last Hipster Please Turn out the Lights? New York cool dies its thousandth death. A Satire" which opens up the ideas of cool by cool, and the the hipsters that have decided to move on from New York City, because it just isn't hip enough for them anymore.

Visit http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=hipster to view the most voted definition of "hipster" mentioned in this article, feel free to browse through the other definitions as well.

Lingo: In the know with language

Above is a picture from www.handbook.com where a hipster female is giving a hipster male "The frigidaire".

The hipster crowd  prides themselves in using their own language and communication with one another.  www.hipsterhandbook.com  provides a glossary of terms used by the hipster crowed.  Reinforcing the concept of "hip" and "cool" it is important for the hipster crowd to be up to date on their language as well as attire.  Certain words even provide nonverbal action for example giving the physical action of a cold shoulder is known as "The frigidaire" in the hipster community.  Certain words even reflect the areas that many hipsters grow up in.  In New York City the downtown area is considered a "hipster" scene, where many hipsters either live or travel through.  It is interesting to note that a hipster uses the word "midtown" to express a lack of culture and hipness.  The bash on midtown, expresses the hipster's feeling about that particular area in comparison to their downtown realm.  They also have multiple words meaning beer such as "bronson" or "jug".  This seems to mimic their values of attending party scenes within their culture.

The Definition.

Urban dictionary.com has over 121 posts for the definition of hipster.  Nearly all the posts deem hipster as "cooler than cool" "artsy" and "complicated".  The theme of hipster as a means of self expression also remains prominent with claims that they dye their hair often, shop at vintage/thrift stores, and have high interest in books, film, music, art, and photography.  Almost all definitions also claim the age group of hipsters is mid twenties.  There also appears to be political undertones to "hipster" as they are also considered a subculture which values independent thought, counter culture and progressive politics.  "Hipster" appears not just a way of life, but a movement.

Origins of the Hipster

Pictured above, Hipsters atop brownstone roofs in Brooklyn

Surprisingly, not much information is known about where "hipster" originated.  During the 1940's the term hipster actually derived from the word "hip" and it often depicted people involved in jazz, which was a trendy musical culture at the time.  The term from 1990’s to present is used to describe middle class youth involved in alternative cultures, which includes independent film, art, and alternative music such as rock, hip hop, punk.  Popular hobbies and living styles amongst the hipster culture include politics, eating organics, vegetarianism or veganism, thrift store shopping, riding fix gear bikes (as many hipsters reside in urban areas).  They often live amongst other generations of bohemian or “counter culture” artists and thinkers in urban neighborhoods.  According to The New York Time's article entitled, "Will the last Hipster Please Turn out the lights?" Hipster's inhabit downtown Manhattan and Brooklyn particularly the section of Williamsburg, which is known for their hipster culture.