May 2017

Hipsters – the modern equivalent to the ‘Beatniks’ from the 1950s. Understood for their rejection of mainstream culture and somewhat alternative clothing options Hipster’s gradually ended up being a more popular subculture, despite their desire for self-reliance and desire for individuality.

So, if you think you’re a hipster and want to dress the part, or have an party to go to and wish to impress your colleagues by coming ‘as yourself’ keep reading, or even just want to fit in at a hipster all day breakfast cafe in the inner Melbourne suburbs, below are some suggestions on how to dress like a Hipster.

Think vintage

Believe in the old, think about your grandparent’s wardrobe. Specifically if they haven’t bought anything new in a few decades and it’s all still in good-nick, this is the kind of stuff you need to be wearing. Do not simply stop at their clothing though, get their hats, scarves and gloves too– mix with modern-day pieces like skinny jeans and army boot.

The traditional vintage hat is of course the Trilby, if you can’t beg, steal and obtain nab this Poizon Industries Street Hat by The Witch and the Wardrobe and keep your face secured from the sun.

Slim denims

Tight distressed denims are the trademark of the hipster. They emphasize the slimness that is their personification of avoiding the social standard of consuming food that takes valuable time away from their quest to discover the ultimate indie music band, which of course didn’t happen unless they post a photo with a moody filter on Instagram; it’s all about the digital strategy. (Please keep in mind, hipsters do eat– do not stop consuming food to be a hipster).

Team it up with a charming tee, sleeveless vest and oversized glasses, the perfect summer season hipster outfit.

‘Traditional’ sneakers

Have some Converse or Doc Martins in the back of your closet gathering dust? Fantastic! Dust them off and let them see the light of day once again, these are crucial hipster accessories.

Thick-rimmed glasses

Need glasses? Use this to your advantage; jump up and down on your current set and get a new couple with thick rims. If you don’t need glasses, purchase a sunglass equivalent, or source a set without glass, you’ll fit right in at those Hawthorn lunch cafes.

Ironic clothes

Due to the fact that it can in some cases be difficult to find classic vintage clothes, Hipsters prefer to mix it up, so do not hesitate to use contemporary clothing. You can still be a hipster, it’s ok. The key is to use it ironically– and you can take this as you like. A traditional is a hoodie over plaid t-shirts or a sports jacket over a print t-shirt.

Jewellery

Believe in statement jewellery, however ‘not in your face’. Long necklaces, preferable with layered chains and a stand out pendant. Cute earrings, which can be dangly and subtle facial piercings, like nose studs or a slim eyebrow ring. This option is good for both males and females, though the majority of hipster males don’t have the tendency to get facial piercings.

‘Traditional’ devices

Get back into those lunchboxes and granny knit scarves, warm fingerless gloves, and a floppy hat. They ought to be practical as well as look cool. Not like the fishnet gloves that punk and Goths use, gloves and scarves are just worn when cold. It’s about functionality, not making a statement (though it’s ok if you do).

Don’t keep your lunchbox in your bag, this needs to have the ability to be seen, and if you work at a desk doing something like content writing, put it somewhere noticeable so the whole workplace can see it, and in a cool, content writing job, your colleagues will be up with the trends and be sure to appreciate it.

Tech gadgetry

While hipsters want to eschew consumerism, they do still like their tech, so they will likely have the latest phone and laptop innovation, all the while regretting the loss of the typewriter as a legitimate typing instrument.

‘Messenger Bags’

Hipsters need something to bring all their bits and pieces in, just like everyone else. The bag of to go for is a courier/messenger/satchel design bag, ideally vintage and leather, but anything you like is cool. If it has separate compartments for your laptop/iPhone/etc even better, just sling it over your shoulder and you are ready to go.

Being a hipster is more about a mindset than exactly what you wear, though the clothes and crucial style pieces from will most certainly help your cause. If you ever require more motivation think indie, art, alternative, innovative, sub-culture, bohemian and androgynous and you are sure to find something suitably hipster.

Fashion is ever-changing, what was once cool can be “so last season” in the blink of an eye. We live in a society where clothing with holes in them is costly, considered high fashion in some locations and raggedy in others. At this point in time, rappers are attempting their best to look like rock stars thanks to the likes of A$AP Rocky, Ian Connor and Kanye West. Gone are the days of basketball jerseys and baggy denims. One new trend that is questionable is these brand-new denims with the tread marks around the knees. There are just too much different styles to try to stay up to date with. In the wake of these new and weird style trends, people are turning to their own style, comfort.

The Origins:

When we were younger, the fashion was definitely different and now frowned upon. We all had closets filled with basketball shorts, striped shirts, plaid shorts and one set of blue jeans. Looking back, it was a bad decision but fashion trends come and go and at the time wearing a Chicago Bull’s singlet with a pair of Kappa trackies was all the rage. If you were going to something fancy like a restaurant and winery it was a shirt with some awful pattern, blue jeans and sneakers, trendy. Double denim, matching colours, fishnets, studs and chokers were all considered cool in the nineties as well. Most of this has changed, but some styles are coming back like denim and chokers.

People say the way you dress says a lot about who you are as a person. If that’s true, then what does wearing jeans with tyre marks say about you? Comfort is the way to go, don’t we all want people to feel comfortable around us and not focus on what we are wearing and how much better other people look. The saying is true that the grass always seems greener on the other side, but have you been to the other side? Have you spent $400 on ripped, tyre marked jeans, how do you feel? Does it change you? Following trends like that doesn’t mean anything in the scheme of life so maybe following high fashion styles isn’t the answer. Being comfortable can be a full-time commitment and will leave you feeling pleased with yourself and able to enjoy life, instead of itching to get home to rip off those uncomfortable jeans or get those heels off.

Comfort is a way of life that focuses on convenience over style. Yeah, we can dress up from time to time, however doing that every day takes too much time and coordination. The idea is to still look good, but with comfortable clothes.

The most common misconception with the comfort style is that people believe it’s synonymous with being a scrub. Scrubs and comfort are polar opposites; think about it like the southernmost buoy in the Key West. As the name suggests, it is the southernmost point in the U.S. and is about 90 miles away from Cuba. You can hardly see it from there. It’s the closest area to Cuba and the farthest point in the continental U.S. That’s exactly what being comfortable is like, the farthest point from being considered stylish and the closest point to scrubbiness without straddling the borderline.

There are different designs and looks of comfort however they all share a sound judgment of not caring for fashion. If you don’t know whether you’re relaxing or not, here’s a list of things that are comfy for you to use as a recommendation:

– Sweaters.

– Loose fitting Joggers.

– Hoodies.

– Bottoms with strings instead of belt loops.

– Sweatpants.

– Sweet potato pie.

– Warm pecan pie.

– Soul food.

– Marvin Gaye.

– Sitting slump in chairs.

– Sipping a glass of Yarra Valley wine on the couch

– Cornbread.

– T-shirts with TV and Movie quotes on them.

– School apparel that you are comfortable resting in.

– Using athletic or basketball apparel without any intent to take part in exercise.

Remember that it’s a way of living that isn’t really specific to a particular style. Whether you’re dressing for specifically for comfort or not, do what’s best for you. Discover yourself with your appearance and be respectful of the differences of others. For some grown grownups, comfy can be  a Ash Ketchum hat, whatever it is, make sure you are doing you.