Being a hipster in SL (Part One) Lacy Muircastle reporting ....

Hipsters are people who enjoy clothing, music, food and activities outside of the social mainstream. If you want to embrace a hipster lifestyle of independent music, vintage clothes, and artisanal coffee in Second Life read on.

For those of you who are not aware what hipsters are, they 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.

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 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 mainstream 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 misogny. 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.

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. 

Dress like a hipster. Fashion is just as important as your taste in music. While shopping at vintage stores remains a staple for many hipsters, this is not a given, nor does it need to be a part of the hipster wardrobe.

You want to support obscure designers as it is "totally deck".

Wear skinny jeans. These can be for anyone of any gender identity. Hipster men tend to be as skinny as the women.

Note that guy hipsters actually probably wear skinny jeans more than the girls (girls prefer leggings).

Meli Imako

Mens Skinny Jeans

Alternatively, for women, high-waisted pants (a.k.a. "mom jeans") may also be worn.

EARTH MART
Sold by: EARTHamrosha

Wear glasses. Hipsters love ironic eyewear such as shutter shades, oversized plastic framed glasses, Buddy Holly glasses, and most commonly authentic Ray Ban Wayfarers in all the colours of the rainbow.

Mad Mesh
Sold by: Domsson Lean

 Wear ironic tops. For tops, the following are good picks: band shirts such as Pink Floyd, Metallica, Van Halen, etc., plaid shirts, cowboy shirts, flannels, and anything in gingham, plaid, checks, paisley, vintage florals.

zephyru Zapedzki – Metallica T

Mesh Head - Mesh Fashion Design - Plaid

Sold by: FrancescoCarrera

Many hipsters sport tops with appliques, images of animals or forests, other images, characters from children's TV, and ironic sayings or even book covers.

Fitted hoodies are perfect, too.

WOLF & I

Sold by: Smash Drezelan

Dress vintage. Dresses are good for women, preferably vintage floral or lace. Granny's closet is definitely a good source; however, you should know how to sew and restyle vintage clothing to fit you.

*ICING

Sold by: Miko Omegamu

Find suitable footwear. Hipster shoes include cowboy boots, combat boots, vintage shoes, unusual shoes, and a range of flats.

Converse are no longer hipster. They look great and you can wear them pretty much anywhere, but since everyone wears them, they aren't hipster. If it's trainers you're after, see Classic Reebok.

For girls, heels should be at least 5 inches in height, and ankle booties are popular too. Cute sandals, Keds, boots, and granny boots are not only more practical but also show how little effort you've put in.

Maitreya

Sold by Onyx LeShelle

Part two to follow .....