Hipsters Then And Now … All That Jazz

The term “Hipster” originated in the 1940s and was used to describe jazz aficionados.  Hipsters or “Hepcats” as they were sometimes called, adopted the lifestyle of jazz musicians, including copying clothing, slang, the use of marijuana and other drugs, a relaxed attitude,sarcastic sense of humor, sometimes self-imposed poverty and relaxed sexual codes.

The hipster subculture of the 1990s until today typically consists of white millennials living in urban areas.  The subculture has been described as a “mutating, trans-Atlantic melting pot of styles, tastes and behavior”  and is broadly associated with indie and alternative music, a varied non-mainstream fashion sensibility (including vintage and thrift store-bought clothes), generally progressive political views, organic and artisanal foods, and alternative lifestyles. Hipsters are typically described as affluent or middle class young Bohemians who reside in gentrifying neighborhoods