Hipsters (Portland, Gresham, Beaverton: credit, high school, college)

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It makes sense though what drives what is defined as a hispter. You have drastically changing subcultures that become mainstream as fast as some marketing person finds it to advertise their product in the hip new way. So you have to jump to new ones as each becomes mainstream, quicker then they used to, and since so many have been done it can be easy to find a new one by recycling the old when you have no originality. You have counter cultures before that had the angst to see a problem and start a movement, only to work so hard and do nothing...no reason to care about what you identify yourself with. Plus you have those who are support by their families so they can live in hip surroundings, change thier styles constantly (while still looking poor and authentic), and be part of the scene every night while working jobs so they don't seem to care that could in no way fund it.

It all boils down to the same thing, people doing what they want to feel good and be special in only the way all their friends are trying to be special in...but nothing outside their comfort zone.

[Andyp]

so i just thought id throw my definition in here for fun... first off being a PSU student, a good place to start off for people watching and hipsters in their natural state... go to the PSU campus... or even just hang around the park blocks for a while (that is if you don't mind being pestered by people from green peace or children international) here you will see hipsters walk by who you can almost smell before you even see them. the main things you are looking for about their clothing is A. does it look like hand me down clothing from a second hand store and even for that state, is it unkept? B: is it plaid to the point that it'd make a lumberjack blush... or C: does it just carry what some might consider clever otherwise stupid comment on their shirt? (something ironic or obtuse to the point of being an absurd statement...) an example might be someone having a spoon on their shirt and under it saying "cerial killer" most of the time, it'd be more offensive. another thing you are looking for is what they are carrying on them. for males some might have what is called a small satchel or "man-purse" while wearing a belt over their skin tight pants that would be large enough to be considered a chest plate with some rediculous engraving on it such as a car brand. for females, you for the most part will NEVER see a purse on them. however, the lack of a purse would be replaced by either; a canvas bag with their favorite independant company/organization/band/something they threw together in their printmaking class slapped on the side of it, one of those eco friendly re-usable bags supermarkets are selling, or even sometimes (my personal favorite) a fanny pack. Now with either sex of a hipster (tho sometimes its hard to tell) you will notice that they will never just be walking... rather they will always have something in their hands, talking/texting on the phone or carrying a cup of coffee from their favorite hippie cafe with a cig dangling between the fingers of the same hand. Now as far as facial/hair features, their hair will always be unkept and men will have anything from a five o clock shadow to a full grown beard and with both sexes, will have at least 2-3 piercings. now i could go on and on but here i will stop, there are so many other things i could touch on, but it'd be like describing what makes a geek a geek? we all have some charicteristic of a hipster, its just some are so afraid to have anything in common with the next person, they will go out of their way to stick out.

[eightiesfan]

Originally Posted by Andyp

we all have some charicteristic of a hipster, its just some are so afraid to have anything in common with the next person, they will go out of their way to stick out.

To the point that they all look exactly the same. I hear them diss on cookie cutter mainstream culture, but they are exactly what they claim to hate. Followers with 0 creativity. I'm glad I'm a generation ahead of them, where being different actually consisted of doing something creative and producing something different, art, music, etc. Oh well, I guess it's off to American Apparel.

[EnricoV]

While I've no doubt seen plenty of the people you've all been describing, I'm feeling happy at the moment that I'm oblivious enough of the names y'all apply to people to not have known who'd be declared a "hipster."

They're all just people to me, and I try to take them as they come, without assumptions or labels based on the way they look or dress.

[GooberPeety]

Originally Posted by EnricoV

While I've no doubt seen plenty of the people you've all been describing, I'm feeling happy at the moment that I'm oblivious enough of the names y'all apply to people to not have known who'd be declared a "hipster."

They're all just people to me, and I try to take them as they come, without assumptions or labels based on the way they look or dress.

Oh Puh-leeeeeez.........,

You are SUCH a saint.

[EnricoV]

Originally Posted by GooberPeety

Oh Puh-leeeeeez.........,

You are SUCH a saint.

Saint? No. Just experienced. And out of it.

But thanks for registering just to post that.

[Deezus]

The hipster style from the last few years is sort of mainstream at this point--I see teen pop stars and kids at the mall wearing ironic t-shirts, skinny jeans and assymetrical haircuts. I don't know what's hip anymore, young guys in Portland seem to be growing heavy Grizzly Adam beards a lot these days.

But the real truth about the people defined as hipsters in Portland is that many are just kids trying to fit into a certain fashion sense that's cool in their little subcultures. Yeah there's some pretentious transplants who fit the negative stereotypes, and there are some who are still living off their parents or have a trust fund to support their lifestyle. But there's a lot of people who have a certain hip look, who are in actuality fairly intelligent and cool people.

Every subculture has it's own uniform --go to a country, rap, or heavy metal concert and you'll see a whole lot of people dressing alike. Which is the same with hip indie rock fans.

Who's a hipster is really a matter of perspective--many people who others would judge to be "hipsters" based on their outward appearance, are quick to express their dislike of everything "hipster". So all the hipster talk in Portland is kind of funny..

[GB1]

Portland doesn't have any hipsters. Just ask any hipster you see!

[Deezus]

Originally Posted by GB1

Portland doesn't have any hipsters. Just ask any hipster you see!

And Gresham doesn't have any rednecks! Just ask anyone driving a pickup truck and listening to Toby Keith! LOL

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I just think "subculture" groups themselves are very ironic, especially to express individuality.

I just get a chuckle sometimes when new fashion and philosophy is lifted as some new enlightenment on the human condition, which is somehow better because it's new (or different combination of the old). Then you see the people who most want something to break away from what their parents believe and build their own identities pick it up like a flag. For many it's just a pantomime of believing since they choose to be excluded from one group, they must be part of another to feel belonging. Even then, once you get out of the hard core starters it becomes just another marketed group...like hating the Abercrombie & Fitch crowd so some one dresses in fashions from Hot Topic (Goth), Pacific Sun (Surfer), or Vans (Slacker/Skateboarder).

I just think psychology and motivations are interesting. People can do what makes them happy, everyone's different. Just thinking about it this way makes it funny when you see people mocking each other for "following the heard" when they are with a group dressed and acting the same way as them. It changes each day as fads come and go, I've lived through who knows how many, each doing the same thing in the end of people trying to fit themselves in the world as each thing might be the real change they are looking for to be happy.