No one would have ever thought a slang term for opium in the 1940’s would describe a lifestyle in the 2000s. What seems to have emerged out of nowhere is the inevitable hipster culture. The ironic thing about hipsters is they were initially middle-class young white people imitating the lifestyle of jazz musicians. They were all about the music, but they would soon become passionless and detached.

Hipsters have basically become the next phase in Generation Y, from emo to scenesters to hipsters, this stage is unavoidable. While emo has basically come to an end, some teens find themselves stuck in this awkward stage trying to move on to the current trend, which makes the phrase, “everyone’s a follower,” indeed, correct. You’ve never seen a hipster? Wrong. Even in the most boring of boring towns, this subculture has been seen all over the US. from Oklahoma to California.

Hipsters have been labeled for their “thriftiness,” which basically means wearing your grandma’s old dress from the 60’s and apparently being vintage. However, brand giants like American Apparel, who make clothes targeted to hipsters at a hefty price is a basic contradiction of the hipster culture. Thousands of characteristics can define the true hipster. While you can spot Mac users in your local Starbucks listening to yeah, you guessed it, Bright Eyes; you’ve found one, the hipster population is steadily increasing.

While hipsters are said to neglect the ideas of other subcultures and views, they will acknowledge opinions secretively, a rule in the imaginary hipster book that shouldn’t be broken. Today’s band of ever so loyal followers listen to Indie music, shop at Urban Outfitters and think their veganism is going to change the world.