If you’re ready to commit to spending large amounts of time at coffee shops, in or around vintage stores, drinking cheap cans of lager, and chain smoking self-rolled fags, you’re ready to dive in to the a foray with fauxhemian life. So with a subtle hint of irony, I proudly present the hipster handbook for beginners.

Fashion
There’s nothing saying you need to go as far as wearing purple ladies boots, but a foray into skin tight jeans is a necessity. As noted above, a large amount of your time should be spent scouring second-hand shops for hard to find ironic t-shirts and vintage flannel shirts. Just don’t get caught dead in a Keffiyeh. So 2008. Cycling caps, however, are still in. 

If the thought of wearing people’s give away clothing seems appalling to you, there are plenty of pseudo vintage chain stores, such as Urban Outfitters, available. No matter where you pick up your threads, a pair of Buddy Holly style eye glasses always adds to your credentials. Growing ironic facial hair and pairing it with a dodgy haircut also never hurt anyone.

Technology
Living in a digital world is a difficult thing for all of us lost in an analog daydream. Sure you could invest in a brand new 14 megapixel digital camera, but there’s no need to do so when you can create much more “artistic” photos using a simple Polaroid camera. This rule of using obsolete technology for artistic purposes doesn’t apply to Apple products, whose use is, in fact, encouraged.

Transportation
Lightweight bikes offer great performance benefits, and one way to reduce weight is to cut your breaks. No, I mean it, remove them entirely. In a busy city, there really is no need for hand breaks or gears. Although using public transport is defensible, the only truly acceptable form of transportation is a fixed gear bicycle.

Did you know?
The term “hipster” first appeared in the 1940s. It was used to describe young people who took an affinity to the Jazz music scene of the time.

-Thomas

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