To think that describing someone as 'hipster'...

[ElleMcFearsome]

... Is not remotely as derogatory as describing them as 'chavvy'?

Had DHs long term friend and his wife over recently. A mutual friend asked how they were and I said words to the effect of 'oh X (male half of the couple) is utter bliss as ever. I adore him, he's so hipster!' She recoiled in horror and told me that I couldn't use 'hipster' to describe someone as it was as bad as saying someone is 'chavvy' (though, obviously with completely different meanings). FWIW it would never cross my mind to describe someone as 'chavvy' as for me it has unpleasant connotations.

X is in his 40s, I'm late 30s. X works in tech, is v stylish, wears clothing brands that will be fashionable in a years time, is a real muso, can talk for whole minutes about which coffee he prefers, is off beat and cool and adorable and good fun... which equates to hipster in my mind.

MN - am I using the word wrongly? Has 'hipster' acquired a derogatory meaning? Help!

[limitedperiodonly]

Years ago we used to go to an Essex nitespot where the DJ obviously had bigger dreams.

We used to invent the most ridiculous tracks on 12" Japanese import by completely made up bands and request them.

They were always on order or in his dad's garage.

Sometimes I catch this kingsize bell end's show and wonder if it was him.

[Shrugged]

Agree that saying someone is 'utter bliss' sounds wonderfully Mitford-ish. I hope you also describe people as 'too, too delightful, my dear'.

If I described someone as a hipster, I would secretly mean something along the lines of 'wanker with a Hoxton fin and tight, complicated trousers', though.

Even though I get my special coffee by mail order from London since I moved to the sticks...

[noddyholder]

God I say super a lot and bliss but then again don't give a toss what people think of me

[Quenelle]

I have read the whole thread and I still don't understand. Is Hipster an adjective now, not a noun?

Is it interchangeable with pretentious wanker? In our day we called them '...types'. It was very important to verbalise the '...'.

A muso is an actual musician, not someone who is just into music. DH is a muso. But not a hipster. Or a ...type. As far as I know anyway.

[ViviPru]

complicated trousers

[limitedperiodonly]

And the wonderful children aren't called Keith and Joyce, they're called Maud and George wink

Keith and Joyce are ripe for a comeback. Get ahead of the curve, people.

[littlewhitebag]

My DD who is at Glasgow uni describes people as hipster. It is a particular way of dressing from places like Urban Outfitters. Think Alexa Chung. It is not derogatory.

[squoosh]

Maud and George are so suburban! Keith and Joyce would definitely be hipster kids names.

[limitedperiodonly]

Think Alexa Chung. It is not derogatory.

I think I'll be the judge of that.

[mignonette]

It is both a noun and an adjective Quenelle. You can be a hipster or something can be described as hipster (ish).

Who remembers Stock Aitken & Waterman putting out 'Carwash' on a white label because nobody would play it with their real names on and loads of DJ's started prattling on about how they had discovered this 'obscure' label/musicians and inventing a whole back story about them? Hilarious.

Think Cliff did the same thing....But his still sounded Cliff like.

[limitedperiodonly]

Is that the 'Hey, roadblock' one?

I prefer a bit of Kylie and Jason meself

[mignonette]

Yes 'Roadblock' not Carwash. God I am definitely not hipster.

[Snoopingforsoup]

Isn't 'hipster' another term for 'wanker' or 'bell end'?

In a Nathan Barley sort of way?

That's how it's used around these parts.

[WilsonFrickett]

Uni hipsters are different from aged hipsters though. What is forgiveable on the slim hips of youth is not so much on the scooter-toting, red trouser wearing, bushy beard cultivating form of an actual grown-up man...

[Kinnane]

limitedperiodonly,"We used to describe an erm, individualistic, colleague as a wild-eyed rider on the road to oblivion."

[Kinnane]

sorry!!

limitedperiodonly,"We used to describe an erm, individualistic, colleague as a wild-eyed rider on the road to oblivion."

...made me laugh soooooo much

[BorderBinLiner]

This is one of my favourite sites where hipsters live

[WilsonFrickett]

Border

[LittleSporksBigSpork]

YANBU, hipster is not remotely in the same league as chav. Chav is always looking down upon and dehumanzing, hipster, even in the negative sense, is more poking fun at higher ups.

Hipsters as an insult is usually against someone who has more money than sense and takes great pride in appearing exclusive, knowledgeable, and in their own personal opinions even when it's a thin veneer and ignoring that they do not face the same consequences others do for the same choice. Such as hipster bindis were popular, stick on glitter versions, many went on about how spiritual they were and that they were honouring South Asian culture,completely ignoring that actual Desi girls and women who wear bindis often suffer a lot of harassment and abuse. Hipster jeans & glasses were made popular by that subset and some see it as a badge of honour, those using it as an insult are mainly poking fun at elites.

[limitedperiodonly]

Too, too divine border. I notice the pix are from a magazine called Dwell.

I wonder how much mileage there'd be in a men's style magazine called Pants?

[mignonette]

Yes to needless glasses wearing LIttle. As someone who detests wearing them and has no choice due to her eyes being damaged by contact lens caused corneal ulceration I hold a special place of contempt in my heart for those who sport them with perfect vision. what next? Wheelchairs, callipers, hearing aids as fashion accessories? Although I guess depicting those as cool as opposed to the usual disdain meted out to some people with disabilities.....Hmmmmm...Not sure where I stand on that one.

[mignonette]

Try the magazines 'Wallpaper' and 'Love' for hipster heaven.

[limitedperiodonly]

DH used to get Wallpaper. He didn't want to, honest, it's just the kind of magazine that would create a certain ambience for certain clients. And I think we all know the kind of people I'm talking about.

After he'd built up a decent collection for them to cream their panties over he cancelled his subscription.

What struck me as the most pretentious thing was that the prices used to be in random currencies - sterling, US dollars, Euros...

I don't know whether that was due to the state of utter bliss in the office or whether currency conversion was all a bit too much for the staff to work out.

[limitedperiodonly]

I failed to dodge our office hepcat one evening and had get on the tube with him wearing his sunglasses.

People were sniggering.