GET THE LOOK / #hipster

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GET THE LOOK / #hipster

visit foldedpants.blogspot.com now 

Are You A #Hipster?

I have borderline love affair with being a hipster and a skater boy. I sort of love the idea of being young wild and free (for long), and these genres are pretty much catering to that perversion of mine. But now let’s see if am really worthy the name #HIPSTER. And, say, are you too?

Let me quote form two sources, Urban Dictionary and WikiHow...

Hipsters are a subculture of men and women typically in their 20's and 30's that value independent thinking, counter-culture, progressive politics, an appreciation of art and indie-rock, creativity, intelligence, and witty banter.

 Hipsters reject the culturally-ignorant attitudes of mainstream consumers, and are often be seen wearing vintage and thrift store inspired fashions, tight-fitting jeans, old-school sneakers, and sometimes thick rimmed glasses. Both hipster men and women sport similar androgynous hair styles that include combinations of messy shag cuts and asymmetric side-swept bangs. Such styles are often associated with the work of creative stylists at urban salons, and are usually too "edgy" for the culturally-sheltered mainstream consumer.

The "effortless cool" urban bohemian look of a hipster is exemplified in Urban Outfitters and American Apparel ads which cater towards the hipster demographic. Despite misconceptions based on their aesthetic tastes, hipsters tend to be well educated and often have liberal arts degrees, or degrees in maths and sciences, which also require certain creative analytical thinking abilities. Consequently many hipsters tend to have jobs in the music, art, and fashion industries. It is a myth that most hipsters are unemployed and live off of their parent's trust funds.

Hipsters shun mainstream societal conventions that apply to dating preferences and traditional "rules" of physical attraction. It is part of the hipster central dogma not to be influenced by mainstream advertising and media, which tends to only promote ethnocentric ideals of beauty. The concepts of androgyny and feminism have influenced hipster culture, where hipster men are often as thin as the women they date. The muscular and athletic all-American male ideal is not seen as attractive by confident and culturally-empowered hipster women who instead view them as symbols of male oppression, sexism, and misogyny. Likewise, culturally-vapid sorority-type girls with fake blond hair, overly tanned skin, and "Britney Spears tube-tops" are not seen as attractive by cultured hipster males who instead see them as symbols of female insecurity, low self-esteem, and lack of cultural intelligence and independent thinking.

Although hipsters are technically conformists within their own subculture, in comparison to the much larger mainstream mass, they are pioneers and leaders of the latest cultural trends and ideals. For example, the surge of jeans made to look old and worn (i.e. "distressed"), that have become prevalent at stores such as The Gap, American Eagle, Abercrombie and Fitch, and Hollister, were originally paraded by hipsters who shopped in thrift stores years before such clothing items were mass produced and sold to the mainstream consumer. The true irony here is that many of the detractors of hipster culture are in fact unknowingly following a path that hipsters have carved out years before them.

Hipsterism is often dismissed as just an image thing by some, but the culture as a whole is effecting changes in society, leading to feelings of insecurity and resentment in people who are no longer a part of the cultural ruling class. For example, a lot of anti-hipster sentiment evidently comes from culturally-clueless suburban frat boy types who feel that the more sensitive, intelligent, and culturally aware hipster ideal threatens their insecure sense of masculinity. Anti-hipster sentiment often comes from people who simply can't keep up with social change and are envious of those who can.

I am a #hipster. Are you?

bye summer. hello rain.

bye summer. 

hello rain.

***

though I have no power to bask in the sun anymore, 

the bright sunny days are really my favorite days of the year

now's the time again to put on some warmers and sip hot, hot soups

see you soon again summer

'til we meet again

***

brent tzu

follow me on my twitter account @pilyongBrentTzu

#OneStepAtATime

I have just discovered today that my Fashion and Style blog
ranks second, with the keyword pinoy men's fashion on Google.
Try 'pinoy mens fashion' - and my blog ranks 1st :) 

Am just really happy! Thanks you guys for the continued support!  

Help me though in increasing my page rank to 1 before this blog turns half a year old :) 

#OneStepAtATime

chillin'

Discover 

NOKIA ASHA and more about this LOOKBOOK post, here.

Beach Wear for Men // SUMMER 2013

want one? read here

on looking old

a blog post about gracefully aging

I had a good laugh early today.

I and my sister share a bathroom, and every single day for seven months now, we sort of annoy each other by spending quite lots of time in the bathroom. If I wake up early, she’d get a piece of my revenge by spending more-than-needed time doing my morning rituals.

But today she woke up earlier than I (since I watched GGV last night which featured Gab Valenciano, whom I have a post about, here). I spent my first half hour sipping coffee and thinking how long she’d brush her teeth before finally taking a bath. I was like a kid waiting for his turn for a coveted toy (and that my friend is annoying, hahha)

After her (was obviously my turn) I went inside the bathroom. And not long enough, she came knocking. My sister, who is about 40ish now, is looking for her dentures.  She spent a good couple of minutes ranting that I open the door but I am way sure it is not on the sink, or anywhere inside. So she went up stairs, to no avail. She even called our husky dog to check if Doppy might have had a unique breakfast, but again to no avail. Until she finally, remembered, I think, that she left it at the sink – at the kitchen. How, or why – I don’t have any freakin’ idea.

While she was about to go I kiddingly asked, Why? can’t you go to work without your teeth?

I’d look old, duh. –was her reply.

Funny how we get to associate looking old with loosing teeth (as if my sister haven’t yet, hahha) and with wrinkled skin. I have realized how we look at old age as something so unlovely, so unfortunate – as far as vanity is concerned.

But my man, isn’t old age a chance to celebrate the memories that comes along with wrinkled skin and lost teeth? There is just so much about old age, plus the fact that not everyone is given the chance to experience it, I just think looking old is not something to be fearful of.

I may have to wear dentures soon, but I would be proud to look old if only it means having a whole lot of memories to tell (like this one).