Hippie vs Hipster: Difference and Comparison

Lifestyles are a number of kinds. People across the globe follow and live according to lifestyles that please them. Two of the most renowned lifestyles are the lifestyle of a hippy and the lifestyle of a hipster.

Both lifestyles are very different and unique from each other. They follow a very different dressing style, ethics, morals, and values.

Key Takeaways

  1. Hippies emerged in the 1960s as a countercultural movement promoting peace, love, and personal freedom, while hipsters appeared in the 21st century as a subculture embracing independent thought and alternative lifestyles.
  2. Hippies advocated social change and rejected materialism, whereas hipsters emphasized individualism, aesthetics, and irony.
  3. Both subcultures share an affinity for non-mainstream fashion, music, and art but differ in historical context, values, and motivations.

Hippie vs Hipster

Hippies emerged in the 1960s as a counterculture movement that rejected the mainstream values and social norms of the time. They were known for their embrace of peace, love and harmony. Hipsters emerged in the 2000s as a subculture that rejected mainstream culture and embraced a more alternative lifestyle. They are known for their love of indie music, vintage clothing, and artisanal goods. 

Hippie vs Hipster

A hippie is a term that is used for young people who don’t follow the latest norms and trends.

Their dresses, lifestyle, behavior, and other habits are very different from the lifestyle, dresses, behavior, and habits of the people that follow the new and latest trends. These people are also known as “hippy”.

A hipster is a term to describe a person who stays in touch or in contact with the latest fashion and styles. These people are easily influenced by new thinking and independent speech.

They are great lovers and supporters of music (majorly or mostly indie-rock), art, and a number of dance forms.

Comparison Table

Parameters Of ComparisonHippieHipster
SignificanceA hippie refers to someone who believes in non-violence and doesn’t follow modern ethics.A hipster refers to someone who believes in freedom and follows all modern trends.
Music TasteHippies mainly listen to psychedelic rock music.Hipsters mainly listen to indie music.
Drug ConsumptionThere is high consumption of drugs amongst the hippies.There is not much of a high drug consumption amongst the hipsters.
BeliefHippies believe in spreading love and avoiding violence.Hipsters believe in the freedom of speech, thought, art, and, creativity.
OriginIt originated during the Jive era in the 1930s and ’40s by the African Americans.It originated in the1940’s by a few famous jazz musicians.

What is Hippie?

Hippie is also referred to as hippy. This lifestyle initially originated in the United Kingdom and slowly spread to the United States. It originated between the 1930s and 1940s.

During the 1960s the lifestyle and values of hippies started spreading to a number of countries.

Hippies are also called “flower children” because they spread love and preach non-violence. The people of this community promoted a quote saying “Make love, not war”.

They promoted love, patience, tolerance, and openness which was lacking in the world.

The hippie community promoted the consumption and usage of hallucinogenic drugs like LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) and marijuana.

They conduct head-trips in order to promote the usage of drugs for enhancing one’s consciousness. The hippie culture and community have always been huge fans of folk and psychedelic rock music.

The people of this community have long reddish or brownish hair and dress in a very unusual dressing style. They have unique beliefs, sayings, thinking, ethics, and thoughts. They are quite bent towards spiritual and psychedelic ideologies.

Marijuana and other drugs were very famous amongst the hippy community. They used to use different methods/ ways to hide the smell of marijuana from them.

One of the ways to hide the smell of the drug was by applying strong-scented patchouli oil on themselves.

hippie

What is Hipster?

Hipsters live a modern life and believe in freedom and independence. They originated in the 1940s and were introduced by a few jazz musicians or jazz band members.

The people of the hipster community or lifestyle majorly listen to Indian music. The hipster community has a very unique and famous dressing or fashion style. Their dressing and costume style consists of:

  • Skinny jeans
  • Vintage cloths
  • Alternative fashions
  • Checked shirts
  • Knit beanies
  • Thick rimmed lenses
  • Lensless glasses

Hipsters have a quite popular lifestyle which is followed by a number of millennials in the southwest. Young people (who are mainly in their 20’s and 30’s) follow the ethics, morals, values, and beliefs of hipsters.

Hipsters don’t consume drugs or promote the consumption of drugs.

Hipsters believe in independence and freedom of thought, beliefs, ideologies, and expressions. They are great supporters and believers of art and creativity.

The hipster community also believes in uniqueness, non-conformity, and independence. The people of this lifestyle knew what was cool and fun long before people of other communities knew.

Hipsters celebrate a number of festivals. Some of the famous festivals celebrated by the hipster are:

  • Field Day, London
  • Hipster Cup, Berlin
  • Austin City Limits, Texas
  • Lollapalooza, Berlin
  • Pitchfork Festival, Chicago/ Paris
hipster

Main Differences Between Hippie and Hipster

  1. Hippies don’t dress according to the latest fashion trends whereas, hipsters follow all the latest trends of the present fashion environment.
  2. Hippies initially originated in the 1930s and 40s while on the other hand, hipsters initially originated in the 1940s.
  3. A few African Americans gave rise to the term “hippies” whereas a few popular jazz musicians gave rise to the term “hipsters”.
  4. Hippies are hardcore rock music fans while on the other hand, hipsters listen to indie music.
  5. LSD and marijuana are consumed by hippies while on the other hand, hipsters don’t consume any sort of drug.
Difference Between Hippie and Hipster
References
  1. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/000271626938200106
  2. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-10590-1_31

Last Updated : 13 July, 2023

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8 thoughts on “Hippie vs Hipster: Difference and Comparison”

  1. This article fails to acknowledge the importance of the counter-cultural movements in shaping contemporary societal values. Quite disappointing.

    Reply
  2. I have always been curious about this topic. This article provided a comprehensive view of the two lifestyles. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • The historical context offered in the comparison table really adds depth to the content. Well-researched and thought-provoking piece.

      Reply
    • Indeed, this was an illuminating article. It is intriguing to learn about the fundamental differences between the hippy and the hipster movements.

      Reply

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