Ask Difference

Hippie vs. Hipster — What's the Difference?

By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 20, 2023
Hippie refers to a member of the counterculture movement of the 1960s, emphasizing peace, love, and harmony. Hipster is a term for individuals, often urban, who embrace alternative culture, fashion, and progressive politics.
Hippie vs. Hipster — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Hippie and Hipster

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Key Differences

Hippie culture emerged primarily in the 1960s as a counterculture movement opposing mainstream values and promoting peace, love, and communal living. On the other hand, Hipsters are a subculture that came into prominence more recently, focusing on the love for indie music, alternative fashion, and niche interests.
While Hippies were generally anti-establishment, advocating for social equality and often protesting against war and societal norms, Hipsters tend to focus more on aesthetics and are not as politically active. The former is often associated with the anti-war and civil rights movements, whereas the latter's political activism is usually more subtle and personal.
The fashion sense of Hippies and Hipsters is also notably different. Hippies favor loose, flowy garments, often with flower patterns or psychedelic prints. In contrast, Hipsters prefer a more tailored look, opting for vintage clothes, skinny jeans, and ironic or statement t-shirts.
Another key difference is the perspective towards technology. Hippies generally eschewed modern technology for a more 'back-to-nature' approach. Hipsters, however, often embrace technology, especially if it aligns with their aesthetic or ethical sensibilities, such as vinyl records or eco-friendly gadgets.

Comparison Chart

Origin

1960s
Early 2000s
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Political Activism

High, anti-war, civil rights
Lower, more individual

Fashion

Loose, flowy
Vintage, tailored

Attitude to Technology

Generally avoid
Embrace selectively

Cultural Focus

Peace, love, community
Indie music, alternative culture

Compare with Definitions

Hippie

A member of the 1960s counterculture.
The Hippie attended the Woodstock festival.

Hipster

A fan of artisanal and niche products.
The Hipster drank single-origin coffee.

Hippie

Advocate for peace and love.
The Hippie protested against the Vietnam War.

Hipster

A person who embraces retro technology.
The Hipster listened to vinyl records.

Hippie

A person who favors communal living.
The Hippie lived in a commune in the countryside.

Hipster

A lover of alternative fashion.
The Hipster wore a vintage flannel shirt.

Hippie

A nonconformist.
The Hippie rejected mainstream societal norms.

Hipster

A subcultural trendsetter.
The Hipster frequented a speakeasy-style bar.

Hippie

A person into psychedelic culture.
The Hippie listened to psychedelic rock music.

Hipster

A person who follows the latest trends and fashions, especially those regarded as being outside the cultural mainstream.

Hippie

A hippie, also spelled as hippy, is a member of the counterculture of the 1960s, originally a youth movement that began in the United States during the mid-1960s and spread to other countries around the world. The word hippie came from hipster and was used to describe beatniks who moved into New York City's Greenwich Village, San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district, and Chicago's Old Town community.

Hipster

Trousers cut to fit and fasten at the hips.

Hippie

A member of a counterculture originating in the United States in the 1960s, typically characterized by unconventional dress and behavior, communal or transient lifestyles, opposition to war, and liberal attitudes toward sexuality and the use of marijuana and psychedelic drugs.

Hipster

(of a garment) cut to fit and fasten at the hips rather than the waist.

Hippie

(1950s slang) A teenager who imitated the beatniks.

Hipster

A young, usually urban bohemian who cultivates an ironic sensibility.

Hippie

(1960s slang; still widely used in reference to that era) One who chooses not to conform to prevailing social norms: especially one who subscribes to values or actions such as acceptance or self-practice of recreational drug use, liberal or radical sexual mores, advocacy of communal living, strong pacifism or anti-war sentiment, etc.

Hipster

A person who is keenly interested in the latest trends or fashions.

Hippie

(modern slang) A person who keeps an unkempt or sloppy appearance and has unusually long hair (for males), and is thus often stereotyped as a deadbeat.

Hipster

A member of Bohemian counterculture.

Hippie

Someone who dresses in a hippie style.

Hipster

An aficionado of jazz who considers himself or herself to be hip.

Hippie

One who is hip.

Hipster

A person who wears a hip flask (of alcohol).

Hippie

Of or pertaining to hippies.
That dress looks very hippie.

Hipster

A dancer, particularly a female one.

Hippie

Not conforming to generally accepted standards.
They used a bunch of hippie compression formats instead of the usual RAR and ZIP.

Hipster

Underwear with an elastic waistband at hip level.

Hippie

Someone who rejects the established culture, dresses casually, and advocates extreme liberalism in politics and lifestyle. Used especially of those in the late 1960's, mostly in their late teens and early twenties, who conspicuously rejected traditional culture by dressing casually, if male wore their hair long, and wore folksy or used clothing adorned with beads, headbands, and often flowers; they emphasized the importance of love and direct personal relations rather than success-oriented businesslike behavior, strove for spontaneity, sometimes lived communally, and in some cases tried to expand their consciousness by various psychological techniques such as meditation, or through the use of consciousness-altering drugs such as marijuana or LSD. By the end of the Vietnam war in the 1970's, the numbers of people living a visibly hippie lifestyle had dramatically decreased, though some people continue to develop similar views and live with the same outlook.

Hipster

To behave like a hipster.

Hippie

Someone who rejects the established culture; advocates extreme liberalism in politics and lifestyle

Hipster

To dress or decorate in a hip fashion.

Hipster

Someone who rejects the established culture; advocates extreme liberalism in politics and lifestyle

Hipster

An individual who enjoys indie music and culture.
The Hipster went to an underground concert.

Common Curiosities

What is a Hippie?

A Hippie is a member of the 1960s counterculture emphasizing peace and love.

What is a Hipster?

A Hipster is an individual who embraces alternative culture and fashion.

When did the Hippie movement start?

The Hippie movement primarily began in the 1960s.

When did the Hipster culture emerge?

Hipster culture became prominent in the early 2000s.

How do Hipsters view technology?

Hipsters embrace technology that aligns with their aesthetic or ethical values.

Are Hippies and Hipsters the same?

No, Hippies and Hipsters have different origins, values, and styles.

What do Hippies wear?

Hippies often wear loose, flowy clothing with flower or psychedelic prints.

How do Hippies view technology?

Hippies generally avoid modern technology in favor of a back-to-nature approach.

Are Hipsters politically active?

Hipsters are less overtly politically active compared to Hippies.

Do Hipsters live communally?

Hipsters generally live in urban settings but are not as focused on communal living.

Are Hippies politically active?

Yes, Hippies are often involved in anti-war and civil rights activism.

What do Hipsters wear?

Hipsters prefer vintage, tailored clothing and ironic tees.

What music do Hipsters like?

Hipsters often enjoy indie, alternative, and underground music.

Do Hippies live communally?

Some Hippies favor communal living and shared resources.

What music do Hippies like?

Hippies often enjoy folk, rock, and psychedelic music.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Tayyaba Rehman
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.

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