I Surrender
If there was any question I’m an aging hipster, it should probably be settled now that I have a single-speed cafe bike from Valencia Cyclery, live in a room above the Zeitgeist, spent last night perusing the jukebox at the Phone Booth with someone I met on OkCupid and spent this morning riding around the Mission with stops at La Torta Gorda and an indie rock, crafts and food fair on Treat. I’m living the cliché dream, bitches!
Shit, I even have the now apparently fashionable paunch, though I was way ahead of the curve on that one. In fact, apparently my transformation may yet be complete as I was told in no uncertain terms by the Fahsionist herself Mai Le at yesterdays “street food” benefit for La Cocina that the fats don’t rate for her streetwear blog (granted, it’s apparently for their own protection from commenters). [Update: Mai sticks up for folks across the BMI spectrum!] Give me another twenty pounds shed while biking around the Mish and eating out of the mini-fridge in my SRO room, plenty of appetite-suppressing Four Barrell coffee and some shopping on my trip to New York next week and I will qualify yet!
All that said, I’m not really sure I care. In the counterintuitive conformity of “creative individualism,” only the other can be called a hipster. It’s rare the person who simply owns it, and can build any sort of collective identity around the themes and tropes, and through that build not conformity but community. So while I’m not sure I’m willing, or qualified, to say it loud and say it proud, I do seem to be a hipster on balance (read: art school kid yes, skinny jeans, no). Have been for about a decade.
And honestly, there’s not really anything wrong with that. So why fight it?
Having no neck is so hot right now.
Nice.
Um, that isn’t exactly what I said. I put people of all sizes on fashioni.st, but some commenters (-ors?) are mean and disapprove. said comments never make it on the site, but people of all sizes definitely do. i love all people of all shapes, sizes, (colors, ages, etc…).
Updated the post!
Yeah I’ve seen some fat fucks on Fashionist.
Thanks for getting my back Allan.
I beg no malicious intent, nor feel it was implied. I felt it was an interesting observation from an authoritative source, and the confusion seems to only better illustrate that the issues of identity and body image I wanted to present are touchy subjects!
Maybe I’m more of a crotchety hipster because I left SF cuz of all the “poseurs” and “yuppies”… and the very thought of living above Zeitgeist gives me hives… HIVES!
When did that move happen?
Mere weeks ago, and I couldn’t be happier, as small as the place is. It’s affordable, the people are friendly, and you can’t beat the location relative to Muni, BART, ZipCar and the flat bike riding east and south (I’ve yet to try Page up to the panhandle and out to sea). And it’s just so manly, I hear!
As for the labels, it is true that hipster is just the word of the moment to define all sorts of otherness, and I don’t doubt I could provide anecdotes to lay claim to them all personally! As could most everyone I know! The Dolores Park map that was passed around Tumblr today is a good indication that it’s all the more complicated by internecine strife, gradations of generalization — sort of like high school, or radical politics. It is divisive, and I lamely wave over at the Hegelian dialectic as I pass out into self-parody…
While I have definitely ill will toward Portland, it’s a long story as to why, so I’ll save it for when we next meet — maybe even in Portland!
oh was I supposed to reply here. Ok.
I did not even know I had threaded comments! Then again, I do not generally use them.
ooh, I wanna hear the Portland hate! I’m pretty much still in a honeymoon period on it so it would take some coaxing to get me to agree… and I’m pissed at SF for all like, changing on me and stuff… but to your hipster thots:
That Dolores Park map was posted by Aynne V. on flickr back in ought-six. Funny how it’s coming out again, THREE YEARS LATER.