The Hipsters Came Out in Droves

I remember this book that my friend Anna was given in high school, The Hipster Handbook... we thought it was so funny at the time and, on lazy summer afternoons spent tanning on the grass, we pored over the pages of this book. We committed words like "peace out" ("bye) to memory and vowed to get hairstyles with heavy bangs.

Yet, I still don't know what a real 'hipster' is nor do I even come close to considering myself one! But, somehow, I always find myself surrounded by them! For example, last night I was swimming in a sea of the coolest Polish hipsters, dodging their crazy dance moves and waving their cigarette smoke out of my face. I joined some friends at this funny place located in Warsaw's most famous landmark, the Palace of Culture and Science. It is called (oh-so-appropriately) Kafé Kulturalna... normally a lounge-y joint where we go on a Tuesday for a beer and chats. But, once in a while, they get the bright idea to clear out the tables, set up a second bar, get some wacky djs, and actually CHARGE ten zlotys to get in! Last night was one of those special nights.

Not only was the dancing out-of-control, groove-to-your-own-beat flailing, but the clothes were impressive. I honestly felt as though I had landed smack in the middle of a "Be Your Hipsterest" party! There were leggings with leopard print MC Hammer pants layered over them, asymmetrical haircuts, bra-less loose tops, waistbelts, mini bananas (French-slang for fanny packs), and random plastic junk posing as jewelry. I sometimes wonder where on earth these 'clothes' come from... then I remind myself that to be 'hip' is to constantly push the 'cool' envelope - and to commit endless hours to rifling through piles and piles of used clothes. Yet, that's great! I wish I had endless hours to spend clothes shopping... or not.

But I have to say, I am glad that the clothes are at least being reused... fashion is so disposable and wrecks havoc on the environment. Cotton is the world's most poisonous crop, requiring loads of pesticides to keep off the critters... but this is a topic for another post...

Hm. Where was I going with this? Nowhere really other than to say... wow! Those hipsters came out in DROVES last night!