Whether you are a hipster or want to celebrate like you are all about what’s cool and modern, Independence Day is an ideal time to put a new spin on a traditional holiday and throw a Hipster 4th of July celebration. This Independence Day party idea is, admittedly, an unusual theme that came to me, of all places, in the shower. The 4th of July undoubtedly brings to mind sparklers, flags, fireworks, BBQ, red white and blue…each party tends to be fairly similar. Hipster culture is known for its appreciation of anything vintage. This is where you can take inspiration and revel in anything retro: think 1940’s through 1960s imagery upcycled for today.
Hipster 4th of July Celebrations: What is a Hipster?
Hipster culture first came about in the late 1990s and has come to define a group of people in their 20s and 30s who strive for independent thinking, art appreciation and creativity. Being a hipster comes with a certain aesthetic in lifestyle and appearance (eg: thin body frames, mustaches/beards, thick rimmed glasses, tight jeans). You can come across a hipster most anywhere, with the unofficial capitalism located in Brooklyn, New York, specifically Williamsburg, with other hipster urban centers being Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, and Portland. Hipsters have a propensity to gravitate towards anything “indie” in art, music and film, as well as generally being early adopters of technology and digital trends. They also are apt to be more ecologically aware than others, which is why bicycles are part of the hipster chic.
4th of July Party Ideas
FOOD:
As Hipsters are notoriously thin, (better yet to fit into those skinny jeans), they gravitate towards healthy options in order to lower their carbon footprint in the food industry. Many hipsters may be vegetarian or vegan as they are drawn to anything retro or nostalgic, but they do have an affinity for comfort foods. A 4th of July celebration is easily made into a hipster BBQ with organic, grass-fed meats or meat alternatives. Try one of your mother’s recipes for a side dish or dessert. As for alcoholic options, canned beer (specifically Pabst Blue Ribbon®) and other hard liquors is de rigueur. If you’re not into PBR, a selection of local artisan or craft beers will do just fine.
DÉCOR:
With vintage being such a major part of the hipster psyche, get out those worn American flags or decorations your parents may have used and saved. An unusual vintage addition of an old flag with less than 50 states represented is definitely a conversation starter. Since mustaches are popular with hipsters as well as the general public, incorporate a little bit of the mustache theme and make it all about America by going with an “Uncle Sam” look complete with long white beard. The rest is up to you: fireworks, buntings, flags, etc. Avoid balloons as they don’t mix well with fireworks exploding nearby, especially as they’re not environmentally friendly.
Hipster and Vintage 4th of July Party Invitations
I have asked our team of Party Simplicity designers to stretch their imaginations, step out of their comfort zone and create invitations with an edge, whether full-on hipster or with a decent helping of vintage imagery thrown in. What has resulted is an eclectic mix of designs from edgy to vintage classic and even a bit tongue-in-cheek.
However you celebrate, have a happy and safe Independence Day!
About Ilene at starstreamdesign
Ilene Sternbach Aldridge is the designer and owner of Star Stream Design, an independent design firm specializing in paper goods, gifts and apparel for any occasion. From weddings to graduations to holiday parties to the Bar/Bat Mitzvah, we pride ourselves in the wide variety of styles and occasions for which we design. Through a number of Print-on-Demand sites and Etsy, most of our products are customizable in some way. It's smart design, customized by you.