The hipster is anything but mainstream: If that describes your aesthetic, you'll find a multitude of eyewear examples that speak to you in this collection. Explore our impressive selection of glasses by Ray-Ban, Dolce & Gabbana, Burberry, and other celebrated makers, to find the edgy, nonconformist frames silhouettes that satisfy your hipster sensibilities. You'll also find prescription glasses styles in this collection, so you can enjoy optical clarity while sporting the hipster look you love.
Hipsters are open to forms of expression not readily embraced by the majority. Traditionally, their tastes in art, music, and—most importantly—fashion, centered around their counterculture values. American literary figures like Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg, though most often associated with the Beatnik generation, were part of the counterculture of their day, and therefore were considered hipsters.
The term 'hipster' was first popularized in the jazz era of the 1930s and '40s. Generations of young Americans who were 'hip' to the vibrant jazz culture became known as hipsters. Some etymologists believe the term 'hip' is a derivative of 'hepicat,' which is a word from the West African Wolof language meaning "one who has his eyes open.”
Today's hipster takes style cues from everywhere, and not just what's popular. So, how does this translate to hipster eyewear? When you mix a funky, retro sensibility with unmistakably bold design, you get edgy, statement-making eyeglasses and sunglasses that seem progressive—even when they've already been around the block a few times: That's hipster eyewear.