“Why did the hipster burn his mouth? Because he ate his pizza before it was cool!”
One night on a pub crawl in Brooklyn, I turned the corner and saw something that shook me to my core: a rabid swarm of sweaty, Gen-X guys playing air guitar. Even worse were their outfits, so coordinated they resembled a uniform: frayed Grunge band t-shirts over long johns. I screamed, “I’ve fallen through a ‘Hot-Tub Time Machine” portal back to 1993 or maybe I’ve been projected into the future, into a grunge apocalypse?” It turned out not to be a metaphysical glitch, just the mass exodus of fans from a Pearl Jam concert at Barclays Center. But those band t-shirts, the vintage ones procured by bribing roadies before the posers caught wind and ruined the scene still haunt me. If any of this sounds familiar, this gift guide is for the Aging Hipster in your life.
Though so frayed and raggedy, it’s beyond derelicte, the Aging Hipster insists his favorite band shirt is both a slice of history and art. Indulge him and treat that threadbare Nirvana, Pearl Jam, or Sound Garden t-shirt like the Picasso he thinks it is and turn it into a wall-worthy piece of interior decoration with the Umbra TFrame T-Shirt Frame. The Wishbone Picture Frame is the perfect accompaniment: minimalist, double-sided glass display can showcase photos, CD covers, even tickets and autographs saved from legendary concerts. Another favorite in the line of modern home furnishings and accessories also combines art and function. The chrome-plated matte aluminum Slip ShoeHorn was originally designed to help the founder’s aging father slip on his favorite loafers without back pain. The sleek objet d’art easily doubles as contemporary sculpture on any wall or makeshift paddle if someone’s into a light spanking.
Speaking of frayed beyond derelicte, let’s talk about men’s unmentionables. All men, no matter who they are or what they say, need new drawers to refresh or replace their current collection. This is not negotiable. Fishers Finery Home Goods, Ready-to-Wear, and Athleisure brand off the coast of Connecticut specializes in using high-quality silk, organic cotton & other sustainable materials. In addition to robes, silk boxers, cashmere scarves, and beanies, Fishers Finery blends cotton and modal for modern yet comfortable boxers, briefs, and tees that will keep their shape in the wash in black, gray, and blue – no Tidy Whities ever! Given the Super Soft Custom Elastic Waistband and Functional Fly Front, I’m partial to the boxer brief. Why not present the package like, well, a package with easy access?
If bolstered by the underwear victory and in the mood to keep fighting the good fight, you can foist skin care on the man who refuses to consider moisturizer even though he doesn’t really know what it is. The trick is to frame “skincare” as “beard care,” i.e. suggest a beard wash, just don’t mention it’s actually a facial cleanser. If the packaging is dark, masculine, and slightly phallic, and the products smell woodsy, not fruity, half the battle is won. Black-owned Him-istry Naturals offers a full line of men’s skincare, body care, and fragrance for the grooming-phobic. Basic, if not essential from this line crafted by an ex-Naval officer are the Acai Berry Beard & Face Cleanser and Rosemary & White Tea Shave Gel. Both formulations wash away grime, fight acne, remove that musky beard smell, and leave the skin with a bit of hydration for the moisturizer-phobic. Alpha by H.I.M Eau de Parfum, with notes of cedar, bergamot, and sandalwood is sure to go into heavy rotation.
With a solid foundation of clean skin and fresh drawers, we can get sartorial and discuss drip. No one wants to change the Aging Hipster, turn him into a doppelganger for his accountant brother with khakis and buttoned-down shirts – that’s part of the charm – and those in the know know better than to ever try. As I don’t believe anyone should be subjected to the torture of the Christmas sweaters for the sake of yuletide cheer, let’s embrace the fashion trends upon which Gen X hangs their hats. So Cal-based DGK draws inspiration from grunge, 70’s martial arts movies, graffiti, skate punk, and cholo looks with modern cuts and quality fabrics, as well as a little cheeky flavor for their eclectic line.
The black-owned business, founded as a tribute to skateboarders from less advantaged backgrounds, represents the underdog and people who make it against all odds, and perfectly captures the ethos of the Aging Hipster. DGK beanies, baseball hats, hoodies, sweats, and outerwear nail the crossover between fashion-forward streetwear and business casual vibe that will have the too-cool-for-school set entering a shopaholic phase.
The Gaudelupe, Bruce Lee, and modern camo pieces are some of the most unique, well-priced menswear finds of the year. Given DGK’s collabs with Adidas, G-Shock, Bruce Lee, and Virgil Abloh, ex-artistic director of Louis Vuitton with a stint at LVMH, this is a brand whose key pieces the rabid air-guitar-playing swarm will want in their closet and framed on their walls before the posers crash the party again.
The Aging Hipster probably hasn’t yet learned how to cook but he appreciates foodie indulgences and excels at adding salt to meat. Chicago-based Savory Salts offers a dozen gourmet blends made from small-batch, hand-cured culinary sea salt blended with fresh herbs, aromatics, and spices. The herby-citrusy beer-inspired Hops Flower Sea Salt is a no-brainer for an IPA fanatic. And every kitchen should have Jalapeño Lime Sea Salt for Margaritas, Micheladas and guacamole.
Another benefit of the Aging Hipster’s die-hard devotion to his Gen-X origins is an affinity for books, a charming, almost quaint, quality. In our less literate, and scroll-addicted times, a book, an actual physical book, born from a writer’s wisdom and heartbreak can be the most thoughtful and intimate gift. Amidst the dog-eared copies of “Infinite Jest,” “High Fidelity,” and “A Clockwork Orange,’’ there’s space for both a recent and forthcoming releases tailor-made for this list.
If climate change is a topic of discussion or angst – how could it not be – “I Want A Better “Catastrophe: Navigating The Climate Crisis With Grief, Hope, And Gallows Humor” is zeitgeist approved. Culled from interviews with leading climate thinkers – activists, botanists and philosophers – Andrew Boyd searches for the silver lining and a bit of levity in the looming tragedy of our planet’s destruction. From the pen of another Andrew, “Victim,” satirizes virtue signaling in our diversity-obsessed, scandal and grifter-laden times with more dark truths and even darker laughs. New Yorker-published, Bronx-born Andrew Boryga, draws from his experience of 80s New York, pre-Disneyfication, when it was cool and gritty enough for the Aging Hipster’s nostalgia.
