Are you a modern day hippy? Meet the new hippy style tribes of today
Are You a Modern-Day Hippy? Meet Today’s New Hippy-Style Tribes
Wearing your eco-credentials on your (possibly designer) sleeve has never been more fashionable. Yes, hippies walk among us again—but not as we know them. Discover the habits, habitats, and hairdos of today’s hippy incarnations.
You remember hippies. They wore flowers in their long, lank hair, smoked pot, took psychedelic drugs, embraced Eastern mysticism, believed in free love, communes, and vegetarianism. Take Paul and Linda McCartney, for example, who proved that being the most famous pop-star couple on the planet was not incompatible with living off-grid in Scotland, growing their own food, and homeschooling—at least for a while.
Now, thanks to a new dawn of eco-awareness and climate change protest—boosted by the lockdown upswing in self-sufficiency—we’ve seen a resurgence of the hippy spirit. It’s not quite the same as it was (though you won’t look out of place in an Afghan waistcoat this autumn), but now there are degrees of hippies, from eco-warriors to vegan-curious hot-composters and all the various tribes in between. Here are some you might recognize…
Yoga Hippies
The yoga hippy is all about healthy bodies, and executing the perfect Warrior One pose is high on their priority list. Unlike the original hippies, who were essentially stoners living in squats, Yoga Hippies prioritize cleanliness and wellness. Think aromatherapy baths, a 100% organic diet, and clean natural-wood floors for walking barefoot (and Instagram opportunities). Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, is the supreme goddess of the Yoga Hippies, demonstrating just how hippy a YH needs to be in 2021.
A Yoga Hippy practices yoga at least once a day—either in their “yoga garden” or online. They may meditate (also known as “mummy-time” or “me-time”) and are often flexitarian (increasingly vegan), sober-curious, and spiritual (with leanings towards Buddhism).
How to Spot Them
- Excellent, blow-dried long hair, often in a glossy ponytail.
- Wearing Lululemon activewear, earbuds, carrying a yoga mat and a pricey reusable water bottle.
Proudest Moment
Being a doula at their friend’s birth.
Greatest Fear
Cellulite.
What They Wear
Cashmere and bare feet.
Least Likely to Say
“I’m in KFC, what are you having?”
Good Life Hippies
The godfather of this tribe would be Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, sometimes described as ‘a bit of a hippy’ due to his love for kombucha, homegrown carrot snacks, cold showers, sustainability, and his bohemian accessories. This tribe ranges from keen kitchen gardeners and avid environmentalists to the weekend crowd who embrace raw denim aprons with leather straps and slate worktops but aren’t about to cut down on their hefty carbon footprint.
How to Spot Them
- Their hand-forged $800-a-pop kitchen knives.
Proudest Moment
“Roughing it” for a week at a wellness retreat.
Greatest Fear
Having to make do with only one cooker.
What They Wear
Ethically-made linen frocks.
Least Likely to Say
“We’re just concreting over the front garden.”
