How to be an Indie Girl!

Indie is in. So how do you go about getting indie style? It's not too complicated. Here we have the complete guide to being an official indie "it girl."

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. 

   Indie is a term that's being thrown around quite a bit these days, and is used generically to describe something or someone who is original, artistic, or outside the mainstream. Regardless of the fact that indie supposedly refers to a unique quality, it has quickly developed a stereotypical style. If you're into trends, and aim to be an indie girl, get ready. There's only a few simple steps standing between you, and a new, edgier, more artsy persona. The first step is admitting to yourself that you are trying to be a "indie girl."

2. First and foremost, the most important rule about being indie, is NEVER let anyone know that you are attempting to be indie. Don't talk about being indie, artistic, or unique. Don't tell anyone that you oppose the mainstream music, movies, culture, etc. Your appearance, interests, books, and music should convey this. If you are caught trying to appear indie, you will be called a "hipster" or "poser," and generally, you'll look like a jackass. So this article is our little secret. Don't tell your indie friends you read it.

3. Get the music. This is very important. You can't be an indie girl without a large collection of obscure music. So what does the trendy indie girl listen to? Here's a list of bands that serve as basic essentials to your indie music collection:
   
   -Modest Mouse
   -Neutral Milk Hotel
   -The Cold War Kids
   -TV on the Radio
   -Mountain Goat
   -The Yeah Yeah Yeahs
   -Clap your hands say yeah
   -Le Tigre
   -Cat Power
   -The Apples in Stereo
   -The Pixies
   -Tilly and the Wall
   -The New Pornographers
   -Broken Social Scene
   -Interpol
   -Spoon
   
   If you are accustomed to listening to lots of pop music, R&B, or country, these bands may sound like a heap of crap. There are some lighter indie bands, that may be more digestable if you aren't accustomed to listening to indie music. Of course, these bands won't get you much recognition as an indie girl, but they will get you headed on the right track:
   
   -Bright Eyes
   -Anything on the soundtrack for "Juno" (but don't tell anyone you own that CD)
   -Of Montreal
   -Deathcab for Cutie
   -The Shins
   
   I will also note that you should probably know a little music history. At least know a little about music in the 60's, and punk rock. It would also be useful to have some background knowledge of blues, ska, reggae, and folk music.
   
   *Important: Emo bands are not indie. Do not tell people you are into Fall out boy, or panic at the disco, or any other such band. Listen to those at home, in privacy, if you have to listen to them at all.
   
   After you've acquired music from these bands, begin looking for the most obscure music you can find in the indie genre. The more obscure, the better. Drop the names of the bands in conversation with other indie people. This will make you look very indie.

4. 
   A cardigan sweater is an indie girl essential.

   Now the clothes! This part is fairly easy. Indie style is about trying to appear like you don't care if you look cool (but you do). Dorky clothes are in.
   
   Buy anything at urban outfitters. It is a pretty expensive store, and they don't have many locations, but if you're lucky enough to live near one, you've instantly got indie style readily available. However, you should not tell people you shop at urban outfitters. They will call you a hipster.
   
   If don't have ready access to an urban outfitters, visit urban outfitters.com and check out their clothing for ideas.
   
   Ideally your wardrobe should contain:
   
   -Skinny jeans, and lots of them.
   
   -Another pair of skinny jeans, in a bright color, like yellow or red
   
   -High top shoes. Preferably in bright colors (not hot pink) DO NOT get chuck taylors (converse) shoes. These are officially out in the indie scene (everyone has them, and therefore they are no longer indie.)
   
   -A few pairs of flats. They should have patterns like plaid or polka dots, or be brightly colored.
   
   -One or two vintage dresses.
   
   -Brightly colored tights and leggings
   
   -Plaid. Lots of plaid shirts.
   
   -Tshirts with artistic pictures on them. However, they should not be from brands like billabong or roxy. Brand names aren't indie.
   
   -Cardigan sweaters
   
   -Tops that have patterns. Loud patterns. Again, go with the bright colors.
   
   -Vintage jewelry. Not the big plastic emo beads from claire's either.
   
   -Scarves. Add a scarf to any outfit for an instantly indie feel. Patterned scarves are even better
   
   -A messenger bag.
   
   -Funky hats, belts and purses. Suspenders get you extra points.
   
   -Leg Warmers
   
   
   DONT's for the indie girl wardrobe include:
   
   -Studs and spikes. Those are for emos.
   
   -Dark colors. They are okay in small doses, but your outfit should not be all black, or mostly black. This again, is associated with emo.
   
   -Hot pink and lime green.
   
   -Brand names. No article of your clothing should have an a brand name plastered on it.

5. 
   Bangs and Bedhead are the basic of indie girl hairstyles

   Now it's time for hair and make up. Bangs make almost any hairstyle automatically indie. Pixie cuts are also a good bet. Don't do too much with hairdye. Crazy loud colors aren't generally associated with indie. The hair should be a little messy, and it should look like you didn't spend very much time doing it. Also, avoid emo hair styles. I trust that I don't have to tell you what an emo hairstyle is. You should know one when you see one.
   
   Scarves and head bands are safe indie hair accessories.
   
   As for make up, less is more. Don't wear a lot of make up. Dark eyeliner, or smokey eyes is acceptable. Red lipstick is also okay. If you use eye makeup, don't use lip make up, and if you use lip make up, don't use eye makeup. Keep it simple.
   
   *Note: Peircings are definitely acceptable in the indie scene, but as with make up, less is more. One facial peircing is appropriate, at most (and you're pushing it) two.

6. So you've got the clothes, the hair, and the music. What's left? You've got to pick up an artsy hobby (if you dont already have one.) This should be something like painting, photography, playing an instrument, writing poetry or stories, making films, etc. Just something artsy. Not good at art? Try abstract painting. It will make you look deep, and its very easy.

7. 
   Bikes are a very acceptable mode of indie transportation

   Your lifestyle should fit with your indie girl style. Here is a list of things to do that will fit with your indie life style:
   
   -Watch lots of independent movies.
   
   -Ride a bicycle everywhere. Not a mountain bike though. On old fashioned one that you bought from the thrift store.
   
   -Collect records and own a record player
   
   -Be a vegetarian or better yet, a vegan
   
   -Smoke. I know it's bad for you. But all the indie kids do it. Learn to roll your own cigarettes
   
   -Drink hard liquor
   
   -Do NOT be a republican
   
   -Read books. Not books like "Twilight" or "Harry Potter." Read classic novels, and books about art and philosophy. Read every Hunter S. Thompson book you can find.
   
   -Read the newspaper.
   
   -Develope strong liberal attitudes about politics
   
   -Go to local shows frequently (indie bands of course)
   
   -Join an indie band. Learn a weird instrument, like the accordian or banjo. Weird instruments make bands much more indie.
   
   -Hang out at local coffee shops
   
   -Buy clothes at thrift stores.
   
   -Pretend you are poor, even if you aren't
   
   -If you must drive a car, make sure it is a compact car or a hatch back
   
   -Motor scooters are the ultimate form of indie transportation
   
   -Be very, very thin. You can't look good in those skinny jeans unless you are thin. Being a vegetarian should help with this.

Tips & Warnings

• Use creative or retro slang. Call boys "boyos," or say things like "daddy-o" and "the bees knees."
• Act smart. Use big words. All the things I told you to read should help.
• Have opinions about politics and philosophy, and solid reasons why you believe these things.
• Every now and again, find something very indie and say you don't like it. Give reasons why. This will make it look like you're not the kind of person who likes something just because it's indie.
• This article is about how to be a stereotypical indie girl. In this context, indie is not about individualism, or creativity. It is reduced to just another trend. If you want to fit into the indie scene, this guide is for you. If you're attempting to actually express any form of individuality, steer clear of scenes altogether.

[janellephant]

on 10/17/2009 Hmm. I like these bands, but I would rather not catorgorize myself as anything. I mean the world is a big place, with lots of ideas and people and sometimes you need to widdle the world down to a smaller size, that doesn't mean give yourself a label and limit yourself to certain thoughts, ideas and looks. Because that's dumb.

[wetflannel]

on 10/4/2009 I totally agree with membername93. I think it is perfectly okay to op-shop and listen to alternative music and watch indie films but to go around doing this just for the 'look' is sad and stupid(especially the smoking and being skinny part which is totally ridiculous.) Like membername93 said, it is usually spoilt rich kids who want to rebel against their classmates and who aim to be the 'different' teenager which I find incredibly irritating. It is best to enjoy your teenage years and do what you like doing instead of wasting your time, ticking of a checklist of 'things I must do to be indie.'

[dropdeadstacey]

on 9/30/2009 i laugh at your fury.

[amadahi]

on 9/14/2009 I TOTTALLY agree with litebrite and bailyseri.this is such crap.I mean, SMOKING FOR A FAD? that's just plain retarded. be who you are.you'll be a lot happier.and DON'T SMOKE. who told you indie girls do THAT? we're not morons(part of why we don't fit in, haha no offense).

[wickhampippens]

on 9/3/2009 Greetings, I am a wealthy, educated and handsome young man with a PhD in Clinical Psychology. For a young woman such as yourself, you should follow dropdeadstacey's instructions to the letter if you hope to ever be worthy of dating a man of my quality and greatness. Additionally, you should purchase and listen to every album recorded by The National and write a blog entry on how fantastic they are, instead of writing honestly of how boring and uninspired their music sounds. Remember, it's the "little things" in their songs that make them great! If you don't understand what that means, then you're not indie and I want nothing to do with you, so have fun chasing overweight greasy-haired geeks while the real indie girls get all the good sex (guys like me).