A modern mustache can refer to a mustache worn with the deliberate intent to be comical.
A modern mustache is a mustache that is often worn ironically, and people who wear this style often do so for comedic reasons. Some mustaches are modeled after what people used in the past, such as a thicker one based on styles popular in the 1970s. Other modern mustaches can be more archaic in style. A handlebar mustache, for example, which is curled at both ends, has not been commonly worn by more conventionally dressed people for many years.
Beards and mustaches are popular among hipsters.
There are many different definitions for the term “hipster.” Most commonly, the term is used to describe people in their 20s and 30s who live in trendy urban neighborhoods. These individuals may prefer countercultural styles of music, art, film, and clothing. Hipsters often wear ironic clothing and espouse values such as creativity and open-mindedness.
While many people believe that hipster mustache styles originated as a way for members of the counterculture to mock conventional fashion and style ideals, some believe that this type of mustache has a more direct appeal. Rather than being used ironically, it is possible that in some contexts these mustaches are used for purely aesthetic reasons.
To some degree, any mustache worn by a person that can be classified as modern can be considered a modern mustache, but most are well-groomed and can look deliberately archaic or old-fashioned. This style of facial hair is popular with many people who cannot be classified as cool as members of the fashion industry. Therefore, it is not necessarily necessary that it be worn by a hipster.
Some fashion and style experts point out that many women now wear fake hipster mustaches. Some attribute this trend to popular music videos produced by hipster-favorite indie rock bands. Women with fake mustaches appear in fashion magazines and on social networking sites. It can also be common to see them at parties, where mustaches are given away as souvenirs.
The term is often used disparagingly by opponents of the modern style. For example, a person who thinks a man is too shallow might criticize him for spending so much time on his “hipster” mustache. This style of facial hair has become popular among many groups of people, so the term can also be used impartially to describe an appearance.