The Hippie movement was a youth counterculture that emerged in the United States during the mid-1960s, with its epicenter in the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco. Originating from the preceding Beatnik subculture, Hippies rejected the mainstream social and political norms of the era, particularly consumerism, conformity, and the Vietnam War. Their philosophy was centered on the values of peace, love, personal freedom, and communal living.

The aesthetic rejected polished, conventional fashion in favor of a natural, eclectic, and often androgynous look, which included long hair for both men and women, bell-bottom jeans, peasant blouses, and handmade items. A key visual element was psychedelic art, which influenced their use of vibrant tie-dye, swirling patterns, and floral motifs, leading to the nickname "flower children."

The movement's ethos was famously expressed through psychedelic rock music, and it reached its cultural peak at the 1969 Woodstock festival. Although the original movement faded in the early 1970s, its influence on fashion, environmentalism, and social attitudes was profound and long-lasting.

The hippie movement in some ways was an outgrowth of the LA freak scene, that was strongly influenced by the beatnik movement of the 50s.

In 1961, Vito Paulekas and his wife Szou established in Hollywood a clothing boutique which was credited with being one of the first to introduce "hippie" fashion as well as a brand of free-form dancing that would become associated with hippie culture. Vito would also provide rehearsal space for the Byrds and Love, as well as helping bring attention to them by inviting his dance troupe to invade their concerts, they would later accompany the Byrds on a nationwide tour.

Subsequently, they became pioneers in establishing the L.A. freak scene with the term "freaks" becoming an early synonym for "hippie". However, Frank Zappa who based his debut album "Freak Out!" on the scene, regularly drew a clear distinction between the two subcultures. Additionally, Vito has been labelled as being "the first hippie" or "king of the hippies".

For more information on the predominant graphic design part of Hippie visuals, see: Psychedelia , as the roots of Psychedelia are tied to early Hippie culture and still tie into the modern day Hippie aesthetic.

Hippie fashion may draw a lot of inspiration from the 1960s, but there are some modern hippie clothing vendors one can buy that range from tie dye clothing, to clothing with sacred geometry on it to Harem pants. Bright colors and complex patterns such as paisley often feature as does loose fitting, baggy clothes and beaded jewellery.