Poppers were a youth subculture that emerged in West Germany during the first half of the 1980s, with its origins tracing back to Hamburg high schools in 1979. Also known as "Snobs" in Austria, they were teenagers primarily from middle to upper-class backgrounds, who distinguished themselves through a conscious embrace of conformity, materialism, and lack of a political stance. This rejected the critique of consumerism seen in preceding countercultural movements; they rebelled against rebellion itself. In this sense, they were similar to the Paninaro subculture of Milan and the Teddy Boys of the 1950s.

The origin of the term "Popper" is unclear, but it does not come from English. In German, the plural form is " Die Popper ." Therefore, it can be simultaneously plural and singular.

Poppers were characterized by their conspicuous consumption and their embrace of "brand fetishism," which were novel concepts at the time. They were more concerned with aesthetics than the ethical and societal issues that had dominated previous youth movements, like the 1968 student protests or the alternative scene. Their pursuit of a sophisticated and deliberately consumerist style also served to differentiate them from traditional conservative bourgeois values. They replaced traditional values like the pursuit of harmony, obedience to authority, sense of duty, and modesty with values like hedonism, unconcealed egoism, and materialistic displays of wealth. This challenged both counterculture and traditional conservative circles.

This new youth movement, which originated in Hamburg high schools, was solely concerned with the "correct" consumerist attitude and had no interest in political messages. Buttons with slogans like " Atomkraft? Nein Danke " (Nuclear power? No thanks) were scorned as " Brokdorf-Broschen " (Brokdorf badges) by the Poppers in Hamburg's upscale Pöseldorf district. Their idea of "lived socialism" involved sharing champagne and cigarettes, as described by Thomas Heubner in his book " Die Rebellion der Betrogenen " (The Rebellion of the Deceived).

The media were fascinated by these affluent teenagers, who initially hailed mainly from wealthy Hanseatic families of doctors, bankers, and lawyers. Their presence in discos and schools across West Germany, all the way down to Bavaria, caused a stir. Die Zeit described them in 1980 as "the avant-garde of the conformists." Der Spiegel called them the "Kashmir-Kinder" (Cashmere Kids), while the Stern magazine labeled them the "chic philistines of tomorrow" in 1980.

A satirical " Popper etiquette guide ," created by Hamburg students Carola Rönneburg and Mathias Lorenz, quickly became essential reading for Poppers, copied and distributed among schools. On March 14, 1980, Zeitmagazin published " Die mit der Tolle " (The One with the Quiff), the first article about the Hamburg Popper scene.

The Popper movement began to decline in 1984 as its members graduated from high school and transitioned to university, leading to the dissolution of established groups. However, it influenced subsequent fashion trends. In modern-day Germany, there are still some people who identify as Poppers, although not as overt anymore.

An official perspective on the Poppers comes from the reports of Stasi, the secret police of East Germany. These reports were likely created in response to the subculture's presence in the West and the potential for its influence to spread eastward. They note the Poppers' departure from the politically charged youth subcultures prevalent in both East and West Germany at the time.

They identified Poppers as:

Exclusive and expensive brands like Burberry, Etienne Aigner, Burlington, Timberland, Fiorucci, Benetton, Diesel, and Lacoste were widely used by Poppers. Their signature hairstyle was the " Poppertolle " (Popper quiff): a short haircut with very short, shaved hair at the nape of the neck, shaved sideburns, longer, layered top hair, and a large, asymmetrical fringe that fell over the face, completely covering one eye. Poppers favored mopeds (like Piaggio's Bravo and Ciao) and scooters like the Vespa. They were often inspired by the look of university students from the northeastern United States ( Preppy ).

Poppers were highly image-conscious, and the schoolyard became their catwalk. Long fringes in the front, meticulously shaved necks in the back, trench coats, white jeans, and polished loafers were essential elements of their look. There was a strict dress code: wearing Levi's, or even Wrangler jeans, which was considered "proletarian." Fiorucci carrot jeans, ideally brought back from a family ski trip to Saint Moritz in the Swiss Alps, were the ultimate status symbol. Maintaining their hairstyles, the " Poppertolle " (quiff) or the " Schrägpony " (angled fringe) – nicknamed " Schwenker " or " Elbtunnel " – required a trip to the hairdresser every three weeks.

They smoked international cigarette brands such as Cartier, Dunhill, or JPS. They used fragrances by Cartier, Chanel, and Lagerfeld. The Poppers' fashion sense drew inspiration from figures like Felix Krull, Martin Fry, and Bryan Ferry, as well as the photography of Helmut Newton, all known for their elegance and exclusivity. Typical Popper attire included a combination of tassel loafers (then known as slippers or college shoes) and Burlington socks, the first carrot pants by Fiorucci, polo shirts with knitted and leather ties (including tie clips), and cashmere sweaters with V-necks, either in solid colors or with argyle patterns. The look was largely the same for both boys and girls.

The Popper lifestyle was characterized by hedonism, pursuing leisure, and a dedication to creating a specific image of effortless coolness and affluence, as seen in their social gatherings, fashion choices, and overall demeanor. Their lifestyle was something many teenagers from accross Germany wanted to copy at the time. Although the trend started among wealthy young people in Hamburg, it spread throughout West Germany and Berlin. Teenagers from all backgrounds tried to dress and act like them.

Poppers chose to spend their time in upscale locations.  In Hamburg, they frequented places like the ice cream parlor "Filippi" and the discotheque "Klimperkiste." These were seen as trendy gathering spots due to philosophy of "to see and be seen," similar to the Paninaro subculture from Milan. They often wore their characteristic clothing, like cashmere sweaters and white carrot pants, to these places, reinforcing their image as a wealthy and fashionable group.

Social interaction was another way Poppers presented this image. " Popper-Knigge ," a satirical guidebook, jokingly told Poppers to always have clever things to say at parties.

Poppers also put a lot of effort into their appearance. They frequently went to the hairdresser to maintain their hairstyles, known as the " tolle " (quiff) or " schrägpony " (angled fringe). These were sometimes called " Schwenker " (swinger) or " Elbtunnel ."

They intentionally separated themselves from mainstream society and acted as though they were better than others. Along with their hedonism and rejection of the political activism common at the time, they were often disliked by other youth subcultures , such as punks and rockers . These groups sometimes used slogans like " Haut die Popper platt wie'n Whopper " (Flatten the Poppers like a Whopper) to make fun of them.

Unlike many youth subcultures of the time, Poppers did not actually have a singular, defining musical genre. Their musical tastes leaned towards the Synth-Pop and New Romantic sounds of the early 1980s, characterized by the prominent use of synthesizers and orchestral arrangements. They listened to bands and albums such as ABC ( The Lexicon of Love ), Haircut 100 ( Pelican West ), Spandau Ballet ( True ), and Roxy Music. The East German police incorrectly associated them with disco and dance music, possibly due to the commercial success of all these genres in contrast with countercultural movements.