radical chic
Trendy political rebellion
Radical chic describes the fashionable adoption of radical political causes by wealthy or privileged people, often more as a style statement than genuine commitment.
The term gained currency after Tom Wolfe's 1970 essay mocking a party Leonard Bernstein hosted for the Black Panthers.
It implies superficiality—embracing revolutionary aesthetics without revolutionary sacrifice: Her radical chic faded when activism became inconvenient.
- limousine liberalWealthy person espousing egalitarianism
- champagne socialistWealthy person with leftist views
- slummingFrequenting inferior locales recreationally
- cause célèbreFamous controversial case
Leonard Bernstein · benefit gala · fundraiser · virtue signaling · performative · dilettante · poseur · superficial
Class-based revolutionary philosophy
- revolutionViolent governmental overthrow
- leftismPolitics favoring redistribution, equality
- socialismCommunal economic control
- communismCollective ownership system
progressivism · Black Power · civil rights · agitprop · militancy · insurgency · guerrilla · manifesto
Satirical imitation
- ironyMeaning opposite to words
- mockeryScornful ridicule or travesty
- hypocrisyPretense of virtue
- pretensionUnwarranted claim to merit
caricature · lampoon · send-up · ridicule · wit · sarcasm · social commentary · critique
Artistic nonconformist type
- hippieSixties counterculture member
- beatnikFifties counterculture member
- nonconformityRejection of prevailing norms
- subcultureGroup with alternative norms
protest · underground · avant-garde · liberation · flower power · commune · psychedelic · Woodstock
One who plans appearances
- coutureCustom high-fashion design
- runwayPaved path for planes
- voguePrevailing popular style
- trendsetterOne who initiates styles
stylish · bespoke · haute couture · sartorial · glamour · fashionista · modish · tailored
Tom Wolfe
- limousine liberalWealthy person espousing egalitarianism
- champagne socialistWealthy person with leftist views
- slummingFrequenting inferior locales recreationally
Leonard Bernstein · cause célèbre · benefit gala · fundraiser · virtue signaling · performative · dilettante · poseur · superficial · tokenism
Marxism
Class-based revolutionary philosophy
- revolutionViolent governmental overthrow
- leftismPolitics favoring redistribution, equality
- socialismCommunal economic control
communism · progressivism · Black Power · civil rights · agitprop · militancy · insurgency · guerrilla · manifesto · ideology
parody
Satirical imitation
pretension · caricature · lampoon · send-up · ridicule · wit · sarcasm · social commentary · critique · exposé
bohemian
Artistic nonconformist type
- hippieSixties counterculture member
- beatnikFifties counterculture member
- nonconformityRejection of prevailing norms
subculture · protest · underground · avant-garde · liberation · flower power · commune · psychedelic · Woodstock · free love
designer
One who plans appearances
trendsetter · stylish · bespoke · haute couture · sartorial · glamour · fashionista · modish · tailored · military jacket
- fashion trendsvintage fashion, retro fashion, retro style, vintage, retro
radical chictrue believer
Completely committed adherent
grassroots activism · lived experience · skin in the game · walk the talk · slacktivism
radical chicconservative
Cautious about altering customs
traditional · square · conventional · conformist · boring
radical, radically, radicalism, radicalize, radicalized, radicalizing, radicalization, eradicate, eradication