STILYAGI: stylish
A group of Russian youth who had an affinity for western music and fashion during a time when Russian communism was trying to instill just the opposite. This subculture was a movement, not just a way of dress or a style of music.
A movie was made in 2008 called Stilyagi ("Hipsters" - in english) which most excellently summarizes the goals of this counterculture.
Young Russian men came into contact with westerners during World War II and were forever influenced. They felt that the future looked bleak for the Soviet Union, but the western way of life was colorful and happy. The youth movement of STILYAGI was then very slowly formed.
