"Can't say what they intend to say, if they really have a message."
Clothing-wise, it was supposed to be a counter-culture movement against companies like Gap. Back before Hot Topic, during that time their attire was harder to come by so many had at least a rough understanding of tailoring to repair their stuff or alter it into something they couldn't otherwise get, or they knew about "Underground" places to shop. They all dressed in the same style because it didn't look like: 
As for views on life, I think South Park covers the core differences rather well by comparing them to emo kids:
Hot Topic made their counter-culture clothes become mainstream, and suddenly Goths found themselves carrying Hipster Angst. Some dropped the attire while keeping the attitude (or became hipsters) while new people began treating it as a fashion trend alongside attention whores picking out the crazier stuff in the same way someone would dress as a slutty schoolgirl or slutty cat.
"I could just be entirely out of the loop, but it seems as if everything is dead..."
Not dead, just changed (maybe dying?). The internet has made for people socializing less for some, but others use it to bridge the gap or meet new people. It's helped with one-on-one communication, but it's diminished the value of groups. Even going to places oozing with those who are typically socially rejected but overeager to meet "people like themselves" keep to their own individual groups more often than not, mingling with others usually if alone or in a separated environment like a gaming room. Even when alone however many are not "alone" since they can send a text so easily instead of the chore of writing a letter, sending it, and waiting for it to arrive.
As for fads, it's mostly an age of self indulgence of one's own images paired next to experiences they want to boast about (selfies), internet fads taken too seriously (the age of ponies is dying!), Dr. Who/Anime/Other TV Thralldoms, and Dubstep. With everything becoming easy to access through the mail now, souvenirs no longer have value beyond the self, and the only proof left of an enjoyable experience seems to be through taking photographs of the experiences themselves, boasting about it as if that gave it more value. It peeves me when during a show people pull out their phones to take photos of themselves next to the experience instead of just enjoying it.
I think today's age makes it harder to really appreciate things since they are all so much easier to access than they once were. Even the places that offer experiences are cheapened as a result of less appreciation. A lot of people in their 20s that don't fit trends in the US anyway seem to travel in hopes of finding something else.
Im young so. There are still the rockers, emos and so on, but when it comes to partying its all together. We throw massive parties where everyone is invited, doesnt matter if you preach too God or hail Satan. If you need to say a prayer before you get drunk, then take a cross with you, if you need to sacrifice a goat on a pentagram, you do it. Nobody gives a shit.</p>
<p>You want to race? Then let's go fucking do it.<br />Youre a pyromaniac? Then let's go set a field on fire.
Youre high and asking for a fight? There's an axe and go chop a tree down.</p>
<p>When it come to clubbing its no longer that popular. When you go to a club you have to fallow a set of in house rules. That`s a problem.