How to Be a Drugstore Cowboy

The lore of the drugstore cowboy has a long history that goes back to men, without anything better to do, hanging around drugstores dressed like cowboys. With the success of the film "Drugstore Cowboy" in 1989, the idea became popular and sexy in the American mainstream. Follow these steps to be a drugstore cowboy.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Get the drugstore cowboy look. There is no manual that instructs you how to look like a drugstore cowboy but generally a cowboy-inspired bad-boy look does the trick. Boots and a leather jacket are considered de rigeur while slicked-back hair and jeans help to round out the look.
2. Read the book. Before it was a movie, "Drugstore Cowboy" was a book written by a then-incarcerated prisoner named James Fogle. The book will give you the literary lowdown on being a drugstore cowboy so take a look at this exciting book to play the part.
3. Watch the movie, "Drugstore Cowboy." Gus Van Sant's 1989 film starring Matt Dillon gives a very good picture of what a drugstore cowboy is. You can use the film as a guide to how to be a drugstore cowboy, but be sure to take heed of the film's lessons.
4. Loiter, loaf and generally linger. One of the distinguishing qualities of a drugstore cowboy is the ability to do nothing productive for extended periods of time. The experienced drugstore cowboy is an expert loiterer, so find a local drugstore parking lot to perfect your lingering skills.