How to Be a Hep Cat
Coolness has taken on many forms over the years. In contemporary culture, the hipster is one of the most referenced figures. The culturally astute outsider character has always been fascinating. One of the earliest examples of this type is the Hep Cat. Hep Cats were the equivalents of hipsters in the 1940s. They listened to jazz and swing music, and often dressed in fashionable black clothing. While being cool is something that can't be learned, you can learn how to dress and act like a Hep Cat.
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Instructions
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Dress entirely in black. Black jeans and a black turtle neck usually work. Whatever you do, make sure that your black clothes are tight, not baggy. Wear a black hat on your head. A beret, or a newsboy hat turned backwards will help you achieve the desired look. It is also recommended to wear glasses of some variety. Black sunglasses (which a Hep Cat can wear indoors or outdoors) are a good choice, but horn-rimmed reading glasses are a good substitute if you want to see.
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Shave your beard into a neat, round goatee. Move the razor carefully around the desired spot, and make sure not to miss any unwanted hairs. You should end up with a sleek, modern tuft of hair on your chin, with very clean lines.
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Put some jazz or swing records on your turntable, and play them through. Duke Ellington records are recommended. Snap your fingers along to the records. You can snap your fingers by pressing your thumb to your middle finger, and pushing your middle finger into your thumb until it hits the center of your hand. Once you can get into a groove snapping your fingers and listening to jazz records, you will have all but perfected your Hep Cat look. Once you feel comfortable, go to your local jazz club and snap along to live performances.
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Tips & Warnings
Although new clothes can work, it might be best to shop for your black clothes at a vintage store. This will create a more authentic look.
It is important to listen to vinyl records, and not CDs or mp3s. Vinyl records were the medium available in the 1940s, so any true Hep Cat will only listen to music on vinyl.
While it is fun to dress up like a Hep Cat, it is a pretty out of date subculture. If you follow these steps, understand that you might not be able to find other Hep Cats like yourself.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images
