Photos Courtesy of Old Navy and Endless
I never thought I'd be looking to Steve Urkel for fashion inspiration, but, as it turns out, he was quite the trendsetter. With all of us tethered to our electronic leashes, the once unfortunate moniker of "nerd" now elicits reverence rather than "kick me" signs and atomic wedges. And along with the new found respect comes imitation -- and geek chic. This style term may be so five minutes ago, but the trend is still gaining momentum at DSL speed.
To help you score some high marks of your own, study this Cliff Notes cheat sheet on "nerdy" necessities.
Lesson #1: Geeky can be sexy. Proof: A form-fitting Argyle V-Neck Sweater Dress (pictured, $36.50 at Old Navy) highlights your curves, while the classic prep-school pattern never goes out of style. Or look cute and brainy with the Happy Geek Chic Tee ($8.80 at Forever 21). The familiar smiley face looks instantly smarter with its taped-up specs.
Lesson #2: Kick it old school. Two-tone saddle shoes follow another huge fall trend -- menswear-inspired looks for ladies a la Elaine Benes. So if you still haven't snagged those oxfords yet, try the timeless Enfield style from Bass ($59 at Zappos).
Lesson #3: Be "QWERTY." The vibrantly colored Sherpani Tosca Laptop Backpack ($99.95 at Zappos) keeps your hardware protected with its padded zippered compartment, plus it'll put less strain on your overworked shoulders. Or go a little bit out of the mainframe with the Keybag designed by Joao Sabino ($166.58).
Lesson #4: Pocket protectors aren't accessories. Instead, up your bookworm cred with the Queen of the Jungle Glasses ($11.99 at ModCloth.com). The glasses don't contain magnifying lenses, so you can get the four-eyes look even if you have perfect vision! And trade your go-to necklace for the Mini Checkerboard Bowtie ($49.50 at Jos. A. Bank). It works with a simple button-down or as an added twist to an evening ensemble.
Lesson #5: Have fun. Be functional. The Casio Women's Pink 8-Digit Calculator Watch (pictured, $29.95 at Endless) is a water-resistant digital timepiece that would make Inspector Gadget jealous with its stopwatch, fully automatic calendar and alarm features.
Would you dress like a "nerd"? Chime in now!
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