The Greens Are Back!

Exciting news! For those of you who live in the United States (and Canada) listen up! (Or technically read up…) the founders of the made of awesome Nerdfighteria are taking back up the Tour De Nerdfighting! 
John and Hank Green will be holding events in independent book stores throughout the country where they will sign books and albums, play songs, read from books, among other made of awesome activities. 
The tour starts January 10th in Massachusetts, so check out the tour dates and make you get your ticket! (please note: tickets into the event are preordered copies of TFiOS from the holders of the events.)

Tour Dates: keep up to date on tumblr, YouTube, and any Nerdfighteria sites, (including john and hank's personal websites) http://johngreenbooks.com/events/ 

Summary: the Greens are back, get your tickets!

The Art of Giving

Christmas is almost here! And you know what that means? Yes! Things that nearly everyone can adore: presents! Shopping for loved ones requires style and class, as well as some geektastic magic. 
It's the places that you shop at that really define what kind of person you're portraying yourself as. Believe it or not, gift giving can show a ton about your personality and sense of style. So, if you want to keep a high geek status be inventive with your gifts. 
Handmade gifts always show that you care, so if you have a certain skill set, use it! Now, you probably don't have enough time to make something for everyone you want to give a present to, so that's where the beloved Internet and quirky stores become involved. 
Sometimes a multitude of small gifts can be just as good as one big present. So stores like Newberry Comics can come in super handy, with a large arrangement of peculiar gifts that will get a chuckle. 
You also might want to try etsy.com and thinkgeek.com. 

Summary: be creative with your gift giving, and don't forget that hand made shows that you really care. 

YouTube: You Know You Love It.

            I often hear the phrase “How do I (please insert any task that fits your fancy)?” Most people actually give a response. Some people don’t feel like giving legitimate advice and use that so oftenly used phrase of “Google It.” Me? Why I tell them to go check YouTube. YouTube is beautiful. YouTube just so happens to have basically any and every how-to video to ever exist.

            So quick advice: When you can’t find what you want about awesome geektastic fashion on my blog or don’t feel like you were given enough information, go to YouTube! After telling you to wear makeup but don’t give you directions on how, then go to YouTube. If I haven’t actually breached the topic you would really enjoy help on… do, what’s that? Yes! Go to YouTube and just look for whatever you think might help.

Summary: YouTube is awesome. Love it. Cherish it. Use it to your geeky heart’s content.

My Perspective of the Term Geek

            My understanding of Geeks or Nerds is that we are mature enough to understand, care, relate to, and try to help the world we live in but at the same time we are able to step back and love what we have and enjoy our lives with simple joy, as children do. We crave knowledge, to be more intelligent than we currently are, but with that concept comes the fact that we are able to let our emotions take over.

            As knowledge seekers, we know our news and politics, our facts and research our passions. But we like our other lives too. We have our books and art and comics and movies and music and video games and the internet to distract us because we know what we love and don’t deny ourselves the simple pleasure of having it. We are not children for wanting to be this hero who flies in and saves the day. We are not immature for falling in love with a characters story and wanting to relive their adventures with them.

            We have a piece of us perpetually in Neverland, playing with the Lost Boys, but it’s a piece. The rest of us is in the real world where we make differences every day whether others notice or not.

Summary: Being a Geek or Nerd is not just by what you wear, it’s by who you are. Wanting knowledge but also knowing what you love and letting yourself have it are perfectly excellent qualities to posses.

Technology: It's Now an Accessory

            As a geek I am sure you are aware that gadgets have also become a part of your appearance. How often is it that you see someone without, as just an example, their phone? It happens so infrequently that such an experience is almost non-existent.

            For this post I will only focus on cellular devices, for the simple reason that adding anymore items to a list involving modern day gadgets would simply be too long and confusing, and truly wouldn’t even help the point get across.

            Truly there are only two ways to go when it comes to making your devices match your personality and fashion statements.

Numero Uno: Old school!

Old school is yes, completely bothersome to anyone who has upgraded and then gone back to their old phone, as I myself can attest. Going from an android to an old Cingular razor makes the phone feel decidedly tedious. But the good news is that you get so many props for rocking the old school razor that it really doesn’t even matter! Plus, if you don’t even use apps and really just need a device for calls and texting then why pay hundreds of dollars on a smart phone? See? Solving budget issues can be fun! But be aware that not all old school phones are cool. Get something that is actual quality and will hold up, not a clunky piece of junk that looks like you carved it out of a piece of clay.

Numero Dos: Oh my goodness, you’re so fancy!

Having a nice big shiny phone with that fancy screen protector is automatic points towards your awesome meter. The thoughts that most people have are “That person knows what’s up. Props for the totally awesome phone.” Also you get that moment of satisfaction when you know people see you using Siri and you can just feel that pang of jealousy emulating from their every pore. Drink in their jealousy, it is a beautiful thing.

Now one thing that should be remembered for whatever device you rock: make it your own. That’s why cases and sharpies were invented.

Summary: Technology rocks, make it complete your appearance and boost that awesome meter.

The Advantages to Daily Makeup

 Dear Ladies,

            Makeup is truly a magnificent invention, don’t be afraid to use it. The reason I’ve noticed for most females not wearing daily makeup is, not so much that they dislike it but, they fear doing it incorrectly so that it makes them appear worse rather than better. When it comes to makeup here is an excellent rule to live by: If you don’t need it, don’t use it.

            Yes, I understand that technically no one needs makeup, but let’s be real for a second and think of all of those late nights that produce those huge blackened circles under your eyes and the days where there’s that small spot of acne that you just can’t help but feel like is a red beacon on your face. Then, here comes along Mr. and Mrs. Makeup here to save the day in their pretty capes and you … wait. You turn them away? What?! Why?! No! You say “Oh hai! I love you, let’s be best friends!”

            There’s no need to smother your face in it, especially if you’re not going anywhere special, but if you want to get out of the house and say head to the mall and you just so happen to run into someone you find attractive, you don’t need to be worrying about that zit or those blackened circles. Makeup is a tool in any woman’s arsenal to feel pretty, there’s no need to dismiss such a wonderful advantage.

Summary: Wearing makeup daily doesn’t give a female a bad look, simply that she wants to look her best (or even just decent) on a consistent basis. So go for the makeup if you feel you should.

You're Beautiful too

            Fashion isn’t just about what you wear. Fashion has to do with clothes and hair just as much as the way you hold yourself.

            Yes, we see those gorgeous faces and perfect bodies everyday in advertisements and honestly everywhere we look. But, as many of us know, not all of those lovely men and women are really that lovely. Many of them are beautiful and seemingly perfect, but perfection is just a perception. Most of those people are photoshoped and covered in so much make-up and “movie-magic” types of tricks that the defects we would generally perceive are hidden.

            Those models could be almost anyone really. They are, for the most part, average people. The question that ran through my mind when I thought of this was “So… what makes them stand out? What makes them so different that they are the ones on the billboards and television screens?”

            Then I figured it out. It’s because of how they hold themselves, how they walk and laugh, and stand. We see them as beautiful not just because of their pretty clothes and photoshop-perfected skin, but because they themselves believe they are beautiful people. If you believe it, who is to contradict you? If you hold your back straight, shoulders back, and have a smile on your face, then how can you not be beautiful with so much confidence radiating from you? The answer is no one can.

Summary: Hold yourself with confidence. If you believe in your beauty, so will the rest of the world.

The Importance of What Covers Your Feet

            As you may, or may not, have noticed while taking random observations of people, you can tell a lot about a person by the type of shoes they wear. Shoes are like these magical signs that tell you about the type of person you’re dealing with. There are some who will disagree with this statement, but if you look down at their shoes you will most likely notice that they don’t match and really aren’t that fantastic to look at. What’s that say? That they don’t really have that great of an interest in their appearance.

            Now, that is perfectly normal. In fact many people do not pay as close attention to their appearance as I believe they should, but that is their choice to not be seen as well as they could be.

            Back to the shoes. Yay shoes! There really isn’t a set rule to shoe wearing except for these general tips:

1. Make them match the outfit as best as possible.
2. Not only should they match the outfit, but also the occasion and the season. Furry boots in the summer? Well… that’s just plain uncomfortable. Women wearing running shoes with an adorable dress to fancy event? Please never ever do that.
3. Try to preserve the life of your shoes. Don’t purposefully destroy them until they’re out-worn and you can turn them into some kind of art project.
4. Men, I understand that most of you do not believe that multiple pairs of shoes is useful, but trust me when I say: yes, they are so very useful.
5. Everyone should own a pair of boots for snowy weather, shoes that you don’t mind getting messed up, an average-goes-with-anything kind of shoe, fancy shoes, something for hot and/or beachy weather, and anything else that you may feel like is so fantastic you can’t live without.

Summary: Shoes complete your look, just because they're touching the floor doesn't mean they aren't just as important as the rest of your outfit. Choose wisely my friend.

Things to Know

One thing you must know about as a nerd? Nerdfighteria. What is this you ask? Well it was all created by John and Hank Green when they started their YouTube channel dubbed the Vlogbrothers. The two brothers decided to spend an entire year communicating to each other on alternating days without the means of textual communication.
They slowly began to grow a large following. The brothers and their followers called themselves Nerdfighters. They claim to be made, instead of bones, organs, and tissues, of awesome. 
Many changes have occurred in the world due to these fantastic people. F you love knowledge, science, music, art, English, or are basically passionate about anything, you can find a place in Nerdfighteria. They are accepting and kind.
Go to www.youtube.com/Vlogbrothers to start learning about the awesome of Nerdfighters.

Know It Before You Buy It

I admit that the little nerdy tee's about Invader Zim and Sailor Moon sold at Hot Topic are adorable, but you shouldn't wear a shirt about a subject that you barely know anything about.
 I, myself, have been a strong Jhonen Vasquez fan for the past decade or so; which doesn't make me an expert by any means, but does give the distinct advantage of knowing what I'm wearing when I put on my purple Gir shirt. 
You don't need to watch every episode of a show to avoid poser status, just watch a couple of episodes, or at least look into it so you know what you're wearing, so that you can have a proper conversation about your adorable new shirt with someone who does love the show.

Summary: buy all the cute shirts yo want, just make sure you know what the subject on your shirt is. Being a poser is not a good thing.

T-Shirts are for the Geeky Kids

            A nerd is nothing without their geeky tee-shirts. You don’t have to be fancy everyday, plus, why not show a little pride in your lifestyle? Geek references are everywhere and wearing them around on your torso is likely to get you some serious props. And, even if it doesn’t you can feel that little happy bubble inside you that says “I am made if awesome.”

            The absolute best places to acquire such amazing attire are at conveniently located stores, a.k.a. shops on the internet. Such as: http://www.teefury.com/ ; http://shirt.woot.com/ ; http://dftba.com/category/13/Shirts ; http://www.threadless.com/ ; http://riptapparel.com/ .

            Don’t just stop there though, follow your favorite artists, authors, geeks, scientists, etc, and they will almost definitely be selling shirts of intellectual value.

Summary: Geeky shirts are epic. Buy them, wear them, and don’t forget to be awesome.

The In's and Out's of Today's Hair

            What is one essential piece of yourself you must always maintain? … Yes? You, with the face… hair? Correct you are sir! Hair is something you must keep up with at all times.

            Hair should be styled constantly. If your hair is messy and unworthy of attention, then so are you, despite the possible classiness of your current apparel. Your hair can have the option of sitting there, and looking quite presentable, or its style can be executed so well that it is outstanding no matter what you wear.

            There are the forever-in-style type of cuts such as the woman’s beautiful long hair or the man’s clean cut look with nicely maintained hair on all fronts, or the buzz cut. As of this moment the 80’s shaved head is coming back, patterns on the head are very in. However the shave is only part of the head, unlike back in the day when it would have been all shaved except or the top, people now are choosing to keep it long with sections of their heads cleared out.

            Many men are going either towards the 50’s style of a large swooping front, a fauxhawk, a mohawk, or even the longer, swishy type of straightened-looking hair. For women, the natural look is in right now. Long flowing hair is a bonus. It should generally be straightened, curled, braided or in a sloppy bun. Short hair should be extremely short, as in a cute pixie cut. Also, the 50’s housewife is back as well as the 80’s rockstar. We now live in a diverse community, take advantage of it while you can.

Summary: Keep your hair styled, messy hair equals for a messy person.

Homecoming (For the Ladies)

A major event of the school year, it is never too early to find an outfit. There is one thing that you need to know about semi-formal functions: you must wear a dress, and it should stay like a pop-in visit to your new neighbor, short and sweet. Main rule ladies: stay classy, not trashy. Everything depends on your figure and what you're comfortable wearing. Do not wear something that does not flatter you. Not as in shape as you would wish? Then don't wear a skintight dress, why wear clothing that gives you an unseemly figure when you can find a dress just as gorgeous that makes you look as fantastic as the fabric? (Answer: there is no reason.)

Now, dressy shmancy fancy events, such as Homecoming, are the perfect opportunities to act like a male peacock and strut your stuff so everyone knows that you are the absolute best person there. This may sound absurd and perhaps even primitive, but give in a little to those animal instincts to win the adoration of others, it’s not as crazy as it sounds, I promise.

To achieve this socially expected norm, you must assemble the perfect outfit. Step 1: find the perfect dress. It must be short, but not too short, or possibly long, but not floor length. Volume will give you a “I’m freaking adorable, look a how cute I am!” kind of feel. As opposed to the tightly fitted dress that is more “Oh hello there, I am gorgeous, look at me and be jealous.” Color and patterns are also the best way to stand out in a crowd. I once wore a tight fitting silver dress that basically made me look like a non-spherical disco ball. It looked wacky but fantastic. Hound’s tooth, plaid, neon, or just plain black can be fantastic options.

Step 2: shoes. The shoes you pick are essential, they complete an outfit. If your dress is busy with pattern and/or color, then I would highly recommend a pair of shoes that maybe have an interesting shape, but are toned down on color and lack pattern. The opposite goes, however for solid color dresses. Bright crazy shoes are exceptionally wonderful.

Step 3: tights. They can be wacky or plain, pick whatever you believe looks best. They are small, but essential.

Step 4: hair. Up-dos are most common for such events. I suggest if you do not decide to do the simple home style—such as straightening or curling—you should invest in going to your hairdresser and have them do something fantastic. Remember to match it to your outfit’s overall look. If you have a hard edgy look going on, try something sleeked back rather than curls.

Step 5: make-up. Go all out. Foundation, eye shadow, eye liner, mascara, lipstick, maybe even some blush. Do not, however, go to heavy on it. Looking like a clown did your make-up is the last thing you want. This step also includes nails. Nail polish is not exactly essential but does add a sophisticated touch.

Summary: A dress is necessary, stay classy, not trashy. Make everything you wear match, and be that peacock, shine your little geeky heart out and blow everyone away.

Homecoming (for the male persuasion)

Semiformal: a term I'm sure you most likely know little to no information on. So, here's the skinny: a semiformal function--such as a homecoming dance--is simply a middle ground area for clothing choice. You are not expected to wear a full tuxedo or suit, but never are you to attend in jeans and a teeshirt. 
The average outfit for such events are as follows: a dress shirt, dress pants, dress shoes, and a tie.
Now, you can mosey on into the dance in this generic outfit and fit in quite well with the sea of bland taste OR you can add some flare to spice up your look.
Let's start with the essentials; the shirt should be a collared button-down, you should be able to smell the fancy coming off of this freshly pressed garment. The pants should also be pressed and possibly pleats. Pure white and plain black are all well and good, but choose one of these major pieces of your wardrobe to change up a bit. There's little as shocking as a neon colored shirt with a pair of black pants. Patterns are also excellent choices.
The physically smaller pieces of your wardrobe are just as important, perhaps even more so! The shoes and tie you choose are huge hints as to your character. Choose whatever you like best, bow tie, normal neck tie, skinny tie, regular dress shoes, saddle shoes, or even a good oh'l pair of Chuck Taylors or Vans.
Now that the "must have"s are covered, it's time to consider accessories, suspenders, hats, sunglasses, hair styles. These are all important, maybe not necessary, but important. But, please men, do do something with your hair, do not leave it a sloppy mess. 
To make your outfit work to best of your ability, 1. Do not clutter yourself with color and patterns, and 2. Make sure your clothing fits well.
Effort is important, don't go halfway gentlemen. Ladies tend to prefer men with a bit of style and class.

Summary: wear some fancy clothes and pump up the volume.

Accessorize Like a Champ

        One of the major rules of winning like uhm, Charlie Sheen perhaps(?), is to remember this one word: accessories.
        You can wear the plainest outfit in the world and still look unique if only there are accessories involved. Accessories accomplish a number of things: 1. they tell a story about the person wearing them. 2. They are an excellent conversation starter. 3. When given compliments for your unique style of awesome, you are able to tell what type of person the admirer is by the compliment they give.
        Despite all of the fantastic advantages given to you by the magical concept of accessories, make sure not to abuse the gift(s). Cluttering yourself with accessories is like giving a shout-out to the world that says “Hey! I’m way too crazy and over-done! I have no idea what I’m doing, I just took these clothes off of the floor at random.” Who wants that? [Hopefully no one.]
Summary: Accessories rock but don’t rock them too hardcore.

A Rule to Live By

Being fashionable is not just to wear something prim and clean, something that everyone
sees as “nice.” What’s even better than wearing a socially acceptable shirt is to wear something
new and outrageous. You want to stand out! Fashion is showing you, and your personality, with
your skin, cotton, leather, patterns, clothing.
You must find your own voice; sometimes it’s better to stick out in a crowd. Looking
different from most of the people around you is a good thing, it shows your confidence, that you
don’t need to care about others’ opinions of you because you have self assurance, you know who
you are.
Now saying all of that, we must lay down some ground rules. 1: Don’t stick out for the
wrong reasons. You want to be you, but don’t be so out there that you are overall looked at with
scorn rather than pleasantly surprised. For instance, always wear the same shades of color. If you
are wearing a blue shirt, blue shoes, and a blue hat, make sure they match! Otherwise you will
look sloppy. If the accessory is slightly off, don’t sweat it, but if it is truly noticeable scrap the
outfit and start again.
Along those same lines: do not mix patterns. Polka dots and stripes do not match; they
never have and never will. Same rule applies with plaid or tie-dye. Patterns and color shades
should not be mixed. Remember that, and your fashion sense will be well on its way to glorious
victory.

Summary: Have your own style, but don’t go so out of the box that you look ridiculous. For
starters, always remember to never mix patterns or shades of a color.

The Beginning

First thing's first. Let's start with the reason behind the creation of Geek Chic. Most of my life I have been thrown into this society that has seemed to come to the conclusion that being a nerd or geek is a bad thing. Being a dork is a poor quality to them. To many those of a nerdy disposition are only good for being the smart kid who loves comic books and gets beaten up.
Well, my dear society, I disagree with a fierceness. Being a smart nerdy individual is something to be proud of, and I wear my pride.
Fashion is a passion of mine, as is breaking stereotypes. Geeks don't have to be poorly dressed, we have our own unique looks that are filled with awesome. And here, is where I plan to share my own style and hope to give tips to some of us who might like some advice.
For starters let us start with a basic rule: stay true to yourself, no matter what.
For some reason people feel this peculiar need to conform to other's ideas and opinions even when that idea is not really what they think. Me? I say screw that. I know what I like, and yes, it is perfectly acceptable to listen to other people and what they have to say but not to the point where an individual has to pretend to be someone they are not.
This rule applies to all factors of life, including fashion. If you love what you are wearing, then don't change! The commentators may have some good advice, but if they simply don't like the outfit then laugh and keep on rocking life.