It’s not a big surprise to anyone who even remotely follows fashion, that in times of economic upheaval or uncertainty, fashion skews predictably safe, with stable—even sometimes somber—styles. Dressing as if all hell is about to break loose somehow doesn’t match the mood or psychology of a country mired in uncertainty.
And so it is now. Whereas skinny jeans and Ed Hardy mish-mash tees may have ruled the day a few years back, the forward-marching trend is Geek Chic. For guys, it’s skinny ties, argyle sweater vests, plaids, horned-rimmed glasses and button downs. For girls, it’s the schoolgirl look, with plaid skirts, ties, button downs, short-sleeved dresses, and again, those nerdy glasses.
Geek chic has strong ties to the early ‘60s, as visualized on Mad Men, with the current trend borrowing liberally from that show’s business attire, then mixing in a bit of preppy and a tad of science nerd – and finally fine-tuning with one’s own panache.
Think bookish look with a hipster twist, as epitomized by Justin Timberlake, the characters on Gossip Girl, and Joe Jonas, and you get the picture.
Geek chic is a look that is 100% American, another reason it is hitting a psychological nerve at this point in time. People want to return to an America that was safe, stable, glamorous – and fun. “Mad Men” costume designer Janie Bryant noted recently that certain styles have a resonance that people return to again and again, especially in times of stress, and this is what is fueling the Mad Men fashion resurgence. She suggests that to really make geek chic work for guys, they need to pair an argyle vest with a collar-up shirt with the tail hanging out.
Here is a list of the basics for your own Geek Chic look (Jon Hamm not included):
* fitted apparel
* cardigans and vests, preferably argyle
* short-sleeve dresses
* shirttails
* horned-rimmed glasses
* plaid, plaid, plaid
* skinny ties or bow-ties (tricky)
* flats for girls
* wingtips for guys
