Being Geek Chic is a blog about one woman navigating the male-dominated industries of production and tech. It's written by Elizabeth Giorgi, Founder, CEO and Director of Mighteor - one of the world's first internet video production companies. Learn more about Mighteor here.
Remember this? Well, I wasn’t full of shit. I really do love pins. And I had to have that TARDIS one.
I think it looks pretty good in all these capacities. Lapel. Clutch. Necklace. Hair. All lovely. All sophisticated. All conversation starters. Most importantly, I can go to work without causing a stir.
Looking at thees pictures it’s pretty clear that I haven’t been able to properly process my weight loss either… like, it doesn’t seem real to me. I am proud of myself. I’ll write about it someday, once I figure out what the hell there is to say.
Either way, I had way too much fun playing dress up with this pin… So watch this video to check out the fifth way to wear the pin:
I had to give you a reason to click play after all…
If you care at all what I’m wearing:
On bad hair days, I tend to go straight for the hair barrettes. See my haircut is one that has long bangs in the front that are either totally cute or totally unmanageable, depending on the day. On the crazy days, they get pulled back ASAP.
I have long thought that the singular LEGO stud looked like a little gem. There’s some thing about the clear ones in particular that give off a jewel-like sparkle. It makes them perfect for this LEGO barrette DIY.
Here’s how you do it:
1. Take a long, thicker barrette (like these ones) and put it on a piece of cardboard. This will give you the sturdiness you need to push down on the LEGO studs.
2. Using superglue that comes with a brush, brush on a long thin line of superglue. As you can see in the video, I painted half the glue on, did three studs and then painted the other half and applied the last three studs.
3. Let it dry for at least 30 minutes. If you are worried about the strength of the glue, you can lightly paint the sides and edges for more hold.
4. Remove from cardboard. If you’re having trouble, you can use a butter knife or nail file to get it off.
You need:
Super glue
Flat bobby pins
Single stud LEGO pieces
35 minutes
Total cost: The bobby pins were $2.50 and I already had the LEGO on hand, so about .42 per pin.
I’m into accessories. It’s why so many of my DIYs are accessory focused. They’re an easy way to pep up an otherwise average outfit and always seem more affordable than the blazers, sweaters, jeans and such.
Oh, plus hair. I love a crazy hairdo. (Even though I’m usually too lazy to do my own hair…)
1. Arrow ring//I wear this all the damn time, so it’s hard to avoid repeating it.//(House of Harlow)
2. This is a Princess Leia ½ bun (because I don’t have the other side… get it?) with a Katniss braid wrapped around it.
3. Great Gatsby iPad folio//reviewed it here//seriously, you need an iPad folio at work. It’s the best. (Out of Print Clothing)
4. Wonder Woman flats I DIY’d//still my most popular DIY ever & still popular in my wardrobe//
I had a major find at the thrift store this weekend. I found three new vintage camera parts including a small Kodak lens case and a really cool 40s film projector. It got me thinking about how I could sport some camera-themed fashion to work.
The long sleeve tee comes courtesy of Rainbow Swirlz on Etsy ($25) and comes in a short sleeve version as well. I’ve paired it with a white blazer (H&M, 2010) and a yellow/gold skirt. I like gold/mustard/yellow skirts (Marni, Spring 2011) right now, because I think they transition surprisingly well from fall to winter and back to spring. As I mentioned last week, I’m obsessed with wedges, so it should come as no surprise that I fell in love with these wedge boots from Michael Kors ($245). The color helps to make the skirt and the blazer more dressed-down while the shape and style feels more dressed up. For the jewelry, I liked the idea of mixing golds of various tones to play off the gold skirt, which is why the starburst earrings (Betsey Johnson, $30) and the bib style necklace (Fossil, $95) work well. Remember, your metals don’t need to match.
If you’ve got a geeky item that you’d like us to style for work, please send it to us at [email protected].
I’ve been posting Geeky at Work outfits for nearly three months and I thought I’d diverge from the usual today and talk about the key things you need to do to integrate geek into your wardrobe. In other words: “A Guide to Getting Geeky at Work.”
So what separates a successful integration of geek into an outfit from a failure? The most important thing is confidence. Every part of fashion and pulling off any look is all about having the confidence to believe that you really look good in it. If you believe it, others will too and that’s what matters.
In more tangible terms, there are some small trends I’ve noticed to help guide you on your way.
First, accessories are ALWAYS the easiest thing to integrate, but can often verge into the world of camp. To avoid this, pick items that have the same traits as other accessories you also like. For example, no cheap plastic beads or adjustable ring bands. Necklaces like this Edgar Allen Poe piece are made of high quality materials with delicate cutouts that create a sophisticated silhouette.
Second, if you’re going to choose a clothing item, then try to choose things that have a simple color scheme. One or two colors at most seem to make for the most successful choices. That’s why I love this Harry Potter themed 9 and ¾ tee so very much. It’s a subtle nod to the films and books with a simple design and one very basic color on a fitted black tee. I can’t imagine a more perfect item.
And last, don’t try to hide your geek pride! There’s no point in sporting this huge 8-bit Barret if you aren’t going to let it shine. This goes back to the confidence piece, but sometimes subtlety is the enemy. Let your inner geek come through and have some fun.
If you’ve got a geeky item that you’d like us to style for work, please send it to us at [email protected].
