I am a geek, nerd, wonk, whatever you prefer. I always have been. When I was younger I boldly wore the shirts, dresses, pants, scarves, etc. that proclaimed loudly to the world I was indeed one of the geeky persuasion, daring them to fight me on it or question my geekness. Movie and book premieres were costumed events. Barely a day went by when there wasn’t some item of geekery on my body, generally more than one. T-shirts, patches, messenger bags, beanies, you name it chances are I wore it.
As I have grown, my adult responsibilities have made it difficult to loudly and proudly display my nerd loves.
Which means, I have become a master of low-key geeking. I often casual cosplay a Winchester, but since t-shirts, jeans, boots, and plaid shirts are also staples in my closet, I don’t really count them anymore. I will add an enamel pin to an outfit. Disneybounding is just plain fun. What is Disneybounding you may ask? Think casual cosplay, but with a strong Disney vibe.
Knowing that you are low-key representing a fandom not only just helps you get through a manic Monday (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, basically all days), but it helps fellow nerds spot you easier in a crowd. Some of my good friends I met because I happened to be wearing some form of geekiness in public that allowed them to ask “Excuse me, but is that…?”
Allow me to share some tips and ideas with you.
- Imagination is key! If you love She-Hulk, obviously painting yourself green is generally not an option for professional life. Instead grab your favorite green dress, a purple belt, and a black purse. Tada, casual cosplay.
- Check out places like Elhoffer Design and Her Universe. They both have a wide range of pieces to sneak in your fandom loves. Think Geek has a pretty good selection.
- Enamel pins are big! They perfect to throw on a blazer for that big meeting. I have professional headshots with Maleficent proudly on my lapel.
- Definitely check out places like Jordandené (duh), Logan Arch, The Colorful Geek, Jinx, and of course do some searching on Etsy.
- Another way to show off your fandom love it through nail art. While some folks take it to incredible extremes, Espionage Cosmetics has some Nerd Manicures that make it easy for almost anyone to sport droids, donuts, D20s, etc. on their fingertips.
- Keep an eye open. Regular chain stores often have geeky items you can use. Places you would think would have something, like GameStop or Hot Topic, but also places like Walmart and Target will have some of the larger fandom items.
- Get creative! If a t-shirt isn’t dress code for you, see if there is a way with some minor adjustments that it can be dress code. Or create something for outside of work. My personal favorite is to easily turn a t-shirt into a tank top.
Life is too short to let your fandom loves go unrepresented in your daily life.
We are bogged down as grown-ups, life can seem overwhelming and rough. So let a little bit of geekery brighten your day, and, who knows, maybe it will brighten someone else’s day. Be on the lookout for others’ low-key geekiness too. If you see something you are pretty sure is a Tardis, ask! Most geeks are excited to find someone else who loves their fandoms as much as they do.
What are some of your favorite ways to represent your fandoms in everyday life?
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Rachael Parker
Rachael has been a geek all her life. Beginning with deep dives in Narnia, the Shire, Tortall, Damar, and loads of others. As she grew, she added other realms to her geekdom, games of all kinds, movies, comic books, etc. In her free time, Rachael is involved with several local theatre groups, hangs out with her friends and family, and plays and snuggles with her nieces and nephews.
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