Geek culture has recently expanded to include a wider range of arts and interests than it used to. You can be an anime geek, a Marvel geek, a sci-fi geek, a video game geek and still be generally accepted under the geek umbrella. But what about people who are abnormally into comedy? What about experts on past and present hip hop? How about avid consumers of coffee and coffee culture? Are they not a branch of geek culture? What makes a geek?
I happen to be a self-proclaimed fashion geek. I’ve invested an exceptional amount of time into fashion, from shopping the latest styles to staying up-to-date on what’s happening both in the industry and in the streets. I talk to my friends about ways they can incorporate it into their everyday lives, and I even have a blog where I share my personal take with the rest of the Internet. Arguably, all of these things fall into what I call the 3 Levels of Geekdom.
1. Passion & Community
My above-average interest in fashion put me on the path to geekdom, but what really defines my fashion geekery is my found community. I keep up with other fashion geeks on Instagram and Pinterest and I attend conventions to meet even more like-minded geeks. This fashion sisterhood is larger than any one of us, and we all come together with our different personal styles and perspectives. These perspectives combined make a diverse and growing community dedicated to finding, wearing, and making better fashion.
2. Following & Fangirling
Every fandom has its all-stars. In fashion, those faces are the designers, editors, bloggers, and brands that work it from the runway to the blogosphere. You know how someone might geek out over a Stan Lee cameo in Ant-Man? My version of that is melting into an absolute fangirl when I see that Kendi Everyday is in Austin on Instagram. Knowing the Who’s Who is imperative so that when Sophia Amoruso favorites your #girlboss tweet, you can react accordingly!
3. Technology & Investment
Downloading the latest apps, or even using new platforms in beta, is a fun way I’ve stayed ahead of the game in fashion. I love remaining ahead of the curve by trying new things so that I have a sense of expertise when the trend grows and everyone’s mom, sister, and second cousin join in. Besides investing my time, my financial investment deepens my involvement in the fashion community. Not only am I superficially interested in the return of mid-century-inspired fashion, but I’m willing to spend my hard-earned cash to put it in my closet, thus supporting both my hobby and the industry.
Being a geek has so much to do with achieving a sense of belonging. I’ve found my people, my home in fashion. It’s not perfect, but it’s mine, and I’m ready to let me geek flag fly.