The secret fantasy of the sexy librarian hidden behind her dorky reading glasses has long played into the subconscious
of every boy going from squeaky high voice to a young man with that one hair on his chin since I could remember.
I always wondered as a little girl what the big fixation was. Always looking at the boys in my 8th grade class as total
perverts for lusting after older woman who looked more like geeky nerds than my idol, Cindy Crawford or Naomi Campbell.
I didn’t get it.
But as I, myself grew and began to figure out my own desires, obsessions, secrets and sexuality as a woman, the perspective
began to rapidly open up. Secrets are sexy. Secret identities even sexier…. Fashion revamped with a touch of nerd seems
like the perfect collision. The first time I was exposed to an actual “cool kid” coming out proud in “nerd fashion”, doning
the now trendy black framed reading glasses was fashionista and designer KESH. I was exposed to her while cruising
the galactic highways of that phenomenon once known as MYSPACE. She had this picture of herself bending forward
with a peace sign in the air, throwing up a deuce sign in this amazing tribal romper with a pair of stylish specs on.
I was sold.
She was instantly a new superhero I could follow and respect. Nerds are Smart. Smart is sexy. Smart, nerds who love fashion
like I do is even sexier. So since that time the rise of the black framed, introverted, too cool for school ‘cuz I’m so uncool, I’m cool,
nerd look has risen to new heights. Instead of being a passing fad, the look is one that has become a steady staple in a wise
fashion girl’s/boy’s closet of optional accessories. Wear something hot, put your fly kicks on, and shine those lenses off.
Nerd Culture is here to stay.
*Photography by Aston Watson
