Terms of UseHow to Dress Nerd Chic (for Boys) Explore this Article parts 1 Choosing Your Clothing 2 Accessorizing with Your Outfit 3 Acting the Part Other Sections Expert Q&A Tips and Warnings Related Articles References Co-authored by wikiHow Staff
Last Updated: August 20, 2025 References
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This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 61,373 times.
Once upon a time, nerds were ridiculed and taunted for their tidy, bookish style and straight-laced ways. Today's fashion, however, celebrates the quirks and weirdness of the individual. If you identify with all that is nerdy, you'll be glad to know that nerd chic craze has been recently sweeping the fashion industry.[1]XResearch source Grab your glasses and head to your closet. It's time to embrace your inner nerd.
Steps
Part 1 Part 1 of 3:
Choosing Your Clothing
1 Pick a shirt that matches your sense of nerd style. There are varying degrees of nerd chic that might suit your tastes. You may be most comfortable with a preppier look, dressing in a button down and layering a cardigan over top. However, a clean-cut graphic tee with a pair of khakis will give your look a more casual, edgier appearance.
Graphic tees are a great way to represent the parts of nerd culture you love best. You may have one that features a math or science theme, a Doctor Who design, or even a Star Wars character.
Cardigans are a versatile over-garment that'll give your nerdy look a dapper appeal. This article of clothing is a cozy substitute for hoodies, which may come across as overly casual.
Button down shirts are a popular option in nerd chic fashion, especially when paired with a cardigan or trendy sweater. Patterned fabrics, like checks or stripes, will make your shirt stand out even when layered beneath a cardigan.
2 Selecting suitable pants. A pair of dressier pants will be usually compliment your nerd chic style. Khakis will often be enough to set your look apart from the everyday, but you can add a slightly more formal touch with chinos.
A nice pair of jeans can work with this style as well, though you'll want to be sure the other elements of your outfit are more formal to offset the casualness of the jeans. Fitted jeans are a good option, as these will match with the clean-cut vibe that is iconic among nerds.
Slim, straight-legged Levis are timeless, go-to jeans that flatter many men and match nearly everything. Bootcuts and calf-hugging skinny jeans can look excessively trendy.
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3 Find fitting footwear. For the style of your shoes to fit the nerd chic look, you'll have to abandon your sneakers for a less casual option. Oxford shoes, brogues, or shoes of a similar design to these are well suited for nerd chic outfits. Be sure that your shoes match your choice of pants or are similar tones, otherwise your outfit might not match well.[2]XResearch source
Try to avoid black shoes and brown pants or brown shoes and black pants. Though there are some exceptions, generally these colors contrast too sharply to match well.
Brown shoes are very versatile, and match with most colors aside from black. If you are struggling with choosing the right shoe color for your nerd chic outfit, brown shoes are a safe bet.
Black shoes work best in a formal setting. You'll find that dark tones, especially gray and blue, pair well with black shoes. Lighter colors, like mustard, burgundy, and tan, can create an unpleasantly sharp contrast. This can be lessened by cuffing your pants to reveal a small amount of ankle.[3]XResearch source
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Part 2 Part 2 of 3:
Accessorizing with Your Outfit
1 Wear glasses. You don't have to have poor vision to wear a pair of stylish frames! You can buy glasses with non-prescription lenses at your local eye boutique or eyeglass store.[4]XResearch source More economic choices are also available online for the cost conscious nerd. Of course, if you already wear glasses, you probably already have this accessory as a part of your wardrobe.
When selecting a pair of frames, you should try to choose a pair that compliment the shape of your face and highlight your eyes. As each person's head is different, you'll have to try on pairs until you find out what looks best on you!
A thick framed pair of Buddy Holly-esque glasses can add an air of goofy innocence to your getup. Your lenses should be an expression of your inner nerd.
You should be careful when buying frames online. Although the cost of these is usually very competitive, without a try on first, you may find the pair uncomfortable or unflattering when they finally arrive.
2 Spice up your look with a bow tie or necktie. Bow ties have taken off in popularity thanks to characters like The Doctor, hero of nerd culture's adored TV series, Doctor Who.[5]XResearch source But if you're uncomfortable with a bow tie, a tie repping your favorite aspect of nerd culture, like a 20-sided die from Dungeons and Dragons, can further nerdify your ensemble.[6]XResearch source
You may want to save your tie for collared shirts and avoid wearing one with a graphic tee. The lack of a substantial collar in tees can make your tie look out of place, causing it to clash.
3 Upgrade your backpacks and satchels. The nylon commonly used in the backpacks and satchels of your late high school days can come across as childish, losing you nerd points in the style game.[7]XResearch source You can improve your choice of backpack/satchel with a canvas or leather bag. Look for rich, luxurious colors and materials, like brass clasps and oxblood colored leather.
These sorts of accessories frequently remind people of the kinds of bags used by professors and academics. This will only add to your air of nerdiness.
4 Slip on a timepiece. This is not a necessity, but if you're a person who likes to have a watch on hand, a timepiece can be a classy alternative to checking your phone every five minutes. You should opt for a simple, elegant timepiece. One that is too flashy might seem more preppy than nerdy.
You may want a more retro look, in which case a large, multi-function plastic watch will do nicely. These have the added benefit of being relatively cheap and coming in many colors.
For nerds with an appreciation for class, a pocket watch can be a posh addition to your nerdy attire. What's more, many of these come in designs popular to nerd culture, like watches featuring styles from Doctor Who, Fullmetal Alchemist, or even mathematic formulas.[8]XResearch source
5 Add a classy pin or button that reflects your nerd culture. You don't want to go overboard with pins and buttons, as this can give the impression of immaturity. However, you can proudly wear one or two of your favorites on your backpack, satchel, or shirt as a badge representing your nerd culture.[9]XResearch source
A lapel pin can be a simple way of identifying yourself with nerd culture. These also make an excellent conversation piece, giving you an opportunity to share a little bit about your nerdier interests.
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Part 3 Part 3 of 3:
Acting the Part
1 Familiarize yourself with computers. Though this isn't necessary for dressing up in the nerd chic style, being able to easily use a computer will give others the impression that you're a dyed-in-the-wool nerd. You don't have to be a master programmer or software engineer, but a basic understanding of common programs and interfaces, like Windows and Apple, would surely help your nerdy appeal.
You might also want to learn how to type. This way you don't ruin your nerd chic image by having to hen-peck letters from the keyboard while typing.[10]XResearch source
2 Gain mastery over gadgets. This is especially true of gadgets that are common in your areas of interest. For example, if you claimed to be a math nerd but couldn't use a graphing calculator, people may question whether or not you're really a nerd at all.
Some people may feel as though they're being deceived if they find that you appear to be something that you're not. In this case, you may want to address this by saying, "You're right, I'm not a nerd - I'm just a fan of nerd style!"
3 Exercise your brain. Your hard selected and well-chosen nerd outfit could fall apart like a house of cards if those smart glasses you've chosen aren't backed up by substance. You might want to take a little time to brush up on nerd culture. Pick out an area of interest that stimulates your interest and get nerdy with it!
You could also proudly tell your friends that, although not a nerd, you're an advocate of nerd culture. This way you can enjoy fashion without having to invest time learning how to be a nerd.
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Expert Q&A
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Question What kind of outfit works well with brogue shoes? Jordan Stolch Image Consultant & Style Advisor Jordan Stolch is an Image Strategist, Style Advisor, and the Founder of MiKADO - a concierge personal styling firm. With over a decade of experience, Jordan specializes in helping people eliminate the confusion and insecurities associated with how to dress in order to build a powerful image and use clothing to their strategic advantage. Jordan trains entrepreneurs, business leaders, and corporate executives in the foundations of "power dressing", from some of the country's preeminent companies such as Morgan Stanley, Deloitte, Berkshire Hathaway, Universal Music Group, Starbucks, and Disney. She works with clients both in-person and virtually, teaching them how to take the confusion out of style so they can operate at a higher level. Jordan earned her BA in Psychology from the University of Waterloo and studied Merchandise Marketing at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIDM). Jordan Stolch Image Consultant & Style Advisor Expert Answer For men, if you don't want to do a men's dress shoe with a suit, a brogue is a nice step down from that. It will keep the suit feeling fresh and not as formal. If we wanted to bring it down from that we could do jeans with brogues. Then on top, we could do anything from a nice sweater to a white T-shirt with a blazer or even a cardigan. That look would be really polished but still cool and effortless. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0
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Tips
Be sure your shirts are well-fitted. Over sized dress shirts can look more like a pajama top. The shoulder seams should hit the edge of your shoulders. If you notice this seam falls on your bicep, your shirt is too big. Similarly, the bottom of your shirt should not pass your crotch. Untucked, it should hit more or less around the hipbone. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Don't be afraid to experiment with different patterns. Some common patterns frequently sported by posh nerds include stripes, pinstripes, diamonds, argyle, or grid. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Another classic choice for top-wear is the polo shirt. Pastel polos tend to be the territory of the preppy or country club set. Look for attractive, bold, deep, or rich colors with nondescript labels. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
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1 Pick a shirt that matches your sense of nerd style. There are varying degrees of nerd chic that might suit your tastes. You may be most comfortable with a preppier look, dressing in a button down and layering a cardigan over top. However, a clean-cut graphic tee with a pair of khakis will give your look a more casual, edgier appearance. 
2 Selecting suitable pants. A pair of dressier pants will be usually compliment your nerd chic style. Khakis will often be enough to set your look apart from the everyday, but you can add a slightly more formal touch with chinos. 
3 Find fitting footwear. For the style of your shoes to fit the nerd chic look, you'll have to abandon your sneakers for a less casual option. Oxford shoes, brogues, or shoes of a similar design to these are well suited for nerd chic outfits. Be sure that your shoes match your choice of pants or are similar tones, otherwise your outfit might not match well.[2] 
1 Wear glasses. You don't have to have poor vision to wear a pair of stylish frames! You can buy glasses with non-prescription lenses at your local eye boutique or eyeglass store.[4] More economic choices are also available online for the cost conscious nerd. Of course, if you already wear glasses, you probably already have this accessory as a part of your wardrobe. 
2 Spice up your look with a bow tie or necktie. Bow ties have taken off in popularity thanks to characters like The Doctor, hero of nerd culture's adored TV series, Doctor Who.[5] But if you're uncomfortable with a bow tie, a tie repping your favorite aspect of nerd culture, like a 20-sided die from Dungeons and Dragons, can further nerdify your ensemble.[6] 
3 Upgrade your backpacks and satchels. The nylon commonly used in the backpacks and satchels of your late high school days can come across as childish, losing you nerd points in the style game.[7] You can improve your choice of backpack/satchel with a canvas or leather bag. Look for rich, luxurious colors and materials, like brass clasps and oxblood colored leather. 
4 Slip on a timepiece. This is not a necessity, but if you're a person who likes to have a watch on hand, a timepiece can be a classy alternative to checking your phone every five minutes. You should opt for a simple, elegant timepiece. One that is too flashy might seem more preppy than nerdy. 
5 Add a classy pin or button that reflects your nerd culture. You don't want to go overboard with pins and buttons, as this can give the impression of immaturity. However, you can proudly wear one or two of your favorites on your backpack, satchel, or shirt as a badge representing your nerd culture.[9] 
1 Familiarize yourself with computers. Though this isn't necessary for dressing up in the nerd chic style, being able to easily use a computer will give others the impression that you're a dyed-in-the-wool nerd. You don't have to be a master programmer or software engineer, but a basic understanding of common programs and interfaces, like Windows and Apple, would surely help your nerdy appeal. 
2 Gain mastery over gadgets. This is especially true of gadgets that are common in your areas of interest. For example, if you claimed to be a math nerd but couldn't use a graphing calculator, people may question whether or not you're really a nerd at all. 
3 Exercise your brain. Your hard selected and well-chosen nerd outfit could fall apart like a house of cards if those smart glasses you've chosen aren't backed up by substance. You might want to take a little time to brush up on nerd culture. Pick out an area of interest that stimulates your interest and get nerdy with it! 
Jordan Stolch Image Consultant & Style Advisor Jordan Stolch is an Image Strategist, Style Advisor, and the Founder of MiKADO - a concierge personal styling firm. With over a decade of experience, Jordan specializes in helping people eliminate the confusion and insecurities associated with how to dress in order to build a powerful image and use clothing to their strategic advantage. Jordan trains entrepreneurs, business leaders, and corporate executives in the foundations of "power dressing", from some of the country's preeminent companies such as Morgan Stanley, Deloitte, Berkshire Hathaway, Universal Music Group, Starbucks, and Disney. She works with clients both in-person and virtually, teaching them how to take the confusion out of style so they can operate at a higher level. Jordan earned her BA in Psychology from the University of Waterloo and studied Merchandise Marketing at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIDM).