ON August 28, 2013, the phrase “Geek Chic” officially made its way to the Oxford Dictionary, and on that day, the once obscure comic/book/movie/gaming/tech/(insert not so popular hobby here) lifestyle went mainstream and even became a trend.
The definition may have been new at the time but the concept of nerdiness and geekiness, believe it or not, is already over a hundred years old—although with quite a different meaning.
According to the web site www.todayifoundout.com, the first documented case of “geek” dates all the way back to 1916. But it was a very different scenario, as the term was used to describe sideshow freaks in circuses. Those acts that did crazy stuff were called “geek shows” originating from the word “geck,” a Low German word which meant someone who is a “fool/freak/simpleton.”
The first documented case of “nerd” came a few decades later, 1950, from Dr. Seuss’s If I Ran the Zoo. The specific text was: “a Nerkle, a Nerd, and a Seersucker too.” The first documented use of the word came a year after Dr. Seuss’s book, appearing in a Newsweek magazine article, and was used similarly to how we use it today.
The article further said there are two popular theories as to where the word was derived from. The first is that it was perhaps derived from “drunk” spelled backward, “knurd,” which descried people who studied instead of going out with friends and partying—and as a modification of “nut” or “nert” which meant crazy person.
Question: Are nerds and geeks the same?
Although they are used interchangeably, they are quite different species. The Urban Dictionary defines nerds as: “Smart, people who lack much of a social life. They often have very few friends. Nerds don’t talk much, and don’t expect others to talk much to them. They are usually nice people, but don’t have the social skills to go out and meet new friends.”
Geeks, on the other hand, are different from nerds in the fact that they have social lives. “However, these social lives are often spent pursuing some passion that the geek is obsessed with (i.e. Pokémon). They spend all their time thinking about their one obsession, and play it in all of their free time. Geeks are usually only friends with other geeks, and attempts to converse with geeks is futile, unless, of course, you want to talk about Star Trek or whatever the certain geek is obsessed with.”
Thanks to TV shows like The OC (remember the scene where Summer Roberts tried to win Seth over by donning a Wonder Woman costume?) and The Big Bang Theory, geeks and nerds had something to rally about and soon enough, ComicCons, ToyCons, Technology, Games and other sub culture conventions became more and more popular. Like so many subcultures that are absorbed by the mainstream, geeks likewise started out as an anti-fashion statement. As anti-intellectualism fell out of fashion, geek became the new season trend, and the fashion world took notice.
Marc Jacobs was one of the earliest champions of the Geek Chic movement. His diffusion label, Marc by Marc Jacobs, reimagined high-school cliques (cheerleaders, preppy kids, athletes)—which naturally lead straight to geeks. Other designers soon followed suit and now geek stuff is just about everywhere, almost losing itself in everyday fashion. Oh, and I know just how much you love those Black Milk designs.
In the past few years, the concept of geeks and nerds have again been evolving as more people become obsessed with technology. Steve Jobs and Apple made tech sexy and being “technosexual” is the new hip, the new creative and the new cool. Who would’ve thought gadget accessories would become part of runway shows and create a new category for most fashion retailers and designers?
Just look at the contents of your bag, or even the bag itself: I’m pretty certain you are using a bag with a padded laptop/tablet compartment, maybe a USB cable (for powerbank), or something which has several other compartments for your other gadgets/cables.
Still using a not so gadget-friendly bag? Well, now might be the time for a much-needed upgrade.
As we race through the so-called ber months, expect a more hectic schedule with invitations to holiday parties and reunions piling up, or maybe an upcoming trip you’ve been anticipating for months.
In time for the holiday bustle, we will be featuring some comfortable and practical pieces to help you look stylish, as well our picks of great gadgets, accessories and other items you might want to gift, or get for yourself.
BAG ’EM UP
I always travel with a backpack and a carry-on luggage trolley for those short trips, but for my most recent Taiwan trip, I decided to get my first CabinZero Bag. I’ve seen several travel bloggers rave about it, so I decided to try it out for myself. I got the Classic 44L Navy backpack, the one with flags (I want to add my own patches for each new country I visit). I was surprised that I could fit five pairs of pants, two pairs of shorts, nine shirts and a denim jacket and still have space for my gadget accessories. It’s also lightweight, so it easily passes the 7-kg weight limit and the size was made to fit the plane’s overhead cabin so I didn’t need to check it in.
The fabric is made of waterproof polyester so you don’t have to worry about a sudden light downpour. And the best part of it all is its built-in global luggage tracker powered by Okoban. Register the code of your bag and you can trace it if it gets lost. It also has a 10-year warranty, which you can upgrade up to 25 years.
For those who commute, you need a bag that can protect your personal belongings from this season’s unpredictable weather. The latest Nau Paper Backpack from Sherpani is ideal for work and day-to-day life. The main compartment is secured by a slight fold, zipper and modern crab hook for added peace of mind. The Nau is large enough to fit most laptops, and features include soft, adjustable backpack straps, and vegan leather accents. The best thing about this backpack—apart from its minimalist design which goes pretty well with your chic ensemble—is its inner and outer fabric materials that are durable and water-resistant.
Want to get that Ivy style? This Ivy League look is inspired by the preppy and traditional gentleman’s look which were widespread among Harvard, Yale and Princeton college students, dating back all the way to the early-1950s. The Prep look has a nautical appearance, while the Trad style, on the other hand, is a dressier version: think Mathew Davis from the 1990s classic Legally Blonde.
While prep and traditional styles were generally for garden parties, sailing, and casual affairs, the Ivy style was for more casual occasions such as attending a class at Harvard Law. Fast-forward to today’s generation, and this staple men’s style is alive and pumped up with a newer version. Instead of the usual leather messenger bags, get the latest Backpack Click Pack from Korin. This will not only disrupt the whole preconceived notion of what an Ivy League style should look like, but you’ll also feel and look appropriate whatever the occasion is. This backpack is designed with anti-theft features which makes it ideal for everyday commute, with a generous compartment storage that can fit your 15-inch laptop and other personal belongings. As an added bonus, the outer materials were designed to repel a small amount of liquid, so it’s perfect for rainy days and out-of-town trips.
If you plan to go out of town, use a backpack that’s spacious enough to carry all your essentials—from cosmetics to all your gadgets. The new Grind Vector Backpack (Black) from U is compact, durable and stylish enough for any occasion. It features easy front pockets and interior pockets so you can easily organize your things. With its two-tone minimalist design, you can be sure that it will always look good on you no matter what your outfit is. And since you’re gunning for the “weekend” look, be sure to have a decent sporty earphone with a laid-back style to complete the whole set. Complement these bag with everyday essentials such as the latest Thermal Suction Bottle (Yellow) from ArtiArt. The clever grip-pad design reduces spillage, and it works on all flat and non-porous surfaces such as desk or tables, so you don’t have to worry about accidentally spilling your drink on your newly bought outfit.
Love coffee or tea? You might want to get the Coffee and Tea Press from Espro, which is ideal for long travels. Not only does it keep your beverage warm, but it also prevents your drink from spilling.
And if music is life, you might want to get a sporty waterproof Bluetooth earphone from Elecom that will instantly double your sleek look. Besides, you wouldn’t want to get stuck in traffic without earphones, would you?
Urbanize focuses on curating the best and most innovative brands in the market; allowing you to own and personalize your lifestyle while at the same time, making you well-equipped to take on the daily grind of city living.
More information and store locations are available at www.urbanize.com.ph.
CHOETECH FAST WIRELESS CHARGERS
Since we’re talking about accessories, I’d like to share with you my thoughts about a couple of products from this company called Choetech.
The company, based in Shenzhen, China, sells a wide variety of high-m quality electronic products, including mobile and PC accessories like wireless chargers, USB chargers, mobile cables, digital AV products and more.
First is the Choetech T536-S Fast Wireless Charging Car Mount. If you are as directionally challenged as me, Waze is probably your best driving buddy, and if you are using a smartphone that supports wireless charging, then this is a must-have device for you.
With its gravity linkage design, all you have to do is put your phone on this mount and the side brackets will automatically squeeze in for a snug and secure fit. It provides fast wireless charging so you don’t have to worry about getting lost or draining the battery of your phone while you constantly find a better route to avoid the traffic.
The Choetech wireless car charger is capable of fast-charging Qi-compatible devices at 10W, like the Samsung Galaxy S9, S9 Plus, Note 8, S8, S8 Plus, S7, S7 Edge, S6 Edge+; quick charge (at 7.5W) the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone X, iPhone 8, 8 Plus; and 5W regular charge for other Qi-Enabled devices.
It has Anti-slip L-shaped hooks air vent mount to keep it tightly on an air vent outlet and prevents it from falling off. The side arms are spring-loaded and lined with soft silicone and is compatible with most smartphones, and the adjustable width and height allow it to accommodate almost all smartphone sizes. Just take note that a thick phone casing may affect charging efficiency. It also has all-around protection against overcharging, over-voltage, over-temperature and over-current, ensuring you and your device’s safety.
For those who love to watch videos, the Choetech Fast Wireless Charging Stand is for you. Again, it is a wireless charger that doubles as a phone stand so you can rest your phone either vertically or horizontally while you watch.
This Choetech Charging Stand uses double coils to wirelessly charge your Qi-compatible Apple and Android phones. The two coils allow phones to charge vertically or horizontally, and the vertical design can double as a desk stand. It has Triple Wireless Charging Modes—10W, 7.5W and 5W charging modules optimized to power various devices without negatively impacting them.
The charging stand delivers 10W of quick charge capabilities to fast charging-capable Samsung phones, and 7.5W for the iPhone 8/8+ and iPhone X, and 5W for other models. Fast chargers are usually about 40-percent faster than standard charging, but it performs best on phones without a case. Make sure you also remove any other materials, such as credit cards or metal rings/plates from the case/phone before charging. The fast modes (10W and 7.5W) can charge a dead phone in two-and-a-half hours with the case on, which is a lot faster than normal (3 plus hours).
I liked this charger because you can use it on almost all kinds of phones that support wireless charging and has a built-in device protection (overheating, short-circuiting and over-current and voltage protection) so you don’t have to worry about leaving your phone charging overnight.
The top and bottom coils are there for portrait or landscape charging, and the anti-slip pads prevent your phone from sliding and falling off. So you can use portrait charging when making phone or Facetime calls, browsing your social-media feed, listening to music, and then switch to landscape mode when watching videos.
So if you’re looking for a Qi wireless charger for your iPhone or Samsung Galaxy, do check out the Choetech Fast Wireless Charging Stand and Car Mount.
It is available via most online stores such as Amazon, as well as local stores like Lazada and Shopee. More information is available at www.choetech.com.