How to Get Men's Geek Chic

How to Get Men's Geek Chic Better Audra: Well going geek means looking sheek and if you don’t believe me just look at celebs like Ed Westwick or even Justin Timberlake. I would say they still look pretty good. They’re clearly bringing the geek back. We’re here to talk about how you can get your geek on is Brian Boye. He’s the Fashion and Grooming Director of Men’s Health Magazine. Welcome back! Brian: Thank you very much. Audra: So what are you sporting today, what’s this look? Brian: I’m a little bit of a tweed here today. Audra: I like that. Brian: Yes, yes. Audra: I like it a lot too. So now the geek sheek thing is that a little mixture of the 50’s and the 80’s come together? Brian: It is. It’s sort of late 50’s early 60’s kind of that Madmen feel. Audra: Right. Brian: Mixed with a preppiness of the 1980’s. Audra: Okay and we talked about some the celebrities like Justin and Ed but is it really a trend that’s driven by celebrities or is this just a trend that this thing started on masses and everybody is following? Brian: You know what, it really started on the runway a couple a years ago, there was a lot of argyles and cardigan sweaters and tailored vests and skinny ties. Celebs pick up on fashion stuff first so that’s when really most of America saw this look. Audra: Exactly. Brian: And now, it has really come to the masses. Audra: So can any guy really create their own geek look? Brian: Absolutely. Audra: And its okay to do that? Brian: It’s okay, you know I didn’t really want to look like the geeks in high school but now all the cool kids are looking a little geeky, yeah. Audra: Yeah. There’s three elements that you say to getting the look and the first element here is the fragrance so tell us how does a fragrance play apart in geek? Brian: Well part of the whole look really starts in the bathroom and you want to be showered and clean shaven. Audra: Okay. Brian: Geeks are always clean shaven. Audra: Yeah no messy geeks. Brian: No Grimes. Audra: Okay. Brian: And you know part of being polished and sophisticated is really smelling good. Audra: Okay. Brian: So we love the smooth group of fragrances, its Aramis has brought back all their bestsellers form years past. These are things I wore in high school my dad wore when I was a kid. It’s called the Gentleman’s Collection and fragrance is really the foundation for any great look so we love the idea of starting off with a great fragrance. Audra: Okay notice you got the Axe over there. I’m not a spokesperson not getting paid, but should. My husband puts that stuff on that stuff really does work. It’s really good and he’s not a geek so maybe he got the geek sheek thing going. Brian: Well it works for a lot of different hairstyles but you know I think of John Hamm in Madmen that really sophisticated slicked back look. Audra: Right, right. Brian: And I like a pomade for that look this is a new one from Axe Smooth and Sophisticated look made but it gives you that, you can get a razor straight parts, slicked it over but you know 74% of women say the hair is the first thing they notice on a guy. Audra: Really. Brian: So you want the hair to really look great but you also want it to be touchable and if you use a made it’s not going to get hard and crispy like the gel will. Audra: Exactly. Brian: So I think pomade looks best for the sort of geek sheek look. Audra: Hard and crispy is out. Brian: Hard and crispy out. Audra: Okay so we’ve go the fragrance down; we’ve got the hair down. Next is going to be the wardrobe, the clothing. Brian: Wardrobe, obviously is the biggest part of this equation. Think tailored vest, skinny ties, cardigan sweaters, all those things that are sort of geeky. Audra: Yeah. Brian: Now what we want to do is stay away from the high water pants./ Audra: No high water. These are not high water pants. Brian: These are not high water so if you’re going sort of geeky on top. I like to make it sort of cool and hip on the bottom that means jeans, it youngs it up a little bit. Audra: Yeah because you could take it into a hole another level when you do that, right. Brian: Yeah. Audra: How do you know when you gone too far with it because some people might not know when to stop. Brian: Well you know if you are head to toe geek, you know then you’re in a costume. Audra: Done. Brian: We’re talking about fashion here so you really if you know, if you’re a geeky on top, high water pants, pocket protector, no, you don’t like that. Audra: It reminds you of high school the nerd in trouble, right. Brian: Yean you need to take something off and revisit the look again. Audra: Well I’m saying you’re doing a great job, you look fantastic as always. Brian: Thank you. Audra: Thank you very much Brian. Brian: A pleasure. Audra: Alright the latest issue about Men’s Health Magazine has plenty of other tips about how to embrace your inner nerd. It’s on news stands now. We can also go to our website Better TV.com to find the link.