What is geek chic?

Is it a style, a trend, a movement, a cultural shift or just a love affair with all things uncool? First off, what is a geek? If you're getting ready to argue about this definition, you might be one of them. A geek has obsessive, esoteric knowledge about mass media, pop culture and technology. Geeks are generally smart, they're passionate about things most people don't care about, and most of them tend to be early adopters when it comes to the latest gadgets.

Geek message boards talk about the latest casting rumors for "Watchmen," not who's going to win the Super Bowl. Take a look at our television icons, for instance. Ugly Betty, one of TV's most popular shows, features a girl who looks like someone's prom date nightmare. She is a geek poster girl, from her loud, uncoordinated outfits to her shiny, in-your-face braces. The fact that she works at a fashion magazine just underscores her lack of conformity, and when we see her triumph week after week over the beautiful people, even those ex-cheerleaders must feel a little tug of excitement. And the ultimate geek, Harry Potter, is the most popular non-existent kid in history.

Fashion has even slipped into the realm of the pasty-faced gamer. Check out ads for fashionable eyewear: The frames that used to be costume pieces for kids to wear with their pocket protectors and suspenders are now high fashion (and expensive.) Yes, it's true, geek chic is back. This time around, however, when you happen to see someone doing the geek-chic thing at a party, it's likely their social, successful and someone you should be friends with.

Not to be confused with the hipster who relishes fashion items you haven't heard of and ironic slogans, the "chic geek" is polished, presentable and doesn't feel compelled to scour the city for obscure apparel. Whether you're a bona fide geek or you just dig some of the eyewear, we've put together a website to help you wear this look the fashionable way.

Geek Chic Eyewear. Geek-chic is a sure thing, when worn right. But be careful because dark, thick plastic frames aren't a look everyone can pull off. If you want to see them worn right check out the celebrity style of Kanye West, Jay-Z and Common.

Click here to browse over 100,000 Eyeglass Frames!

These thicker rimmed plastic frames are the among the most popular styles right now. They look great in wide ovals or rectangles, best for people with longer, slimmer faces. And if you want to stand out a bit, try something other than traditional black. Maybe you'd like blue frames or turtle shell frames. These are hard to pull off, but if you're daring, you'll certainly get some attention.  

Lens without boarders Rimless glasses maintain the illusion of wearing glasses just as much as the illusion of intelligence. Steven Colbert fashions these glasses every night, professing harsh conservative rhetoric with a geeky twist.  Almost any face-type will do well with rimless glasses, but they are best if you have a larger forehead (not saying the Colbert has a large forehead; he has a perfect forehead). Best of all, rimless glasses are often very light and comfortable, so if wearing glasses annoys you, this might be your answer.

The more classic style, wire frames should be handled just like plastic, only with a thinner frame. Keep your lens small, either wide ovals or rectangles, or maybe some round Harry Potter frames.

Thin frames can be especially fun, looking almost hidden, helping your face look wider or more focused. And there's the Harry Potter look.