Ok so it's been a looooooong while since I updated my fair blog and I realized in an improptu sartorial rant that left the other party in the conversation dazed and confused that I missed thechicnerd. So here's a little ditty I wrote a while back, just something to get started agan. Please bear with me for a moment* while I get back into my groove.
Often the most unsuspecting people are the ones who become the fashion icons of an era. Sure, there are plenty of Hollywood starlets styled by Rachel Zoe who plan every detail of their just-rolled-out-of-bed ensemble in preparation for the daily paparazzi feeding frenzy. These girls are snapped, photoshopped, and quickly plastered on the pages of People magazine, where they single-handedly sustain the health of the leggings industry. However the best street style does not begin with these girls, it starts in tiny cultural crevices unaffected by the fashion world where only the boldest individuals dare to tread. Today’s icon is so removed from fashion he has unknowingly founded his own sartorial school of thought.
Surely you’ve noticed that the current cool kids bear an uncanny resemblance to a certain bumbling nerd from the sitcom Family Matters. Yes, I am talking about Steve Urkel. The impossibly clumsy, Laura adoring goofball with that nasal catch-phrase- Did I do that?. He stumbled onto the scene halfway through the show’s first season in 1989 and swiftly stole the show. In spite of all the ridicule Steve still dared to be different, which is why he’s made another great comeback and become the most stylish kid on the block.
I first noticed Steve’s influence on a humid summer night in Brooklyn. In every charmingly grungy restaurant in Williamsburg or seductively lit bar in Fort Greene I found at least two hipsters sporting thick plastic glasses. Their scale far exceeded the largest eyewear I had ever seen; even Mary-Kate’s visage-blocking shades couldn’t stand a chance against these facial wind-shields. They come in a variety of colors, from the standard coke-bottles in black to lime green, burgundy, gold, and even zebra prints. At the 55DSL event in August featuring the legendary DJ Pete Rock, a living breathing instant sign of cool-ness, I spotted no less than six pairs of these plastic frames. I have yet to see anyone rock a big wad of masking tape right on the bridge of their nose, but be patient- the more extreme disciples of Steve will appear in due time.
Monsieur Urkel has sparked trends in more than just eyewear. Plaids and tartans of all colors and sizes have been exceedingly prevalent on the streets. Many are continuing with traditional patterns like your standard lumberjack red and black for a low-key, vintage feel. Even more are branching into shocking colors like turquoise and tangerine, or updating classic picnic table gingham to edgy status with the severe palette of black and white. Oversized men’s shirts are usually an easy find in your local thrift store, but for a more tailored fit Urban Outfitters has some excellent plaid shirt-dresses.
Steve’s next step? Tuck your plaid shirt into a pair of high-waisted jeans. These polished cuts are still proving to be fierce competition with underwear-revealing hip huggers. Ultra-high waists have made an appearance on both shorts and pants often with decorative five-button fly’s or elaborate stitching to spice up those extra inches of denim. Though please be careful, not to have too much fabric around your middle, lest you suffer a repeat of Mischa Barton’s camel-toe mom jeans catastrophe. Keep the fit close to your body and all will be well. If you want to be a hard core urkelian take the legs up a few inches and taper. Hedi Slimane claims to have inspired this fit, but true believers know it's all Steve’s doing.
People keep fooling themselves, denying Steve’s role in their fashion lives. Don’t they know who rocked suspenders all day every day? I do hope that the every adorable hipster in a fedora and suspenders can take the time to recognize Steve Urkel’s contributions to their outfits. Even though his pants were certainly tight enough to stay up on their own, Steve pushed the envelope with a courageous and bold accessory. He could emphasize the best points of his quirky rants with a tug of those rubber band tight straps, delivering his final point with that gratifying snap and a knowing brow raise. No one can gesticulate with a suspender the way he can, but with varieties in all colors and prints we can all try and look great doing it.
Last but certainly not least, to live up to the great standard set before you, you need one thing Steve always has with him. Swag. In spite of being constantly mocked and rejected, Steve Urkel never changed his super smooth ways. He always maintained such an energy and proudly rocked his nerdiness, something us Stanford students can all understand. Steve Urkel sparked the original nerd chic that has Kanye West, Pharrel Williams, and legions of cool kids everywhere rocking his style daily. Ever so humble, he’d ask: did I do that? The only reply is yes, Steve, you did.
*PS: I can no longer say "bear with me for a moment" without thinking of this
xkcd comic. The nerd is back!
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