Gone are the days when Techies were known by their drab clothing and faded and oversize tees, thank God! You could literary hand pick all the techies and geeks at a conference. But over the years so many things have changed and with the emergence of a younger generation of engineers, a lot of people are now conscious of what they wear and to where. Techies are not left behind and of course we aren’t quite there yet but it’s definitely a breath of fresh air compared to the way it used to be. Some have been successful in creating a balance between the professional and creative fashion style, including people like Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his famous hoodie etc. It will even interest you to know that various designer companies now consciously put the techies in mind when designing certain clothing lines. Some designers started their careers just to design clothing for techies and engineers and you will be surprised at the number of online stores available for this purpose. We have sites likes tailoredtechies, zazzle, thinkgeek etc. So the average techie has no excuse whatsoever to not look dapper and comfy.
But to those who are still left behind, and unable to pair sets of clothing to create something geeky, comfy and somewhat fashionable, then you are at the right place. Here are 12 wardrobe should haves of every techie who desires a sense of style and class.
1. Tailored suits: Even as a techie, every man should own at least a pair of well-tailored suits. Of course you do not have to wear one every time, but it will be required on those days when you have meetings with potential companies and clients. Believe me, you do not want to appear at those places looking like you just got freed by a raccoon.
2. Shirts: This is an absolutely must-have for every techie. We know you dread suits and its many accomplices but a shirt is a must-have in your wardrobe. A crisp white shirt on a Monday paired with a deep blue jeans and a solid shoes or even your favourite sneakers will do.
3. Good denim jeans: Whether you decide to go for the deep dark ones, the stone washed or the crazy jeans, a good pair is a must and a necessity for a techie and its well worth the while to invest in really good ones.
4. Blazer: I can hear someone asking why they need a blazer when they’ve got a suit and perhaps jackets, but a classy blazer can be paired with pants for business casuals and can also be tossed over a graphic t-shirt and jeans for a night out with the guys.
5. Chinos: Every techie should have a pair of light or coloured chinos in their wardrobe. These beauties allow you to look polished without being as “dressed up” as you might feel in a suit pant but still less casual than when in a pair of jeans.
6. Polo shirt: We all agree that button up shirts can sometimes be too formal but your favourite t-shirt might also be way too casual. A polo shirt gives you that solution; its like a combo of the two styles and perfect for an extra dose of class.
7. Tees/T-shirts: Now we are not talking about those over faded and full of holes ones you wear around feeling cool in, but those really well fitted and clean ones. They are available in packs of three or more at online stores like Jumia, Konga, Kaymu etc. And with quite a lot of creative designers e.g. Jayosbie, flocking around you wouldn’t have to settle for plain old boring tees anymore.
8. Black leather shoes: Believe me I’m an advocate for sneakers and comfy shoes but men and techies alike know shoes can play a role in first impression and should therefore be one of the major accessories every techie must have. Yeah yeah, you’ve seen people who rocked their sneakers and canvas with a suit but come on, really? Go get yourself a pair of good leather shoes, you will thank me later.
9. Grown-up watch: I know your deepest love for your calculator watches and that you would absolutely die for your multiplication table watches but it might be time to upgrade and invest in at least one grown-up watch. I’m talking about one that has a clean face and looks great with more formal clothes.
10. Sneakers: Be sincere, just how many times have you strolled up and down this post looking for this particular caption. Well how can we expect to write about a techie’s wardrobe and dare not mention sneakers, considering I have a home full of them myself? These are definitely top must-haves. They are super comfy, light and just plain cool.
11. Leather belts: Don’t we all have to keep our pants up? This is definitely one of the wisest wardrobe decisions every techie must make. It is wise to invest in a black and brown belt or get those reversible ones and quit waiting for the ones you have on now to snap in two before you buy another one. You know yourself.
12. Leather wallets: You thought I wouldn’t mention this, didn’t you? We know you oh so love your plastic wallets and those MTN wallets you got a couple of years ago when you got your number something SIM card but it is time to let go and go shop for a good leather wallet. Believe me you owe yourself and your credit cards that much.
Despite all these, it’s easy to have amazing clothes in your wardrobe and still constantly encounter wardrobe malfunction. So the secret of a fab dressed techie is to master interchangeability, make sure your clothing fits, select classic colours, patterns and styles that you absolutely love, avoid cheap stuff and instead seek value, have a fashion genius as a friend for easy-go-to advice and then give yourself time to develop and refine your style.
Is there a particular one I missed? Don’t forget to mention it in the comment section below.
About the Writer: Eniola Adeniji is a woman after God’s own heart, a motivational Writer, Speaker, Fashion and Photography addict. She is also a Business Developer, Social Media Manager and the founder of Woman Of Value. She blogs at
ennmae.wordpress.com
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This article was first published on 4th August 2015
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