Being Geek Chic is a blog about one woman navigating the male-dominated industries of production and tech. It's written by Elizabeth Giorgi, Founder, CEO and Director of Mighteor - one of the world's first internet video production companies. Learn more about Mighteor here.
Hannibal is one of the most visually striking shows on television. Not a scene goes by where every hue, pattern & angle that crosses your screen hasn’t been meticulously planned out to fit an overall vision. What you’ll also see on the show is a strong and varied cast of ladies; each one interesting and well-written.
Creator Bryan Fuller has repeatedly stated in interviews that he was unhappy with the lack of female characters in the show’s source material - Thomas Harris’ novel Red Dragon. He decided to change Alan Bloom to Alana and Freddy Lounds to Freddie, as well as adding in several all-new female characters including Beverly Katz and Bedelia Du Maurier.
Every character has a clear and definitive sense of style unique to them and it’s these that I’ll be looking at over the next five weeks as we countdown to season two. Every Friday I’ll have a look at one of the most prominent female characters from season one, examining their wardrobes, what they say about that character and how you can emulate it. Today I’m kicking things off with Dr. Alana Bloom.
Alana’s season one wardrobe consisted mostly of bright reds and black; when she added in other colours they were usually jewel tones. The exception to this was in her choice of scarves which often went with a softer colour-palette.
Her wardrobe featured a lot of bold patterns, often in floral and geometric designs. These require a lot of confidence to wear but Alana has that trait in abundance. She balances these patterns out with vibrant block colours in her other pieces.
Her clothes are nearly always figure hugging but flattering. She often wears wraparound and sheath dresses or pencil skirts teamed with a well-cut blouse.
When she’s relaxing with friends we’ve seen Alana wearing some smart, neat cardigans and sweaters; these still maintain her usual choices in pattern and colour but are sometimes a little subtler than her work wardrobe.
The promo photos for season two have broken away from her signature colours significantly and show her wearing all green. If you want to be ahead of the game, choose rich shades such as bottle or British racing greens.
Here’s some inspiration items that might help you get your own Dr. Alana Bloom look down:
L.K. Bennett Morelle Dogtooth Jacket (£195)
Lem Lem scarf ($140)
Red Valentino Lace Detail Floral Cardigan (£384)
Linea Cap Sleeve Print Boarder Dress (£95)
Jaeger Pleated Skirt (£60)
Nine West Tatiana Green Shoes ($79)
Joules Women’s Navy Floral Shirt (£49)
Sophie Brown is one of the core contributors over at GeekMom and so far the only Brit, which sometimes makes her feel guilty for not being a bigger fan of Doctor Who and Sherlock.
She is a die-hard X-Phile who loves cross stitching and baking cupcakes whilst marathoning sci-fi shows on Netflix. She is also an occasional cosplayer, spends far too many hours reading and writing X-Files fanfiction, and is attempting to learn Latin this year. You can email her at [email protected], especially about anything X-Files related, but be prepared for a very long answer.
Find her on twitter @easyqueenie.
I’ve always really really loved makeup. In 7th grade, I started saving up my allowance to raid the Jane cosmetics section at Target. In 8th grade, I bought my first non-drugstore makeup in a Korean mall in Los Angeles. Today, Sephora and LUSH are my favorite brick-and-mortar stores (really, one of the few reasons I ever drag myself to a shopping center any more).
So, the theme of today is “Pretty Nerds are Nerds Too.” I’m friends with tons of lady nerds. Some of them never wear makeup. Some of them look like they fell off the cover of a magazine. They’ve all been judged for it, no matter what side they’re on, which is sucky.
But, I say, embrace your beauty. Wear makeup if it makes you feel pretty. Don’t if it doesn’t (so I’ve included some skin/spa-type products for those who don’t wear makeup).
And without further ado, here is the first-annual Nerds Are Pretty Too, Best of Beauty list (just in time for the holidays):
Things We Discovered and Fell in Love with in 2013:
Benefit Stay Don’t Stray
This is probably the most amazing primer I’ve ever used (and it doubles as a concealer) – and I’ve pretty much used them all over the years. If you aren’t using a primer under your eye shadow, you’re pretty much throwing your makeup away by having to re-apply throughout the day. This is thick enough for blemishes and really helps even out your eye tone – and of course holds your eye makeup forever and ever.
Lush Karma Kream
Is this what heaven smells like? I certainly hope so. Pretty much everything at the Lush store smells amazing. This moisturizer is so thick and creamy and it smells absolutely amazing. After spending most of my life avoiding skin-irritating scented products, Lush holds an extra appeal to me, because their ingredients are all natural. Karma is one of their signature scents and this stuff is absolutely worth every penny.
Aveda Blue Oil
Living down the street from an Aveda Institute has it’s benefits, one of which being easy access to discount-priced facials. Blue Oil is the last step in their services, and the mix of peppermint and camomile is incredible: both refreshing and calming at once. I keep this in my bag at work and bust it out when I’m feeling overwhelmed.
Minis at Sephora
Nice makeup is expensive, I’ll give you that. But the worst is shelling out for a product that either 1) you aren’t crazy about or 2) comes in a size that you will never use up before it’s expiration date. Sephora has tons and tons of miniature products and kits, which I think is a great way to try new things and add colors and options without breaking the bank. Two sets I picked up this year are Too Faced’s Tan Without The Twinkle (perfect matte bronzer), and Benefit’s Gettin’ Cheeky (minis of three of their cheek stains).
Lush Tea Tree Water
Another pick with some aromatherapy attributes. This is great when I want to kind of balance my skin out (I have a lot of oil and dry spots, often caused by the prescriptions I used to manage my acne). It adds a little moisture back to my skin without slathering on a cream and it smells amazing. I usually use it at night, so the scent kind of helps me to fall asleep. It’s also great to help you cool down or to use at 10,000 feet to combat the deadened airplane air and perk your skin up.
Clarisonic Mia
This is a bit of a splurge, but it makes a really nice gift (I tell you this truthfully, having received it as a gift last Christmas). It’s like giving someone the ability to have a facial any time he or she wants. There are also interchangeable brush heads for different skin concerns (deep pore, acne-prone, aging, etc). I’ve found they are often much cheaper to purchase replacement heads on Amazon.
Urban Decay Naked2 Palette
Lots of the eye palettes I buy are limited edition, one-off products (which is how I came to own a gorgeous set of Tarte shadows that were packaged to match a “True Blood” theme). But Naked and Naked2 (and, rumor has it, soon to be Naked3) are signature products from Urban Decay. This is the kind of palette that looks gorgeous on anyone and you can build out simple day looks, elegantly professional eyes for work and a fancier, more dramatic look for going out. Naked2 also has a simple, slim case, which makes it awesome to travel with.
Clinique Chubby Stick Intense in Curviest Caramel
This is the perfect nude lip color! This line (Intense) is, as you would imagine, slightly more pigmented than the original Chubby Stucks, which went on more like a colored balm. This is a gloss/lip color cross, but goes on smoothly and actually is quite moisturizing. I’m in love with this color and would have one of these in every purse, jacket pocket and desk if I could.
Honorable mentions: Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream, NARS The Multiple in Orgasm, Smashbox Master Class Palette, and Lush’s Cupcake Fresh Face Mask.
Tell us about your best beauty discoveries of 2013 AND let’s talk more where you believe beauty products and nerdiness intersect.
Recipe by Emma Carew Grovum. She is a data journalist working at the Chronicle of Philanthropy in Washington, D.C. She previously worked as the Digital Editor for The Cooking Club of America and blogs at kitchendreamer.blogspot.com Emma loves Star Wars, pandas and all things Joss Whedon. Find her on twitter at @emmacarew.
The X-Files episode “Conduit” featured some of the worst outfits ever inflicted upon Agent Scully throughout the show’s nine-season run. One of the worst paired a 1970s orange-brown plaid jacket with black upper lapels against dark brown slacks and brown loafers. It really is as bad as it sounds.
The most memorable thing about this outfit was the plaid jacket. There’s nothing inherently wrong with plaid and this Ralph Lauren tweed jacket shows just how nice it can look when tailored well in attractive colors.
Try this: Ralph Lauren Tweed Jacket ($884)
Rather than clashing her jacket against dark tones, this pair of mushroom grey slacks from Monsoon compliments it nicely whilst providing a simple, neutral base to play around with.
Try this: Mushroom grey slacks ($79)
One of Scully’s biggest fashion faux pas was not her love of neutrals or her apparent taste for very bold jewel tones, but rather the fact that she tended to wear either all neutral or all bold rather than pairing the two. This stunning red silk blouse by Iceberg draws from the wardrobes of two of Gillian Anderson’s recent character portrayals - The Fall’s DCI Stella Gibson and Hannibal’s Dr Bedalia du Maurier - and looks spectacular against her neutral suit; a daring change from plain white.
Try this: Red silk blouse ($420)
This pair of Lucy Choi heels subtly continue the plaid motif and the small kitten heel is actually practical for office wear.
Try this: Lucy Choi kitten heels ($158)
Nothing finishes off an outfit like the right bag and the classic Bayswater by Mulberry is the perfect example. This bright red leather design is large enough to be practical and the color will compliment her blouse beautifully.
Try this: Mulberry tote ($2000)
Sophie Brown is one of the core contributors over at GeekMom and so far the only Brit, which sometimes makes her feel guilty for not being a bigger fan of Doctor Who and Sherlock.
She is a die-hard X-Phile who loves cross stitching and baking cupcakes whilst marathoning sci-fi shows on Netflix. She is also an occasional cosplayer, spends far too many hours reading and writing X-Files fanfiction, and is attempting to learn Latin this year. You can email her at [email protected], especially about anything X-Files related, but be prepared for a very long answer.
Find her on twitter @easyqueenie.
After spending the last few columns looking at work clothes this time I’m taking a break and contemplating stylish outdoor wear. In the episode “Darkness Falls” Mulder drags Scully on a “nice trip to the forest” to investigate the disappearance of a group of loggers. Scully takes this as an opportunity to drag out her collection of XXL men’s shirts and a technicolor raincoat which absolutely did not inspire my choice of coats for a camping trip age 12 OK? While the wardrobe department attempted to create a practical outfit for Scully’s trip many of their choices were anything but. Instead they succeeded in creating a strange, shapeless mass of clothing not really suited to anything, least if all hiking through a forest.
Scully’s denim shirt is a great practical choice for a hiking trip but she still doesn’t need it to be sized so large that her hands disappear entirely. This dark denim shirt from Next will be just as versatile but maintains her figure with a great feminine cut.
Check Out: Denim Shirt ($31)
The vest Scully wears over her shirt in the original outfit seems to serve very little purpose with its two tiny pockets. Far better would be this practical vest from H&M with plenty of pockets for carrying everything she might need while leaving her hands free for investigating.
Check Out: H & M Vest ($46)
In the original outfit Scully seems to wear a second black top under her shirt. While another great choice for practicality, and at least she’s trying to do layers, having a polo neckline means the top sticks up over the neck of her shirt and looks plain odd. A great choice would be this grandad top from Superdry which will keep her warm yet is also perfect on its own if she gets hot back at the cabin in the evening (and who wouldn’t with Agent Mulder there?)
Check Out: Superdry Top ($80)
Leggings were everywhere in the early 90s but that doesn’t mean they’re suited to the forest where they risk getting wet & rubbing for the rest of the day. A proper pair of hiking pants such as this pair from Regatta are a basic necessity for keeping warm and dry as well as adding yet more useful pockets.
Check Out: Regatta Pants ($46)
The final item on this outfit is probably one of the most vital to get right. A sturdy and well-fitted pair of hiking boots is essential if you want to avoid injury making them well worth investing money in. This pair from Zappos match comfort and practicality with great style.
Check Out: Lowa Renegade Boots ($220)
Sophie Brown is one of the core contributors over at GeekMom and so far the only Brit, which sometimes makes her feel guilty for not being a bigger fan of Doctor Who and Sherlock.
She is a die-hard X-Phile who loves cross stitching and baking cupcakes whilst marathoning sci-fi shows on Netflix. She is also an occasional cosplayer, spends far too many hours reading and writing X-Files fanfiction, and is attempting to learn Latin this year. You can email her at [email protected], especially about anything X-Files related, but be prepared for a very long answer.
Find her on twitter @easyqueenie.
Fashion inspiration is everywhere. And frankly, it may even be healthier to take one’s sartorial motivation from characters who aren’t even capable of being Photoshopped into non-human status. It’s implied - they look the way they do as a direct expression of artistic vision - not necessarily as part of some effort to sexualize being. As a recognition of this observation, the Lessons in Style series will continue until I run out of faux women to emulate. This week: Pixar’s ladies.
From top to bottom, these ladies are so inspirational to me. None of them are weak in any way. They are strong, resilient, resourceful and bold. If you don’t think that’s a form of fashion inspiration - think again. Note how they hold themselves. How they choose clothing for function and beauty. In truth: Wardrobe exemplifies what makes each their own person. That’s a good lesson for our own stylistic choices.
And yes, I refuse to promote the new Merida. She’s ridiculous. And she’s a victim of the aforementioned fashion culture that relies on turning the human to inhuman standards in order to poison our culture with self-loathing. I liked Merida as she was conceived. So I’ll leave the plastic surgery version for the Disney store.
