The Marriage of Chic and Geek- Connected Clothing for the Fashion Saavy Gadget Lovers

I am a self-confessed tech geek.  A "techie" if you will- (tech·ie also tek·kie  (tk) n. Informal: One who studies or is highly interested or proficient in a technical field, especially electronics.) But that doesn't sound very fashionable for a wardrobe stylist now does it? The real questions is, do fashion and tech ever meet in the middle of chic and geek?

My first exposure to high tech- "connected" if you will- clothing was when I was shopping for a new snowboarding jacket five years back.  Back then, iPod integrated clothing was just starting to show up once retailers understood the power Apple's brand of technology had over consumers and jumped on the successful brand's bandwagon.  This peaked my interest.  Where else were we seamlessly integrating our digital lifestyle with our outdoorsy one?  Being a surfer, I did some research.  There were, and still are, waterproof accessories like headphones and iPod cases.  While unsafe because listening to your music full blast hinders your ability to hear warning shouts in these shark infested San Francisco waters, it still amazes me that we have the ability to take our music with us anywhere.

Aside from the fact that I think one of the best things about being outdoors is being one with mother nature and her own soundtrack, I like having the option to have my gadgets within reach and easy to use.  That seems to make a lot of sense when you're wearing gloves and stuffed into a parka that makes you look like the Michelin man.  But what about our day-to-day lives?  Mashable's article Wired Fashion addressed this very issue.  It seems the fashion world is turning its ear towards the needs of geeks like myself.  While they don't always hit the mark...

... some are close...

and some are genius!

While we may not being seeing a high tech clothing runway show at New York Fashion Week any time soon, it does beg the question, does fashion need to will fashion be able to keep up with the speed of technology?

Image(s) courtesy of Mashable.com

How To Series: How to Waterproof Your Shoes

One of the greatest lessons I've learned since being a personal shopper and stylist is to take care of the shoes you wear. I am constantly on my feet, moving from the city streets to the store floor so my shoes- and for that matter my feet- can take a real beating. It helps to make sure that my footwear is well taken care of. One trick is to prevent them from taking on unnecessary damage from the elements, such as water.

fashion.elle.com

I should probably mention first that water doesn't actually "damage" leather, per say. Mostly it just stains it. The damage comes when your leather item, like shoes, has been submerged in water and allowed to dry by an open heat source. The stresses from the shoe-making process are weakened and the leather tries to return to its natural shape. Thus, warping becomes another issue to keep in mind when stepping out for a rainy day. Saving your shoes from staining and warping takes a little extra TLC.

a creative way to dry your shoes

Calling on my trusty leather expert, I found out that the best you can hope for with any waterproofing product is to make your items water resistant. Unless your shoes are made from vinyl, they'll need some kind of treatment to keep the water out. The spray stuff sits on top of the leather and helps water bead up and run/fall off your shoes when there's enough water to do so.

$6.99

Mink oil is actually a better product to consider. You rub it into the top layers of the leather to provide a deeper protection. It causes the water to bead and roll off but more reliably than the sprays. Plus, the oil also acts a conditioner for your leather, keeping it soft and crack free.

$4.99

These types of products usually only work on leather that is flat, not napped like nubuck or suede. For those types of items, you can use specific spray products. This way most of the product is captured in the rough surface of the leather and creates a better seal.

$5.99

All in all, these products are more than affordable and will save you tons on repairing and purchasing shoes in the long-run. If you just take the time to treat your shoes, they'll carry you farther.

Here are a few last tips to improve your footwear: as a general rule you should look into rotating your shoes out every day to give them a break, again increasing their longevity. Also, invest in some shoe trees. They'll maintain the shape of your shoes (preventing warping) and if they're cedar, keep the moths away. Plus, some are adjustable, allowing you to stretch your own shoes in your own time instead of taking them to a cobbler.


Hopefully all these tricks have you singing in the rain with some happy feet!

Image(s) courtesy of shoecaresupplies.com, greenmeatballs.com, and fashion.elle.com