Article: geek chic Holy pocket protector! For some kids, the nerd look isthe way to be; A geeky guide to cheeky chicDresses: A-line '60s polyester shifts; plaid, gingham or mini-floral housedresses. Shoes: Sweetly dorky Hush Puppies; saddle shoes; high-top athletic shoes; running shoes from the five-and-dime; "gramps" wing tips or oxfords. Tops: Plaid wool or corduroy jackets with fleece collar and cuffs; Perry Como, argyle or striped button-front sweaters, preferably in acrylic; polyester shirts or blouses with contrast stitching; Hawaiian shirts; Kramer-style zip-front tops; '70s blazers. Bottoms: High-water pegged pants; bell-bottoms; drooping denims that drag the sidewalk; slim, flat-front slacks worn well below the equator; elastic-waist skirts made of cheesy polyester; plaid accordian-pleat skirts. Accessories: Chunky black eyeglasses held together with white adhesive tape; cat's-eye secretary glasses; patchwork wool or crocheted neck scarves; wide belts; metal lunch pails; goatees; laptop computers; plastic pocket protectors; thermal long underwear.

Bowling shirts. Spinster skirts. Chunky glasses. Worn to classes! Saddle shoes-er. Who's a loser? Elmer Fudd. Dude, not dud.

High-water pants. High-style kids. Haven't you heard? Nerd's the word.

Ten years ago, any kid who dressed like a geek, a wimp, a loser, dweeb, wuss or pinhead was one. Didn't know squat about looking good. Hopelessly hip-less. Totally out of it. Completely clueless.

Today, the Forrest Gump/Bill Gates/Lisa Loeb look-alikes starting to pop up in school hallways and suburban mallways are some of the coolest of the cool, skating breezily along the cutting edge of young American fashion with nary a glance back at their pack-mentality peers.

Nerdy retro looks are walking ...

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