How to Dress Like a Nerd as a Girl

Co-authored by Kalee Hewlett

Last Updated: December 21, 2023

Dressing like a nerd can be fun for a Halloween costume, as well as every day fashion. If you're interested in the nerd aesthetic, there are many things you can do to emulate the nerd style. To start, pick out a great wardrobe that's cute and nerdy. From there, accessorize. Glasses, bow ties, and tote bags can all solidify the nerd look. Last, work on a good hair and makeup style that makes you look nerdy.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Choosing Your Wardrobe

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1
Go for a nerdy dress or skirt. People often feel they cannot be feminine and nerdy. However, this is not true. Many nerd girls enjoy a nice dress or skirt that meshes well with the nerd style.^{[1]
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- Mini-dresses often look like something out of a superhero movie. If you feel comfortable with a shorter, more revealing dress, this can look great in a nerd costume. Bright colors often come off as somewhat quirky or nerdy, so don't hesitate to pick an outfit that draws attention to yourself.
- A lot of nerds enjoy skirts as well. Colorful, pattern skirts can work well in a nerdy ensemble. Many nerd girls enjoy wearing frilly tutus, which are odd enough to fit with the offbeat nature of the nerdy aesthetic. You can also go for a plaid skirt, as this is example of a school girl uniform.
2
Try suspenders. If you're wearing pants as part of your costume, suspenders can solidify the nerdy look. Purchase a pair of suspenders at a local clothing store, strap them onto your pants, and then hoist them over your shoulders.
- Brightly colored suspenders can help. Many people associate nerdiness with a somewhat messy style, so dramatically mismatched suspenders may help with the look. For example, you could wear pink suspenders over a red shirt.
- Tighten the suspenders so they hoist your pants and shorts up high. This further contributes to the nerdy look.
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3
Wear a t-shirt advertising a nerdy interest. You can also try a simple t-shirt. Online, you can find t-shirts with printings on them from a variety of aspects of nerd culture. For example, get a t-shirt with a quote from Doctor Who. Opt for a t-shirt advertising a superhero. Get a Star Wars or Star Trek t-shirt. A simple t-shirt, when paired with other girlish clothing and accessories, can help you look like a nerd.^{[2]
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Select appropriate footwear. You want to make sure your feet are also looking nerdy. There is no set type of footwear for nerd girls, but you have a variety of options depending on the rest of your look.^{[3]
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- If you're wearing a dress or skirt, gladiator-like boots with a large ankle can help. You can also go for something like Doc Martens. Such boots may remind people of superheroes like Wonder Woman.
- Converse shoes are also popular in nerd culture. If you have an old pair of converse, this may also help as nerds are often seen as somewhat sloppy dressers.
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Try a button up shirt with high waisted shorts. If you want to go for a somewhat tomboyish nerdy look, try wearing a large button shirt and high waisted shorts. If you're using suspenders, you can use these to pull the shorts up even further. This can create an awkward, nerdy look.^{[4]
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- It's a good idea to go for a loose-fitting shirt. This contributes to the somewhat messy, unflattering appearance one associates with nerd culture. Opt for a shirt a few sizes larger than what you regularly wear.
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Go for bright colors and mismatched patterns. You'll want to look somewhat haphazard if you're nerdy. Therefore, go for a variety of patterns and colors. It's a good idea to strive to clash a bit for the nerd look.
- Choose brighter colors, like bright shades of primary colors. Feel free to do awkward matching combinations. For example, go for a purple button up shirt with orange shorts.
- Patterns can also help, especially if you go for a variety of different types of patterns. Wear a polka dot t-shirt with a striped skirt, for example.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Gathering Accessories

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1
Wear a large pair of glasses. If you want to be a nerd, glasses are key to solidify your look. You don't have to wear your own glasses. In fact, if you're going to a costume party, it's a good idea to wear contacts to prevent your glasses from being knocked off or broken. You can easily make a pair of fake nerd glasses with a cheap pair of sunglasses.^{[5]
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- Purchase a thick-rimmed pair of sunglasses from a local thrift store or gas station. The bigger they are, the nerdier they'll look. When you get home, pop out the lenses. You can wear these glasses to help with your nerdy look.
- You can also put a piece of masking tape in the middle of the glasses. Broken glasses are one of the many stereotypes people have of nerds.
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Carry books. Many nerds are prone to being bookworms. It can help to carry a variety of books with you to solidify the nerd look. Books can be an especially useful addition for a nerd costume at a party.
- It can help to select different types of books by interest. For example, you can decide to be a literary nerd and carry around classics like the works of Jane Austin or Virginia Woolf. You can also decide to be a science nerd, and take books by Carl Sagan and Stephen Hawking.
- If books are too cumbersome to carry around, carry around a few comic books. Many nerds are interested in superheroes, so stop by a comic book shop and get a few books to carry around.
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Bring a tote bag. If you're going to a party especially, a tote bag can help. You can carry your nerd accessories here and bust them out during certain points of the party.
- A plain tote bag, made of leather or a similar material, can work here. It can be fairly simply to find.
- However, you can go for something slightly more specific. A tote bag in the theme of a nerdy TV show can help with the nerd look. For example, a Doctor Who tote bag with an image of the TARDIS on it can really make you look nerdy.
If you have pockets, fill them up with nerdy items. Have pens, pencils, and calculators pouring out of your pocket. This can help make you look bookish and nerdy.
While bow-ties are generally thought of as a man's accessories, a good bow-tie can help with the nerd girl look. You can try a large, somewhat gaudy bow-tie with an odd pattern. A polkadot bow-tie, for example, can help you look extra nerdy.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Doing Your Makeup

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Many people feel nerds look pale, as they spend a lot of time indoors. Therefore, a pale complexion can really help with a nerd costume. Use a makeup brush to apply a heavy amount of light foundation. Choose a fairly pale tone and blend the foundation all over your face until you have an even, pale tone.^{[6]
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Try mismatched, brightly colored eye shadow. From here, add eyeshadow. As nerds are often seen as mismatched, choose bright and unusual colors. A bright blue, green, or purple eyeshadow can work for a nerd costume. You can use your fingers or a makeup brush to apply eye shadow for your nerd costume.^{[7]
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- It's a good idea to apply a lighter shade of eyeshadow, or an eyeshadow primer, before applying your actual eyeshadow. This can make the bright colors show up even more.
- If you mess up a bit, don't worry. Makeup that's somewhat smeared may actually help with the nerd look.
3
Use colorful eyeliner. Stores sell eyeliner in a variety of shades. Pick a fun, bright color instead of using black. You want your makeup to look nerdy and somewhat awkward. Eyeliner in shades like purple, pink, and blue works well. Apply a thin line of eyeliner just above your eyelashes, and another line just underneath your bottom lashes. You can also draw a line of eyeliner on your water line, as long as the makeup is safe for use this close to the eyes.^{[8]
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- It may be a good idea to pick a shade of eyeliner that clashes with your existing eyeshadow. For example, if you did green eyeshadow, go for a purple eyeliner.
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Apply blush for a flushed look. Another notion about nerds is that they're shy and easily embarrassed. If you want to develop a flushed look to help with your nerd costume, add a heavy layer of blush to your cheeks using a makeup brush.^{[9]
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Add freckles with a brown pencil. Freckles are thought of as somewhat awkward. Use a brown makeup pencil and dot a few freckles on each cheek. How many you want is up to you. Add enough that you feel you look adequately nerdy.^{[10]
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