her universe Archives - The Lady Nerd

Imperial Fashion

November 12, 2018 by The Lady Nerd 2 Comments

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Although I will forever be on the Light side of the Force, you have to admit, the Empire had better fashion sense.

While I am most certainly a lover of geek fashion, alas, I’m not a fan of the majority of designs out there for geek women. Just not my style (or body type. With my taller stature and long, thin waist coupled with short inseam, it doesn’t lend well to popular styles of skater dresses or high waistlines). Though I love the idea behind companies like Her Universe – bringing geek fashion directly to female fans. Geek girls have often been ignored in favour of guys, relegated only to simple tshirts. But no more! It’s an amazing time we live in that such companies, like Her Universe, exist and are flourishing.

I love this cardigan! I’ve been wearing it so much since I bought it (as, truth be told, the outfit in this post is exactly what I wear normally. In fact, this may be the outfit I’ve worn most this fall). It’s subtle in its geekery where it looks like a fairly normal cardigan. But to those who know Star Wars, they will recognize it as a piece based off Grand Moff Tarkin’s imperial uniform, complete with matching coloured rankings.

It’s well constructed in a heavier cotton-esque knit. I love the 3/4 length sleeves as I inevitably push my sleeves up that high anyways out of habit. It’s not too warm, not too thin (which I find is a problem with many a cardigan or sweater these days). It’s just right. In what seems to be typical for HU’s designs, the cardigan is on the shorter side and ends above the hips (well, on me anyways). For any other HU piece I’ve tried one, that’s a deal killer. But due to the construction of this cardigan with it’s wide banded bottom, it actually works quite well.

My little twist on it is that I always wear it open, but buttoned by one button at the top. It keeps some air flow underneath the cardigan and acts as a colour break from all the black. (I went with black as an easier option than driving myself crazy trying to find pants to match the cardigan.)

And a view of the cardigan closed. (You’ll have to forgive my slight frown. Even overcast, shooting outside still makes me squint. ‘Tis the downside of having great eyesight…yay photosensitivity!)

Photographer: Kyle Matthew Williams

Earrings: Ebay
Cardigan: Her Universe
Pants: Express
Belt: Target (similar one here – Amazon)
Boots: Marshalls (similar on here – Amazon)

Captain America Fitness 2

June 25, 2018 by The Lady Nerd 2 Comments

As a follow-up to previous post, here is the second outfit I put together from Her Universe and Kohl’s Marvel activewear collection a couple years ago. This outfit features the same capri pants, but a longer (and very comfy) tank top. I really appreciate that the collections Her Universe has been doing feature both sports bras and long tank tops to suit different style preferences.

For instance, I like the sports bra for when I’m working out really hard as it’s more comfortable to not have sweat-laden fabric sticking to me all over my torso (lovely TMI…aren’t human bodies great?!). But I like the longer tank top for light exercise and being around other people (i.e. I totally wear this as a normal everyday top).

Now if this heat wave would just break, I could actually exercise and not want to ooze onto the floor like Nickelodeon slime (you’re welcome for that visual)!

Photography: Kyle Matthew Williams
Top: Her Universe
Capris: Her Universe
Bracelet: Hot Topic
Shoes: Naturalizer
Aviators: Target

Captain America Fitness

June 14, 2018 by The Lady Nerd 1 Comment

Although I will be the first to admit that I’m no fitness junkie, I do love activewear for comfort. Geek fashion giant Her Universe has teamed up with various stores over the recent years to to produce geeky activewear. I first got hooked when HU collaborate with Kohl’s department store to release their first major activewear line just in time for the Captain America: Civil War movie release. The line was themed with the powerful figures of Captain America, Black Widow, and Iron Man. So of course, I had to go shuffle my little bum over to the nearest Kohl’s.

So shuffle over I did! After trying on every piece (and subsequently realizing that no, I didn’t have enough of a paycheck that week to buy EVERY piece. It was a tough choice, let me tell you…), I walked away with two Captain America outfits and one Black Widow outfit. For this post, I’m going to focus on one of those outfits and roll out the other two later.

This particular combination is a bit daring for me, but I’ve found it’s a very comfy combo to wear in the heat of Atlanta. The fabric is comfortable and the cuts of the pieces allow for full range of movement (but without the clothes moving too much for the dreaded wardrobe malfunction). The higher waisted shorts in combination with the sports bra puts a slight vintage feel on an otherwise very modern pattern.

Confession: I wear the Captain America outfits and the Black Widow pants a couple times a week. Yep. They’re totally my “activewear-as-everyday-wear-even-though-I’m-not-going-to-the-gym” clothes. They’re comfy. They’re geeky. They’re conversation starters. What’s not to love?

(While the colours have been retouched in these photos, my skin, body size, etc. have not been. So every bit of cellulite, scars, wrinkle, or bony/flabby part you see is all me.)

Photograph: Kyle Matthew Williams
Sports Bra: Her Universe
Shorts: Her Universe
Aviators: Target
Shoes: Naturalizer via DSW

Darth Vader Leather Jacket

January 18, 2018 by The Lady Nerd 8 Comments

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In my continued flirtations with the Dark Side of fashion, today I bring you another outerwear from Her Universe and Hot Topic – the beautifully designed Darth Vader jacket. This is one of my favourite pieces out there in the world of geek fashion with it’s subtle tones, understated, but well-crafted design to mimic Vader’s suit. Not to mention it is the epitome of “stealth geek”. For those who know what it is, the Vader design can be clearly seen. But for those not in the know of the culture icon, it simply looks like a stylish leather jacket. Perfect for a model off-duty look.

I opted to experiment a little with this shoot in changing the proportions of the top and bottom (normally I wear tighter tops and looser bottoms. But here I swapped as well as going for a shorter top and longer bottom when I usually do the opposite to cover my Na’vi-length torso). It felt awkward on, but seeing the photos now I like the effect. It makes me look so much taller! I’m 5’8″, but with a 29 inch inseam. So unless I’m wearing the right proportions, I look shorter than I really am.)

Then there’s the boots….I bought this pair of Steve Madden over-the-knee boots (on sale!) specifically for this shoot intent on returning them afterwards, but after a barrage of friends gave me the “don’t you dare!” I guess I’m keeping them…

There’s a few wonderful details hidden throughout the jacket that bear mentioning. From the subtle pops of red to give a nod to the crimson hues of a Sith lightsaber to the imperial logo etched on the back of the jacket to the message hidden on the interior lining, this jacket is a true work of geek fashion art.

With great regret though, I have to admit that the jacket doesn’t fit me. “But it fits in the photos so well!” Ah, and here is the great secret of many a modeling photoshoot – clips. I cut a lean figure with a very long, thin torso so even clothes made in the XS variety don’t fit me most of the time. Usually I get my clothes cheaply tailored, but every so often there comes a piece like this where I can’t afford to have it tailored. This jacket is better suited to those with short-to-average torsos and more curves than little ol’ stick me. (You can actually see in the first photo at the top of the blog how far the jacket flares out, almost peplum-like on me. I prefer a sleeker cut.) I’m still keeping the jacket as there’s nothing else out there like it.

Photographer: Kyle Matthew Williams

Earrings: Amazon
Jacket: Hot Topic
Leggings: Forever 21
T-shirt: Target
Boots: Steve Madden
Clutch: Loungefly
Sunglasses: Mall kiosk