Brand Identity.
That’s a business-tastic word that gets thrown around a lot these days in the blogging world. I’m still trying to figure out exactly what that means for The Lady Nerd. The easiest summary is to say “oh! Geek fashion! Every post, outfit, photoshoot, etc. should be geek related. Duh.” But then I can’t do things easy, can I? (If you’ve followed me long enough, you’re likely to be nodding your head emphatically.)
Even this photoshoot I did last year, I struggled to fit it into my “brand”, grasping at any fandom character it might remind people of or else it was just a random outfit picture of me. (The look became known as “Hipster Jessica Jones” at the photo shoot out, but it still doesn’t quite fit. So I’ve struggled to post this trying to figure out if it’s, you guessed it, ‘on brand’ or not.)
I share a lot of different things on here and social media as The Lady Nerd has shifted from being simple a cosplay pseudonym to being well..me! My brand is me. It is what I offer from cosplay photoshoots to geek fashion styling to modeling art to travel and film set adventure diaries to vulnerable conversation of being a disabled creative. Unfortunately that doesn’t always neatly fall under a fandom lately.
So what’s a gal to do?
Honestly, I don’t know yet.
My initial goal with The Lady Nerd was to be a influencer bridge between the nerd community and the mainstream fashion community. But there have been many obstacles to that. And honestly, after years of trying to make it happen, I get the feeling that’s not something my readers actually want to see.
Over the years I’ve gone on a journey to see the magic of the everyday. I had my head too much in the clouds, lusting after a life of seemingly unattainable class and status. But a geek version! Surely that’s doable, I’d always say to myself. Well….not exactly. But sometimes one has to try their darn hardest to make it happen on their own terms to learn from those mistakes and find something new. So now, I am in transition to something new.
I’d love to hear your thoughts, dear readers, on what you would like to see from me. What does “The Lady Nerd” mean to you? What comes to mind when you think of those three words?
Photographs:
Hi. What is your goal? To me, the Lady Nerd is a beautiful woman trying to bridge fandom and fashion. Something you do fairly well, don’t see why you’re not an in demand model yet, and I know you’re trying. Maybe fashion design will lead to your big break? What do geeks wear? What do fans wear? Could you design clothes for the geek that wants to look geek chic? I originally thought that was where you were heading. Cosplay we could wear to dinner without looking like we are in cosplay.
That was absolutely where I was heading. Alas, my lack of sewing skills and steady income have made that reality nigh impossible. So I’ve been scrambling trying to figure out what else to do. I think I have a few fun ideas in the cooker… 🙂
The Lady Nerd evokes an image of a highly creative, unique, one-of-a-kind, fun-loving and thoughtful honest lady. You have a dream that is truly yours and, if I may be bold, Miss Lamb, is 100% doable.
It may not turn out the way you originally dreamed, but that is the adventure…the journey you have embarked upon. To learn, adapt, overcome and go completely offscript should the need arise.
As the famous bard once said, ” To thine own self be true.”
Thank you very much Albert! Very kind words that I’ll do my best to take to heart.
It is my humble opinion that, at least for me, I would like to see you being just you. Long time ago I used to follow you in Facebook and at some point I started to remove lots of follows to almost everything due to my increasing belief of the futility of having a presence in FB. I decided to let go of the ego of requiring approval or a collective conscience of my connections in FB. In that sense, you don’t need to accommodate to what people wants or expects, you have the freedom to do what you think will be good FOR YOU and along the way the right people will be there following you. Besides, everything has at least two sides, therefore what you do will always have someone liking it and someone that will not. If fashion and geek is what makes you happy, then keep doing it just for you.
In terms of your alias “The Lady Nerd”, I happen to have the impression of this cosplayer that likes to express herself through pictures, however, I never quite saw that Nerd side of you (maybe I have missed a lot of reading about you which could be the nerd side of you)
Whatever you do in the future, do so always with you in mind, if you have been doing it, then keep on it..
Cheers!
“Nerd” is certainly open to interpretation, though most of it comes out in my writing on blog posts or comments. I probably don’t showcase it online nearly as much as I do in real life (I’ll admit, partially out of fear, as I find some nerds get into a one-upping contest on knowledge or who’s nerdier. So I hold back a bit). But you’re absolutely right in me needing to be more comfortable in my own skin and just BE ME. I do it sometimes, while others I think I lean a little too much on the “how can I make this successful so I can earn income” side (because I’d much rather be doing this than a 9-5!). Thanks for the feedback.
I see a girl who overthinks, gives too much power away to her audience, and doesn’t do enough creativity just for her own, unapologetic joy. I am interested in seeing *her* joy.
Oof, I’ll admit that read a bit harsh at first. But I genuinely appreciate you taking the time to say it. You are absolutely right. I moved into the world of “how can I make this successful so I can earn income” side (because I’d much rather be doing this than a 9-5!) to try to work a job I find joy in (and can also do with my disabilities). But I think, based on all the responses I’m getting from this blog post, that it’s interfering greatly with my content. So you are quite right in me needing to be more comfortable in my own skin and just BE ME. I will try to do better.
Wellll expanding a brand means new ideas and products. I would like to see you work with cosplay designers to tonotonly promote them but to show off their skills. Plus also with you traveling locally ilove to see the rich southern history.
Not necessarily ‘expanding’ the brand as ‘examining’ it. My brand is me. So while I do collaborate with other companies, cosplayers, etc. The Lady Nerd is my own adventures. A personality rather than a reporter, if that makes sense?
Yup makes perfect sense . go forth and adventure.
I bookmarked this to come back to and make a comment and then of course forgot. To me, The Lady Nerd doesn’t always have to be blatantly nerdy. I think it’s easy to look at it as a Venn Diagram of fashion and nerd, then you expect that overlap to be fully both all the time, but it’s more of a spectrum. Sometimes it’s wearing Her Universe gear, but sometimes it’s an outfit like this one that I love and it isn’t obviously nerdy but it still makes my nerd heart happy. The Lady Nerd reminds me that I can have little nerd moments or big nerd moments and still be fashionable. That just because I’m being nerdy doesn’t mean I have to be blah. I thought of you the other day because I wore a basic nerdy t-shirt with nice boots and skinny pants and a coat and I had this biker vibe with a dash of nerd. You don’t always have to be 100% both things. I think the best brands have some flexibility to grow.