The Pros and Cons of Subtle Geekery

Chucks, Cons, trainers, sneakers... call them what you will, but Converse shoes have been a popular fashion statement for a very long time.  And if the movie I, Robot has anything to say about it, they will still be considered a thing of beauty twenty-three years from now.  Why?  Well, why not! They've got a simple, classic design. They're lightweight and comfy.  They come in a plethora of colors, and since they're canvas, those who wish to go beyond simply choosing their favorite color can paint on them. Plus they're just... fun.

I had a purple pair many years ago.  I think I got them from my niece, who got them from her brother when he outgrew them... or something. (This particular nephew is older than me, so it makes sense.) I'm not sure what happened to them, most likely they fell apart, but over the last couple years I've thought I'd like to get a new pair. 

Now, without something to nudge me into action, I probably would have done nothing more than think about it.  However, a few weeks ago I got a nudge.  I finally watched Doctor Who, and the 10th Doctor wears Cons.  With a pinstriped suit.  I found this to be awesome, and while I probably won't be getting a suit, it was a darn good excuse to finally buy some Cons. Burgundy ones.

I wanted to to do a little something to make it more of a Doctor Who thing though...

 



I bought some printable transfer paper (for dark fabrics) from Walmart, made my alternate logo in Photoshop, printed it out, ironed it on, and voila! Initially I thought I'd just replace the blue star with the Tardis, but then it occurred to me that the word "universe" was only three letters off, so why not play around with the text too?  The scripty bit says "Space Time" which really isn't close to "Chuck Taylor" at all, but oh well.
TIP: If anyone decides to try this, be careful when ironing it on.  The original logo is rather thick rubbery stuff and it can ooze and burn if you get too much heat and pressure going on it.

Chances are nobody will even notice, but that's okay.  When someone does notice, it will be extra fun.  I like a lot of the t-shirts out there, and I have a few with designs that are from various shows and movies, but I'm trying to steer my wardrobe away from regular t-shirts these days because they make me look like I'm still in high school. It would be nice if they printed more fitted shirts with a scoop or v-neck...  I'll still keep a few around for lazy days, but if I'm going to step my wardrobe up a notch it means working my fandoms in more quiet-like. 

In a way I like the subtle approach better.  The reactions are more interesting for one thing.  Instead of just "I like your shirt" which could also mean that the person you're talking to is trying to quash a sudden urge to strangle you, people ask questions and start actual conversations.  "Hey, is that...?" is a lot easier to respond to than a simple statement. Plus it's a chance to be all creative and sneaky.