As we covered last week, an ironic/kitsch t-shirt is an essential part of any geek chic ensemble. Although the line between "hipster" and "geek chic" is admittedly blurry (and for guys especially, there is tons of overlap), the best geek shirts are a little more specialized than your standard vintage logo tee. Think vintage computer software company logo tee.

Below are five of my favorite online shops to find geek chic shirts for both men and women (it is significantly harder to find great "geek chic" shirts for girls). Have a favorite geek chic t-shirt shop? Leave your suggestions in the comments!

The Stores:

• Threadless.com
• Jinx.com
• 80stees.com
• Insanelygreattees.com
• ThinkGeek.com

ThinkGeek has done it again. They have taken something normal (a T-shirt) and made it outrageously nerdy (a Wi-Fi detector).

Here it is, the ThinkGeek Wi-Fi Detector T-Shirt. Yep, it really works. Those little bars are on an animated decal you can remove to wash the shirt. Because Wi-Fi bars are not washable. Betcha didn't know that.


When I think of all the times I have wandered New York City with my laptop wondering where there is a place I can check to see if Han Solo has e-mailed me yet, when I remember sitting on that freezing bench outside of the fancy east side residence Sutton Place, when I think of peering at peeling Wi-Fi stickers in the windows of delis and diners, when I think of all the times I've desperately clicked on networks called "Tina's Angst Zone" and "Boyz Gone Wyld" in vain. . .how I wish I'd had this shirt.

I don't feel particularly inclined to walk around like a beacon of computer signal activity, but I would like to hire an intern to stand near me wearing this at all times. That would be handy. I can't offer pay, but I'll take you to prom. Okay?

P.S. Han Solo never writes. Scoundrel.

If you've ever had the desire to run free through the fields in a skirt, well, we can't help you with the running free part, but we can get your the skirt. The Utilikilt is a men's skirt made of a durable yet soft poly-cotton blend fabric. It's more like a pair of one-legged cargo pants than anything else because it has belt loops, rivets, and a lot of pockets to carry everything that a guy needs. Of course, if you're going to wear a skirt, you may as well carry matching purse for all your stuff rather than weighing down your pockets.

Boys, sometimes it's not enough to be mocked just for your Mario tattoo or your elaborate Second Life family of friends and it's important to take that extra step of geekery in the workplace. Never fear, for ThinkGeek's 8-bit tie is here. It's exactly as it sounds: this is a tie made to look like it came straight from an 8-bit word. To maintain the 2-D illusion and avoid the rounded knot, the tie is a clip-on. It's hand-made from a microfiber material and goes for $19.99.

In theory, I think it's a cool idea, but I'm starting to wonder how I'd react if I really saw someone wearing this around the workplace. I suppose it depends on whether the workplace is super corporate or more laidback... or if the company's run by Wario.

While dining ocean side the other day, one of my favorite lovable geeks came and joined me and friends for lunch. Let me tell you something, he was looking like The Colest Geek on the Planet. He was sporting an awesome goatee, black sunglasses (which he kept on during the meal ... so cool), and a black tee shirt with the word "meh" printed in white across the chest, which Jonathon mentioned earlier this year.

For those of you who don't know or use the word "meh," boy are you missing out. "Meh" is like the modern equivalent to "whatever," without all the attitude. It doesn't mean "yes" and it doesn't mean "no." It means "Whatever, I don't care." Let's try it in a sentence ...

Person #1: What do you want for dinner, Chinese food?

Person #2: Meh.

Person #1: Okay, you aren't feeling Chinese. How about pizza?

Person #2: Yeah, pizza sounds good.

But it's not just the "meh" shirt. There are other hilariously "geeky" shirts to choose from: "I am blogging this" and "WTF?" I actually would like to own all three.

I'm sure you all have seen the recent image macro trend LOLcats, or have heard at least the Internet phrase "im in ur base killing ur d00dz". Yes, no, maybe? Well, if you're into this whole Internet thing, want to express your inner geekiness in t-shirt form, or just want to get hit on by interwebz-lovers, this is the shirt for you. Each "im in ur blank blanking ur blank" shirt comes with a washable marker that you can use to fill in your own words again and again. ThinkGeek gives a few sweet suggestions on what to write: Visiting in-laws? We recommend, "im in ur offspring sproutin' ur family tree." Stuck at the office? May we suggest, "im in ur meeting eatin' ur donuts."

Or, if Styledash folks want one: "im in ur feed bloggin' ur fashionz."

Here's a good excuse for people to stare at your chest -- an animated t-shirt from Think Geek featuring old school, video game table tennis. Classic!

With all the hubbub over retro gaming recently, this throw-back will undoubtedly win you points with the hipster set. Plus, it only takes two AAA batteries (concealed in an inside pocket) to work, and you can remove the image screen for washing -- thus, it actually seems wearable.

From the makers: Don't get too impressed. This was originally supposed to be the "Animated Gears of War Shirt" but by the time we strapped a 360 to the back of the shirt and added a flatscreen to the front it just wasn't feasible. The test subjects kept falling over, no one liked the car battery power supply duct taped to their leg and don't even get us started on the price.

Ok, so maybe it's not quite what they intended, but it's only $25, it looks awesome, and the animated gamers never miss a shot. I'm not sure it could get any cooler.

[via Neatorama]