There was a time when men shied away from embracing their geeky side, but this fairly recent fashion favourite means they no longer have to. Geek chic, which now has some close links to a few hipster styles, is a well-recognised sub-set of fashion and one well worth dabbling in.

The biggest thing to remember about geek chic is the fact that less is more. This is a style that plays on old preconceptions of the geekiest computer programmers and design workers around, and if you embrace the style too enthusiastically, you might end up looking a little too authentic.

The good news is that it’s incredibly easy to give yourself a little splash of geek chic. When you’re dressing for the office, swap your shirt for a graphic t-shirt, preferably one that references a comic book character, computer-related in-joke or an old gaming system, and you’re already half way there. Alternatively, go for a plain or striped polo shirt but instead of pairing it with a suit jacket, wear with a cardigan or V-necked jumper instead.

On your legs, you want a pair of slim fitting trousers with a low rise and a tapered leg. Wear these with trainers such as Converse high-tops or a pair of lace up brogues. When you’re doing geek chic, you can also forget about most sock rules and wear a bright or pattered pair even when you’ve got dark trousers on.

Corduroy trousers are another favourite, they’ve been lurking around in geek wardrobes for years and if you make sure they are long enough to gather at the top of your shoes and you pair them with a thin leather belt, they will look great for years to come.

As with many looks, the devil is in the details and one of the most well recognised geek chic accessories is a pair of thick rimmed, slightly oversized glasses. However, only indulge in this trend if you genuinely do need prescription lenses, there’s nothing that will lose you more geek cred than faking a need for specs.

Striped ties are another easy step into geekdom, just be sure you buy decent brands that are long and thick enough to shake off any schoolboy overtones. Keep your hair neat too, a tousled style is fine, but if you let it become too unkempt you really will look like you’ve been up all night playing games.

Other looks that should most definitely be avoided are coloured suspenders (unless you are the kind of confident guy who’s looking for a serious style challenge), bum bags and pocket protectors. As a general rule, these are the kind of dorky looks that are best left to the geeks of yesteryear.

Adding a touch of geek chic to your wardrobe is easy and with the help of graphic tees, a few carefully chosen accessories and some slim-fitting trousers, you’ll be ready to let a little of your inner geek shine through.