10 Wearable Tech Items That Actually Look Good

Technology is the future, and the future is now. Though this statement may have also been made in the 1950s and ’60s, driven by dreams of robot servitude and flying cars, it couldn’t be truer than it is today. As we approach 2015, just about everything we do as a society—which just so happens to be a rather materialistic one—has to do with the use of advanced technology through computers, smartphones, and other interconnectivity-focused devices built specifically for everyday use. Keeping track of it all isn't easy, but we use what we know and for the most part, we try to use it wisely. Unfortunately, a good majority of such tech savvy items don’t always help our appearance as much as they help our livelihood.

“Technology” and “style” don’t have to be juxtaposing words anymore. Just because something has built-in tech doesn’t mean that you have to look like you just landed from a voyage to Deep Space Nine. There are more and more brands out there dedicated to making our lives easier to manage while offering the comfort and style that we so rightfully deserve. To help in the seemingly never-ending quest to find both at once, we've compiled 10 Wearable Tech Items That Actually Look Good.

Much like a phone, a “smartwatch” is only as smart as the user. And, unfortunately, many of today's smartwatchs deliver too little in terms of aesthetics. LG’s G Watch R gives you the best of both worlds though, offering technology that allows you to send and receive texts, play music, check your Facebook or Instagram feeds, and even serves as a navigation tool. All this through a sleek, classic design that one can be proud to display without coming off as the overly-techy guy everyone comes to for their computer issues—even though you aren’t even in the IT department.

Walking around the city in a gold-sleeved varsity jacket gives you the fashion cred that you need, but what about a gold-sleeved varsity jacket that has built-in phone-charging capabilities? Opening Ceremony teamed up with portable battery charger brand, Mophie, to design a removable one that’s built right into the inner pocket of the jacket. So when your phone’s battery starts to get low from stunting through the city, this jacket actually gives you the crucial recharge you’re looking for, too. Fashion and function? Very rare.

When you’re working out, there’s nothing worse than an un-regulated body temperature. Like when you’re overheated and the sweat just keeps pouring, or when you're veins turn to ice because the sweat stays on your clothes. It’s basically your worst enemy during and post-workout, alongside pizza and cupcakes of course. Columbia has tried to flip the script to make your body’s temperature work in your favor with the Heavyweight Knit Tights’ Omni-Heat reflective breathable material that regulates your temperature with silver dots that reflect and retain body heat. The health goth movement will forever need a good-looking pair of tights, so might as well be a pair that works, no matter the weather.

There are plenty of gloves on the market that allow you to interact with your touchscreen phone. Though there is a lack of ones that keep your hands warm, perform well, and look stylish. And then there is the Mujjo Leather Crochet Touchscreen Gloves, with its woven Egyptian cotton and Ethiopian lambskin leather construction with nanotechnology integrated into it to mimic the human skin while keeping your fingers fully insulated. And did we mention they look extremely stylish?

To the naked eye, these Outlier Slim Dungarees look like a regular, albeit delightful-looking, pair of pants. As in, a mere supplement to your everyday denim rotation. But they are so much more. Not only does the canvas feature a double weave for high durability with necessary breathability, it’s treated with NanoSphere tech to emulate the self-cleaning capabilities of a lotus leaf. So, in laymen’s terms, you can wear these slim-fitting pants everyday without having to worry about that funky smell that your raw denim starts to get after a few months of coffee, beer, and whatever else you spill on your crotch. There was even a case study on these, which identified them as the “21st century jeans.” Considering that the 21st century is all about technology, this sounds like a match made in heaven.

A traditional Mackintosh coat’s job is to protect the wearer from rain. Isaora has decided to take it a few steps further, creating one of the world’s most lightweight Mac coats and fusing it with precision welding to eliminate seems and perforation points that you are likely to find on most standard pieces of clothing. All this makes for one sharp-looking, tech-emphasized take on a classic.

Don’t know if you’ve noticed, but it is brick cold outside. In fact, it’s sometimes so cold that even heavy layers don’t help keep you warm, and they make you look like you’ve added 15 pounds. So being able to wear a thin layer like Uniqlo’s Heattech Extra Warm Long-Sleeve Shirts is key. Especially when it has built-in insulating technology to maintain body heat (hence the name) while converting any perspiration into warmth, as well. So feeling toasty doesn’t require an extra-thick down jacket once you toss one of these bad boys on under your sweater, or wear it all by itself, if you so well please.

While boxers aren’t an item that you are typically seen wearing alone in the free world, being caught in an unstylish, grotesque pair could be detrimental to your livelihood. Mack Weldon’s Silver collection has you covered with their version of the boxer brief, updated with antimicrobial and anti-odor technology, and built-in mesh “cool zones” that help keep the funk from your junk away. Any guy will tell you that this is pivotal in his day-to-day goings-on, seen or unseen.

Persol is well known for its classic, iconic sunglasses. But “classic” and “iconic” don't always mean “advanced” or even “practical.” Photo-chromatic polarized lenses allow proper blockage from glare while having the ability to transition based on the darkness or brightness of your immediate surroundings, inside or out. Persol decided to make some adaptations to the lenses, like the first-ever foldable sunglasses, the PO714. Making that slight technological tweak to a classic is like music to our eyes.

Wristwear is a risky business. You're risk putting your sartorial well being in danger by having too much or too little. And you especially run the risk when you begin adding in bracelets with “special technology,” as that usually means that they are butt ugly. Jawbone has never had an issue with “ugly” though, so its understandable that the brand has created an amazingly stylish product in the UP24 rubber wristband, which features Bluetooth capabilities that allow you to track your everyday activities like sleeping, walking, and even eating. It can even control your home’s thermostat without requiring any buttons to be pressed. Being able to have that much control over your life on your wrist is a great thing to have, but it could also be used against you if your enemies are vindictive enough. Stay vigilant!