Three Literary Looks

Literature has the almost magical ability to transport you to new imaginary landscapes, experience days gone by and meet fictional characters, all without leaving your armchair. This feeling, though, can also be achieved through your outfit – dress like the lead characters in the books we mention and find yourself in Italy, among the students at a Vermont university, or alone in the American wilderness.

Call Me by Your Name by André Aciman

The unputdownable book Call Me by Your Name, which many may recognise from the recent film, takes you to Tuscany in northern Italy, where you find yourself strolling down picturesque, cobbled streets in a pair of white sneakers and an airy linen shirt with the sleeves rolled up. As the sun warms your clothes, you look through your sunglasses to see your summer romance cycling past, on the way to the piazza for some freshly made gelato, and feel a drop of sweat slide down your back. You cycle home for a refreshing dip in the turquoise waters of your pool, in playfully patterned swim shorts that suit both the pool and your al fresco dining table. Nestled among the citrus trees, you enter into deep discussions about culture and literature.

Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

Tired of city life? Yearning for the solace of the wilderness? You don’t necessarily need to go as far as the characters in John Krauker’s novel Into the Wild, based on a true story, and leave it all behind for a simpler life in the Alaskan wilderness, but there are a number of ways to at least emulate the hinterland lifestyle in your outfit. A classic pair of hard-wearing and durable jeans, perhaps with a lightly worn look for an added touch of authenticity, a pair of robust hiking boots, a cap and a classic lumberjack shirt are just what you need to escape to the forest, at least for a while. Add a warm fleece in an earthy tone for those evenings spent chopping wood for your nightly fire. But if you want to fully commit to living off the grid, don’t forget to bring a backpack large enough for your modest possessions and weatherproof enough to keep them dry in a storm. For those who want to know more about the simple life and its unique style, we highly recommend Thoreau’s literary classic Walden.

The Secret Story by Donna Tartt

From Italian romance and American survivalism to a more mysterious, dark, and elegant lifestyle. Donna Tratt’s 1992 novel The Secret History tells the story of a group of eccentric students at Hampden University in Vermont, USA. The intellectual and well-read characters contained within its pages provide a wide range of inspiration when it comes to style, but the one thing they have in common is always being the sharpest person in the room. Their approach involves the classic studious style associated with prestigious universities, but with a discreetly nonchalant undertone. Start with a pair of brown leather derby shoes, well-tailored trousers with a front crease, and a fine-knit turtleneck. Then just put on your British-style blazer and begin conversing with your peers about Ancient Greece, casually adding an obscure reference to Dionysus for the ultimate Tartt experience.