Book Club Couture: Has Reading Become a Fashion Aesthetic?

Dôen has teamed up with Library Science, the online book club co-founded by Kaia Gerber and Alyssa Reeder, to create a limited-edition nightgown that embodies the aesthetic of reading in style.

The sheer nightgown comes in a "salt" shade with baby-blue detailing on its scalloped edges and a ribbon neckline. It’s simple, elegant, and nostalgic, “inspired by a shared love of escaping into the pages of a really good book,” according to the brand.

On the surface, the nightgown is a charming piece that evokes the quiet luxury of lounging at home with a good book. But it also reflects a larger cultural shift.  

A New Chapter in Fashion 

Books are no longer just stories to get lost in, they've become accessories and props in the growing trend of aesthetics that influence our daily lives.

From Bayonetta-style glasses to oversized cardigans, fashion has embraced a “bookish” aesthetic that blends literature with personal style. Trends like librancore and geek chic are reshaping not just how we read, but how we dress while doing it.

Ultimately, fashion has always been a means of self-expression, and books may now be serving a similar role.

Designers like the Danish brand Skall Studio incorporated books into their runway shows this January at Copenhagen Fashion Week. Meanwhile, models like Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner have been photographed carrying books like purses while off-duty.

The nightgown collaboration between Dôen and Library Science is the perfect representation of this new trend. By creating a garment that is inspired by the act of reading, the brands are blurring the lines between fashion and literature. 

Reading in Style 

This shift has made reading both aspirational and commodified, owning the right books or wearing “bookish” attire is now seen as a status symbol, much like a designer handbag or a luxury watch.   

Book stylists are professionals who curate the ideal readers look, carefully selecting books that not only complement the setting but also enhance the personal brand of influencers and celebrities. Many celebrities and influencers hire book stylists to choose books that elevate their public image, helping them appear cool, intellectual, and cultured.

Social media has only amplified this rebranding, turning books into a public spectacle rather than a private activity. With platforms like Instagram and TikTok fueling a visual culture around reading, books have become curated props for people to project their identity.

A copy of Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar can suggest a moody intellectualism, while an Emily Henry romance offers a warmer, more carefree persona. From the novels you pose with on Instagram to the vintage cardigan you wear while reading, literature has evolved into an accessory.

A Stylish Collaboration

But Kaia Gerber’s collaboration with Dôen perfectly encapsulates the undeniable charm of pairing literature with style. After all, if you're going to get lost in a good book, you might as well look the part.