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journalism → support → readers
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we → purchase → commission
You probably already know that fashion is in the grips of a literary love affair.
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fashion → know → affair
Everyone from Miu Miu to Kaia Gerber has a book club, performative reading is de rigueur from Hammersmith to Hackney, and Jonathan Anderson’s vibrant iterations of the Dior book tote are still one of his most covetable creations.
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iterations → have → creations
The trophy text you carry is now officially as important an accessory as a great bag or statement coat.
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you → carry → bag
That’s why for Valentino’s spring/summer 2027 show in Paris this month, creative director Alessandro Michele gave guests one clear directive: bring a book.
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Michele → ’ → book
The show, called Antibiblioteca, took place at the 19th-century Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève, which was transformed into a party venue complete with strobe lights and models storming between the tables and shelves.
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which → call → tables
Invitees were asked to bring a book (new or from home) that would be donated to local libraries after the event.
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that → ask → event
The stars’ choices spoke volumes, not only about their literary tastes but also about how they present themselves.
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they → speak → themselves
Colman Domingo took Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking (charming, irreverent), while fellow actor Naomi Watts brought Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre (classic, sophisticated, intellectual).
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Watts → take → Eyre
Joe Alwyn, on the other hand, took James and the Giant Peach — an immediate ick and unshakeable ex-boyfriend energy.
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Alwyn → take → James
Obviously, some would call this shameless act of judging a book by its cover vacuous and silly.
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some → call → cover
After all, it doesn’t matter what you’re reading, so long as you’re reading.
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you → matter → what
But, nevertheless, here’s what your autumn/winter read says about you…
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read → ’ → you
Like Sarah Jessica Parker, you’ve got your finger on the literary fiction pulse and probably have great taste in Fendi bags.
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you → get → bags
‘Life of M’ by Rachel Cusk
Nice try, but you’re a little behind the times.
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you → ’re → times
This teasing tale, allegedly about Natalie Portman, was everywhere at London Fashion Week — Rejina Pyo even hosted a talk about it – but that was back in September.
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that → tease → September
Life of M is a thrilling work of autofiction and a neat 192 pages, so get through it then move onto a more timely trophy text.
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Life → get → text
It’s the sartorial equivalent of a fresh pair of sunglasses; to that end, try Ace & Tate (£125, Aceandtate.com) or Jimmy Fairly to avoid breaking the bank.
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It → ’ → bank
‘A Court of Splintered Harmony’ by Sarah J Maas
Look, the ombré-toned cover of the sixth instalment in the A Court of Thorns and Roses series isn’t going to win you must be respected regardless.
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you → look → series
The romantasy genre boosted UK fiction sales by some £550 million last year and turned a generation of horny women back to reading.
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genre → boost → reading
Whatever, you’re going to read this in milliseconds, possibly while wearing a nightie from If Only If’s latest collaboration with Harling Ross, so nobody will see it anyway.
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nobody → go → it
You go girl.
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You → go → ?
‘Switzy’ by Emma Cline
Like the cover of Cline’s astonishing and deeply immersive literary exploration of dementia, you know how to make a statement without going overboard.
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you → know → statement
This season, colour-pop knits in shades of royal purple and high-vamp pumps in cream or burgundy will keep your wardrobe of autumn/winter neutrals relevant.
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wardrobe → keep → neutrals
‘Price & Prejudice’ by Jane Austen, with an introduction by Dolly Alderton
The millennial woman’s messiah Dolly Alderton has given the millennial woman’s set text the Netflix treatment — as well as writing an introduction for this elegant new edition — so naturally you’re swotting up before it’s released.
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it → give → edition
Like a fabulous pair of Loeffler Randall flats (£265, Loefflerrandall.com), you’ll always be cool because you don’t really care about trends but still want to look nice some of the time.
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you → care → time
‘Bitter Melon’ by Liv Little
A caveat: you must actually also read this tale of a father-daughter journey through Jamaica, which explores identity, grief and reconciliation.
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which → read → identity
, it’s good enough for any mere mortal.
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it → ’ → mortal
The only issue is you might get your coat confused with your friend’s identical one at your next book club meeting.
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coat → get → meeting
It’s equally possible that you’ll mix up your matching copies of Peck & Peck, the new novel from Bonnie Garmus (of Lessons inChemistry fame).
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you → ’ → inChemistry
You know a good thing whenyou see one — trouble is, so does everyone else.
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everyone → know → one
The Aporia
