We are the opposite of the clichéd definition of bookworm, book-nerd, pompous know-all or whatever the miserable non-reader might call us—we are the most fashionable of all. We might blossom late, but by the time we are fully-grown adults, most of us have taste and an eye for detail that the non-reader can never fathom. This is because literature offers up more fashion inspiration than any window display the non-reader has managed to see and absorb into his/her limited intelligence.
We shall begin with that most iconic of fashionable literary figures captured forever in Hollywood and unfailingly reproduced in almost every aspect of communication even touching upon the subject of fashion—Audrey Hepburn in her black high-collar dress, string of pearls around her neck, hair tied back in a stylish bun. She is Holly Golightly from Breakfast at Tiffany’s , originally created by the American writer Truman Capote.
The following passage says it all: “It was a warm evening, nearly summer, and she wore a slim, cool black dress, black sandals, a pearl choker. For all her chic thinness, she had an almost breakfast-cereal air of health, a soap and lemon cleanness, a rough pink darkening in the cheeks.”
Although Capote was at the height of his success in the testosterone-infused 1950’s, he gave us women one truly valuable fashion advice — a black outfit or a string of pearls will never go out of fashion.
Then there is Scarlett O’ Hara, our scheming heroine from Gone with the Wind. The reader learns early on that she is not a beautiful woman, definitely not falling within the definition of beauty in her time.
However, we also learn she has a slim waist, wished the day’s fashions would allow her to show off her legs and, that she more than made up for it by dressing up in the most extravagant of fashions.
Passage in point: “The dress set off to perfection the seventeen-inch waist, the smallest in three counties.” As the book progresses, we can see how everyone is deluded into the belief that she is actually the beauty that she is not.
Most valuable fashion lesson from the writer Margaret Mitchell – being born beautiful is not as important as how well you can groom and present yourself.
Then of course, there is Emma from Gustave Flaubert’s Madame Bovary . Her senseless pursuit of beautiful things lead to her downfall, and we are taught that there is a huge difference between having nice things which we can afford and senselessly falling into the trap of keeping up with the latest trends and the selfie-taking friends.It is important, Flaubert tells us indirectly to look good, but not at the cost of something dear.
And, since no literary article can be complete without the Brontes, we will look at Jane Eyre. The poor, plain governess who comes to Thornfield Hall with her plain grey and black working clothes and one relatively nice dress (for her that is ) and a brooch given to her by her favourite teacher as a parting present.
There is her beautiful and vicious rival Blanche Ingram vying for Edward Rochester’s attention. And, although dressed in the latest fashions, he does choose Jane quite quickly. She also refuses his offers of dress, asserting her independence. Charlotte Bronte teaches this most valuable lesson – sometimes it is more than just outward appearances that make us attractive.
