There’s a particular kind of reader who refuses to choose between loving books and loving beautiful things.
Her current read is tucked into her favourite bag. Her headphones are charged. Her glasses are intentional. There’s probably a pen case involved. And somehow even the water bottle coordinates with the outfit.
Welcome to The Stylish Reader.
This edit is for the book girl whose reading life has quietly become part of her personal style — the one who can spend Saturday morning wandering a bookstore and still have dinner plans at seven.
We’ve collected 15 fashion, reading and everyday finds for her wardrobe and bag: rich burgundy layers, bookish pieces from Reign by Raine, tortoiseshell glasses, jewellery, beautiful stationery, a romantasy read and a few completely unnecessary little luxuries that make leaving the house more fun.
Because being bookish doesn't mean abandoning the outfit.
It just means there’s a paperback in the bag.
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The Outfit Starts Here
1. The Burgundy Gold-Button Cardigan
There is something about deep burgundy and gold buttons that instantly makes an outfit look more considered.
This fitted ribbed cardigan works beautifully with dark denim, trousers or a simple skirt — and the rich wine shade gives us exactly the polished, slightly retro colour story The Stylish Reader deserves.
Wear it buttoned as a top or open over your favourite bookish tee.
[SHOP THE BURGUNDY CARDIGAN →]
2. The “All the Cute Girls Are Reading” Tee
Naturally, we needed a little Reign by Raine in the wardrobe.
The All the Cute Girls Are Reading tee brings the fun back into bookish fashion with its retro illustrated design and soft butter-yellow base.
Pair it with jeans, layer it under the burgundy cardigan and add tortoiseshell glasses for an outfit that says reader, without looking like you dressed for a themed event.
[SHOP THE REIGN BY RAINE TEE →]
3. The Tortoiseshell Retro Glasses
Reading glasses, computer glasses, outfit accessory — we are not particularly concerned with the technicality.
The oversized rectangular tortoiseshell frames give an otherwise simple outfit an immediate 90s book-girl edge and look especially good against burgundy, cream and denim.
Bonus points if you push them up while making a very serious observation about the book you're reading.
[SHOP THE TORTOISESHELL GLASSES →]
4. The Pink Floral Gold Hoops
Tiny jewellery with just enough personality.
These gold huggie hoops are decorated with colourful enamel flowers, giving you a little hit of pink, green and burgundy without turning the entire outfit floral.
They're playful, polished and exactly the sort of detail that makes a simple cardigan-and-jeans combination feel finished.
The Little Details
5. The Celestial Layered Necklace
A little celestial jewellery feels very appropriate for someone who spends a significant amount of time reading about impossible romances, magical worlds and questionable fictional men.
This delicate layered necklace combines tiny moon, star and coin details with warm gold tones that work beautifully with the cardigan and floral hoops.
Bookish without actually announcing itself as bookish.
[SHOP THE CELESTIAL NECKLACE →]
6. The Bordeaux Mini Wallet
Small, practical and satisfyingly coordinated.
This compact card wallet comes in a rich Bordeaux shade with gold hardware and a wrist strap, making it an easy little addition to your everyday bag without taking up half the available space.
More room for the important things.
Like books.
7. Rose in Chains — Julie Soto
Because The Stylish Reader obviously has a current read in her bag.
This special hardcover edition of Rose in Chains brings a little dark romantasy drama to the edit — and that ornate black, purple and gold cover certainly doesn't hurt.
For readers who like their commute with considerably more tension, magic and enemies-to-lovers energy.
8. The Black Cherry Owala
Hydration, but make it part of the outfit.
The Black Cherry colourway fits this edit almost suspiciously well, with deep wine tones and a subtle pink accent that looks right at home beside our burgundy wardrobe pieces.
Throw it in your work or reading bag for bookstore trips, commutes and those supposedly quick café reading sessions that somehow become three hours.
[SHOP THE BLACK CHERRY OWALA →]
What’s Actually in Her Bag
9. The Rosewood Mauve Bose Headphones
For the audiobook chapter of the commute.
These Rosewood Mauve headphones bring a gorgeous berry-pink hit to the edit while giving The Stylish Reader an option for reading when holding an actual book isn't particularly practical.
Perfect for trains, walks, travel and disappearing into an audiobook while looking remarkably put together.
10. The “I Smell a Bookstore” Cap
Sometimes the outfit needs one thing that doesn't take itself too seriously.
This Reign by Raine cap features a tiny embroidered cat alongside “I smell a bookstore” — subtle enough to wear with an everyday outfit, but very obvious to the right people.
Add it to denim, the burgundy cardigan and headphones for an easy off-duty reader look.
[SHOP THE REIGN BY RAINE CAP →]
11. The Pink Kokuyo Pen Case
Yes, she carries stationery.
This quilted pink Kokuyo case is compact enough to slip into a handbag while still giving your favourite pens somewhere considerably nicer to live than the bottom of the bag.
The soft powder-pink shade also gives our burgundy-heavy edit exactly the little colour break it needs.
12. Viktor&Rolf Flowerbomb
Not technically required for reading.
Still invited.
Flowerbomb brings a polished little beauty moment to the edit with its floral fragrance and beautiful pink bottle — the sort of finishing touch that belongs beside jewellery, a good handbag and whatever book you're currently refusing to stop talking about.
Because The Stylish Reader doesn't only have a reading routine.
She has a getting-ready routine too.
The Finishing Touches
13. The Refillable Perfume Atomisers
For keeping your favourite fragrance in your bag without carrying the entire bottle around.
These slim refillable perfume atomisers are ideal for work bags, travel or a quick refresh before heading from the office to dinner — and the little metallic cases make them feel far more glamorous than their practical purpose suggests.
Fill one with your current favourite and keep it beside the emergency pen, lip balm and bookmark.
[SHOP THE PERFUME ATOMISERS →]
14. The Hobonichi Weeks — Starlight
Part planner, part reading-life headquarters.
The Starlight Hobonichi Weeks brings a dreamy blue celestial moment into our berry-toned edit and gives you somewhere to keep track of appointments, reading goals, new releases, bookstore dates and the rapidly expanding TBR.
Small enough for an everyday bag, pretty enough to make planning feel like an activity.
15. The Zebra ClickArt Pens
Because the planner obviously requires good pens.
These colourful Zebra ClickArt pens give you plenty of shades for planning, journaling, colour-coding and adding little notes about books you absolutely intend to read this month.
Do you need this many colours?
Probably not.
Does that appear to have stopped any stationery person before?
[SHOP THE ZEBRA CLICKART PENS →]
Consider the Outfit Complete
The Stylish Reader isn't really about dressing like a reader.
It's about letting the things you already love become part of your personal style.
A burgundy cardigan. A book tucked into your bag. Headphones playing an audiobook. A ridiculous number of nice pens. A little bookish joke on your cap that only another reader will immediately understand.
Some days you're carrying a hardcover.
Some days you're listening on the train.
Some days you're simply wandering into a bookstore because you happened to be nearby.
Again.
Wear the outfit. Pack the book. Take the long way past the bookstore. ♡
Happy reading — and getting dressed ♡
Reign by Raine