The Apparent Rise of Reading Fashion

Wednesday is about books and reading. And, therefore, writing. Today, "Litcore" - did you know this was a thing? The rise of book-swag that is wearable and 'cool'.

Recently, Barnes & Noble tried to sell me a “Dark Academia Candle” – by which I mean I saw a Dark Academia Candle on the shelf in a Barnes & Noble store, and carried it around for a bit, until I saw the $26.00 price tag, and then promptly handed it to my wife, to try to make it her idea to buy it for us…

I didn’t really want the Dark Academia Candle – I just liked the fact it existed. It’s not even my go-to literary genre, but Katy and Oscar are both big fans of it, and I can get on board. I’ve read The Secret History after all. (Controversial: Much like my take on Oppenheimer I’m currently the only person in the world that doesn’t really like The Secret History).

Notes of vanilla rum, leather, and spiced santal are perfectly layered on top of a deep base of tonka bean and smoked oud. Top notes of pink pepper and sage amplify this complex aroma. The result is a sophisticated, moody fragrance that will leave you waxing poetic for days.

I mean. It’s almost worth the folly of buying it for the absurdity of that description, right? Speaking of Folly. A new literary journal in Wellington – which hasn’t even launched yet – wants its prospective customers/fans to buy not only stoneware coffee mugs, but also robes!

Wondering what sets these journal-reading robes apart? Well, they’ll tell you:

Luxurious Fabric: Our robes are a blend of cotton and linen, ensuring a soft and comfortable feel against your skin.

Unique Design: Each robe features a distinctive hand block print specially created for Folly here in New Zealand.

Thoughtful Details: We’ve added touches like French seaming, convenient pockets, and an extended length, making these robes perfect for leisurely moments at home or for throwing on beside the pool during your holiday.

Quality Assured: Our robes have undergone rigorous testing, with three iterations to ensure we got every detail right. We want you to have the best.

I don’t know. In the aim to make a robe feel aspirational, they’ve really just told us this quality, branded garment failed its first two sample rounds, right?

Give me notes of vanilla rum, leather, and spiced santal [that] are perfectly layered on top of a deep base of tonka bean and smoked oud instead I think…

I read today, in the Guardian, about the rise of Litcore: hats promoting Zadie Smith or Joyce Carol Oates or Alice Munro, tote bags galore, and of course for creating “Dark Academia” as a way of promoting lazy/ish histrionic thrillers to book-loving tweens and teens.

But I’m into the idea of book/reading swag; merch. I’ve noticed it growing, becoming more popular. It’s starting to sneak through our house, and it’s mostly my fault. I have a pin on my jacket to show my support for Unity Books. I have a Good Books teatowel. And I’m a tote-collector from way back; a good bookstore tote is basically “My Precious” – so the latest is one I bought from Browser Books in San Francisco (I couldn’t justify the price of a City Lights tote, that would have been another book for the bag – so I bought some stickers instead).

But as far as wearing book-merch goes, as far as going full Litcore, the only thing I have is a Stephen King t-shirt. It’s a good one. Made in Auckland, by Dug the t-shirt guy – you could buy one too! It’s the original cover of the 1978 classic, The Stand. I have two copies of this t-shirt. One in black, one in navy, they are almost imperceptible – but it’s good to have one spare for when the other is in the wash. (Though in my occasional moments of overthinking, I do wonder if I’m basically giving people the chance to think that I never wash my clothes).

I love The Stand, and I’m proud of myself for sticking with it and reading the 1400-page version. I doubt I could do that now. I keep thinking I’ll one day re-read it, but at least I have the t-shirt. The book just turned 45 a couple of weeks ago, and I recently wore one of my Stephen King The Stand t-shirts to a literary event, and no less of a person than the Head Publisher of Penguin Random House told me that I had great taste in books, that she wanted one of those t-shirts just like the one I had (I later sent her the link), and then we had a conversation about best King books and movie spin-offs. Which was the perfect thing to have happen at a literary event – I feel like Stephen King is the elephant in the room at most book events. So many snobs wanting to dismiss his impact and abilities, so many closet fans just waiting to make sure it’s okay to mention him…and I was there in this t-shirt breaking down the door. Removing the barriers. A hero, basically.

Um, I haven’t always felt like a hero in my Stephen King The Stand t-shirt. One time, last year, I walked into a second-hand bookstore and asked if they had any Stephen King. Only to be taken over to a sad non-section with a few random volumes from the Dark Tower series in mismatching formats. I was nonplussed. “Thanks” I said, almost too quickly, and promptly bailed. A couple of traffic lights later, I realised on the walk home, that I was wearing a Stephen King t-shirt when I went into a bookstore and asked if they had any Stephen King!

A year or two before that, I was working in a second-hand bookstore. And I wore the t-shirt to work one day, and a customer asked me for some assistance, which I provided. And then more assistance. And I provided the further assistance when asked. And then, finally, she said “Thank you so much for all your help STEPHEN!” I must have looked at her like that was absolutely not my name. And she followed it up quick-fire with, “I know that’s not your name! But it’s ON YOUR T-SHIRT!”

But hey, I like to think that I’ve sold a couple of Dug’s t-shirts. I’ve certainly bought a bunch of them – as he has all sorts.

Oscar might have the best one. And any other reading/horror fans might be wise to snap these up while they’re around…

I’ve spent years wearing my taste on my chest – bands, genres, TV shows, films. Pop-culture mashups. My favourite T-shirts I’ve owned include a Billie Holiday one, a Werner Herzog one, the Evil Dead one that is written in the font and appropriately the logo of the band Black Flag, and one that has a Taxi on it – it’s not in celebration of the TV show Taxi, except in my mind it absolutely is! That’s why I bought it…

Back when I was a teenager, my favourite was a John Coltrane t-shirt. But it’s been replaced in recent years by the Stephen King The Stand tee. I would like a Firestarter tee also. I’d like a different King tee for each day. I would love to rock up to events wearing some of the more random ones. Me there, nursing my plastic cup of water and realising I hate the literary schmooze, while wearing a Four Past Midnight tee. Me sheepishly buying the book even though I’ll likely never read it but it’s just the thing you do when a local author invites you a long, rocking a Rose Madder or Hearts in Atlantis tee. (I do hope Dug is reading this!) I’d be keen on one for Gerald’s Game too, because that would be a weird one to rock in public. Might have to be careful where I wear that, some couple from across the room might suddenly like my vibe and buy me a drink…

And I regularly look at The Shining for potential T-shirts. I know I should have grown out of this. But I also know it’s not hurting anyone.

Just like Dark Academia Candles aren’t hurting anyone. Unless of course you’re allergic to notes of pink pepper and sage. And a robe for a journal that hasn’t even launched yet isn’t really hurting anyone either. Especially not in its third iteration eh!

But, still, I’m intrigued to learn about the rise of Litcore as some sort of fashion movement. I have been collecting book-related merch and wearing iconography tees as precisely a move away from anything resembling fashion. Turns out, if you wait long enough, everyone gets a chance to be (kinda) cool.