Library Fashion

Or, If I’m Staring At You It’s Because I Want To Be Friends

Did anybody tell you, when you were young, that ‘it’s not a fashion parade’? I see you. I see you and your meticulous eye for detail, your desire to live the fantasy version of yourself. Because yes – yes it is a fashion parade, in the sense that fashion is how we signal to others like us, and aesthetic is a core part of every subculture. I also think that we owe it to ourselves to be comfortable – whether that is in gender expression, aesthetic showcasing political or religious views, or demonstrating the arts and culture you enjoy outwardly. Fashion is fun, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be taken seriously, and if you present yourself with care and effort then I will interpret that, and enjoy doing so.

These are portraits of women who attend my library whose dress sense I love. I see them several times a week (I have my regular library hours and they have theirs, and sometimes we overlap) and their personal style sings to me. If you are one of these women, please consider talking to me, or passing me a note: I would like to be friends. I also haven’t included any of my actual friends in this piece, because I assume that in associating with one another we’re already co-signing on our mutual fashion sense.

A Touch of Goth

This lady is always turned out in perfect makeup. Her lipsticks are bold – usually dark, sometimes bright – and always look like they were applied with a brush rather than the doe-foot applicator. She wears mainly dark clothes, although I do see her in prints and patterns sometimes too. She’s tall and well built and quietly graceful, her hair is neat, she is always fastidious.

Bernadette Banner Realness

It starts with your necklines: they are high enough to catch my eye. This is a slight lady, so her long skirts hang on her body in a bold silhouette. Boldness and modesty are an underrated combination! Her hair, too, is fantastic: a slight touch of the Edwardian society matron as it’s voluminous, pinned up; when she wears it down she belongs in an Arts & Crafts movement picture. She works in the most imposing rooms, and clearly appreciates finework.

The Librarians

Just because you wear more casual clothes doesn’t mean you can’t be appreciated. The typical style of the librarians is t-shirts, which can also start conversations if they’re sporting something representing, say, a movie you also like. The casual style disarms ready for a friendly discussion. My favourite styles from the librarians conform to the uniform whilst putting their own spin: boldly dyed hair, one leaning to millennial favourite colours (red-purple) and the other to gen-z style (bold blue). The millennial wears skinny jeans and kimonos, shows off bright coloured eyeliner and a love for music and movies, my gen-z librarian wears dungarees and patterns and bold, bright colours, disregarding gender and shining brightly. Both are unique, charmingly dressed, and fun, whilst also being appropriate for their specific workplace. Masterful.

My Own Library Style

I think I wear a button-down shirt in white or cream every day. Brown shoes: court heels, or brogues. I only ever wear navy, burgundy, camel or (rarely) dark greens. I have a Studio Ghibli lunchbox and have cycled through a lot of cute notebooks (subtle Taylor Swift merch, twee pen brands, a cute children’s book… probably more). My skirts are typically knee-length, and I match with cardigans or other knitwear whenever possible. My signature hairdo is a french braid which I sometimes pin into an updo. I do not accessorise well, and wear the same few pieces of jewellery daily and simple glasses, but my bag gets the most compliments of everything I have. In short, I look like a librarian.

To get this article, and others, as physical media, subscribe now.

On This Topic:

• Jessica Kellgren-Fozard, whose style hews quite closely to mine, explaining with great sympathy that morals =/= fashion, but that we are still signalling something with our clothes. She is non-judgemental but still informative, great stuff.
• Don’t buy from FWP. They’re not a good company, have no respect for their customers, and are overpriced. I have liked their products, but I used up my loyalty points and will not be buying any more.
• Frazzled English Woman is not just a -core, it’s an identity. But it also plays into some incredible library style.

To-Do:

• Tidy & wash up
• Pedicure – get your feet de-grossified!!
• Where are you meeting M tomorrow??

Today’s Culture:

• Since I’m (trying) to get back to longform writing, I’ve got my longform playlists on. At least until I get back to work and have to turn off the explicit lyrics again…

• Pokémon can always stop me in my tracks. What are they advertising on the Piccadilly Lights??
• Edit the nonsense words you have been writing into your PhD. Is this structure? Is this word vomit? Nobody can say.