Kaia Gerber’s T-Shirt Proves That #BookTok Is Coming For Your Closet

Reading is cool right now. Even model Kaia Gerber thinks so — and we just have to look into her closet for proof. Last week, the Palm Royale actress stepped out in New York City with her boyfriend, Austin Butler. But, it wasn’t the Dune 2 actor we couldn’t keep our eyes off of — it was Gerber’s cute navy blue baby tee. Paired with trousers and suede pumps, the model’s fitted graphic T-shirt read: “Come to my house, I have great books.” The internet collectively scrambled to find it and librarians around the world (one can only assume) rejoiced.

Yesterday, Gerber shared that the T-shirt will be for sale — in a limited run — via the model’s Library Science book club. It’s official: #BookTok is coming for our closets.

To be fair, it’s not like Gerber is re-inventing the wheel when it comes to a love of reading. Bookish tween girls have long been sharing their love of The Great Gatsby or Emma by way of tote bags, or donning grey peacoats in homage to cold-blooded literary hunk Edward Cullen since Twilight was first released in 2005. Are you even really that into books if you haven’t lusted over an Olympia Le-Tan book clutch? But Gerber’s cutie tee is ushering in a new, cool era of the lit-lovers aesthetic, taking a look that may previously have been seen as kitschy or kind of nerdy and demonstrating that you can be both a proud bookworm and a fashionista.

The decision for Gerber to  turn her love of lit into a shared experience isn’t necessarily a new one. In the Hollywood scene, male celebs have tequila brands and the ladies have book clubs. Reese Witherspoon has Reese’s Book Club, Dua Lipa has Service95, the OG book lover Emma Roberts’ Belletrist is now also a production company, and now we have Kaia Gerber’s Library Science.

This decision to tap into world isn’t just passion-based — it’s also smart from a business perspective. In both Canada and the United States, both in-person and virtual bookclubs are on the rise. BookNet Canada’s 2023 Canadian Leisure & Reading Study found that the percentage of Canadians surveyed who attended bookclubs monthly has increased almost 10 per cent since 2020, with the highest percentage of attendees falling between the ages of 18 and 29. Essentially, young people are loving reading. There are a few reasons for this, including the fact that an increase in screen time and continuous quest for third spaces has left Gen Z and millennials feeling like they need to expand their offline lives. And what better way is there to do that than to get lost in a world other than your own, via a book?

It’s not surprising, then, that after becoming the hobby du jour, a love of literature is seeping its way into our closets. Books like Orlando by Virginia Woolf, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood have inspired collections from designers like Rei Kawakubo, Alexander McQueen and Vaquera, respectively. And authors like Ottessa Moshfegh have walked runway shows for designers like Maryam Nassir.

And book-inspired merch is having a moment off of runways, too. In June of this year, Pinterest launched their Summer Reading Aesthetic Board. According to global internal search data from Pinterest, the past year saw an uptick in searches for topics like “romance manifestation” (up 60 per cent year over year) and “vision board romance” (an increase in search of 17x). In Canada, searches for “book club outfit” rocketed up by 10,000 per cent. Pinterest boards, inspired by these stats, bring to life the visual aesthetic of some of reader’s recent romantic faves from authors like (Canada’s own!!) Carley Fortune, and allow users to cultivate their own literary world IRL. This can mean taking inspo for literally anything, from your home colour palette, to your latest playlist and yes, your wardrobe.

In the mood to crack open a page-turner and turn heads with a lit-chic look? We’ve rounded up some of the cutest literary-inspired additions to your closet.

Olympia Le-Tan ‘Novels of Jane Austen’ clutch

This wouldn’t be a list of lit-inspired shopping picks without the quintessential book cover clutch. While Olympia Le-Tan clutches may be the same price as an Austen-esque inheritance, any classic lit lover can find more affordable — but just as beautiful — options on Etsy. Meanwhile, the OG lives rent-free on our wish list.

Little Women T-shirt

Until Gerber’s Library Science T-shirt is released to the masses, why not go graphic via Little Women? The quote on the simple tee is just ambiguous enough, meaning only real book lovers will truly know.

Reformation Mayve knit dress

Dressing for lit doesn’t have to mean literally broadcasting your love for books across your chest. It can be a more subtle homage. like this chic look from Reformation that feels like a nod to the character Holly Golightly from Breakfast at Tiffany’s and her iconic black dress.

Simone Rocha necklace

For those book lovers who want to keep their love for lit on the down-low, jewellery is a great way to channel your favourite books and authors into your everyday. May we suggest this beaded flower necklace from Simone Rocha for all those The Secret Garden lovers?

Little Women baby tee

For an even closer match to Gerber’s top, or to take part in the Y2K baby tee trend, this Gen Z-approved version of the Little Women tee is a great option.