After finding new ways to reinvent my wardrobe based on Julie And The Phantoms and other popular TV characters, I decided to continue my momentum. So, I compiled a list of some of my all-time favorite book characters and figured out how I could modernize their looks for myself because, after all, I’m a huge freaking book nerd. So, here we go! Keep reading for some of my new favorite outfit pairings and how you can recreate something similar in your own closets to render looks just like some iconic fictional book characters.
Lara Jean Song Covey, To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before
There’s no better bookish romance lead than Lara Jean, and that’s a FACT. To pay homage to her iconic look, I aimed to recreate her signature style with my denim skirt, long-sleeved striped tee, black ankle boots, and a scrunchie to tie up my high ponytail. Now, if only there was a Peter Kavinsky or John Ambrose sniffing around…
What You Need to Replicate It: Denim skirt, long-sleeve striped shirt, black boots, scrunchie
Eloise, Eloise
When I was growing up, all I wanted to be was Eloise. Seriously. So, I decided to take cues from the legendary Plaza resident with my next ‘fit. Here, I paired a black skirt with this sleeveless white button-down shirt and accessorized the look with a bow headband, because duh, and black ballet flats. And since Eloise has some of the cutest pets ever, I brought along some stuffed animals as props.
What You Need to Replicate It: Black skirt, sleeveless or short-sleeve white button-down, black ballet flats, hairbow or headband of some kind
Tris Prior, Divergent
Divergent was hands-down my favorite dystopian YA series back in the day, and Tris my favorite heroine. So naturally, I had to replicate her popular Dauntless look. To do so, I matched a pair of black skinny jeans with a black V-neck tee and moto blazer. Alternatively, I swapped the moto-inspired blazer for my faux-leather snakeskin-print Wonder Woman 1984 motorcycle jacket from Her Universe. The look’s completed with a pair of black sneakers, you know, in case I gotta go jump onto a train or rappel off a building into the arms of Four. What, it could happen??
What You Need to Replicate It: Black skinny jeans, black tee, motorcycle jacket, sneakers
Hazel Grace Lancaster, The Fault in Our Stars
As you might be aware by now, Augustus Waters is one of my top book boyfriends of all-time. But, he’d be nothing without his Hazel Grace. So, this look is in her honor. I put together a gray tee-shirt with some faded jeans and sneakers to feel very Hazel. The look needs some props to polish it off, so I brought in my gray Calia backpack and a worn book copy (an older version of a Sarah Dessen novel I’ve had for ages) to assist.
What You Need to Replicate It: Gray tee, jeans, book, backpack
Nancy Drew, The Secret of the Old Clock
I’ve always loved Nancy Drew as this fierce AF female protagonist who could go on adventures and save the day all on her own and didn’t need a boy to save the day. She’s been one of my favorite bookish heroes forever, so obviously, I wanted to pay homage to her too. To replicate her style, I coordinated this preppy-looking J.Crew dress with a black headband, pearl earrings and coordinating bracelets, some gold ballet flats, and a cardigan. Then, in true Nancy Drew fashion, I finished off the look with my long tan trench coat and a flashlight for some quintessential Drew-worthy props.
What You Need to Replicate It: Preppy dress, headband, pearl baubles, cardigan, ballet flats, trench coat
Prince Henry, Red, White, & Royal Blue
For any contemporary YA or romance fans, RWRB has fast become one of our favorite reads as Alex and Henry become some of the best book BFs we’ve ever read about. So, I decided to find a royalty-approved outfit that the bookish prince could rock. To do so, I paired these wide-legged black trousers with my royal blue sweater, with a white Oxford button-down underneath, its collar peeking out around my neck. Then, as the perfect prop, I brought out my gorgeous hardback copy of Little Women because props are important and he loves to read flowery literature like that.
What You Need to Replicate It: Wide-legged black trousers, white Oxford button-down, colorful sweater
June Claremont-Diaz, Red, White, & Royal Blue
Alex’s sister is described as a bonafide fashionista slash impressive journalist, so clearly, I need her tutelage to up my own fashion game. Just like the FDOTUS, I put on this pencil skirt and pink sleeveless blouse with some matching ballet flats and a headband. Then, naturally, as a prop, I’m reading a magazine.
What You Need to Replicate It: Pencil skirt, sleeveless flowy blouse, headband, ballet flats
Nora Holleran, Red, White, & Royal Blue
Nora’s the quirky one of the White House Trio and so, I really wanted to play that up in this next outfit. So, I fall-ified my Her Universe Minnie Mouse overall dress with this white long-sleeve tee and a pair of tights underneath. Then, I paired the outfit with some white Keds, or alternatively, black ankle booties for either a more casual or dressy look.
What You Need to Replicate It: Long-sleeve tee, overalls, tights
Massie Block, The Clique
If you were a tween girl in the aughts and didn’t read The Clique series, first off, I’m so sorry about your deprived childhood. And second, as readers, did you also try to dress and act like Massie all the time? Because, guilty. So, here’s your chance. I brought out this H&M dress that I purchased in London for the British Fashion Awards and accessorized it to be more Massie-like. I jazzed it up with some heels, a black blazer, a Kate Spade handbag, and a diamond-encrusted headband to tie the look together.
What You Need to Replicate It: Formal or couture-adjacent dress, blazer, clutch bag, headband, heels
Claire Lyons, The Clique
Don’t lie, fellow Clique fans. I know you, like me, also practiced your best Claire monologue when you heard news of an official movie adaptation. Now’s your chance, girls. My best modern Claire look takes this pair of white skinny jeans, a graphic tee (I chose this Her Universe x Disney one), and topped off with a pair of white Keds. This look is totally, say it with me, KUH-LAIRE.
What You Need to Replicate It: Keds, white skinny jeans, graphic tee
Bex Porter, The Royal We
OK, real talk, I may be a tad obsessed with royalty romances, especially contemporary ones like The Royal We. So, naturally, I needed to put together my best Bex ‘fit. You know, the one that first made a freaking prince notice her? If somehow this look can do that too, then god bless it. My look pairs this casual striped long-sleeve shirt with some jeans over my Victoria Beckham for Target black jacket and some sneakers on my feet. As a perfect prop, I wheel out my go-to luggage so that I can pretend I just got off a plane at Heathrow, took a cab to Oxford in the rain, and just happened to run into a royal prince. What? What? Hey, it could happen, alright. Right? Right?
What You Need to Replicate It: Striped long-sleeve tee, jeans, sneakers, light jacket
Duchess Rebecca, The Heir Affair
But since I dressed as Bex, I had to also switch things up once she got the Lyons Emerald and was bestowed a duchess title in the sequel. Like the new Duchess of Clarence, I found a prim and proper ‘fit in my closet. I matched this striped wrap dress with some kitten heels. To top it off, I sport my amethyst ring (on my right hand, calm down y’all, because I’m still a single pringle lol) since I don’t have an emerald one. Alternatively, I put on this emerald-green, long-sleeved blouse with a black pencil skirt with some nude pumps. Queen Eleanor would definitely approve of these looks, err, well, I hope she would.
What You Need to Replicate It: Formal dress or skirt and blouse, kitten heels, gemstone ring
Delilah McPhee, Between the Lines and Off the Page
It may have taken me nearly an entire year, but I’ve finally gotten into the right headspace to read this Jodi Picoult YA novel. It might be the possibility of seeing the musical heavily weighing on my brain as soon Broadway reopens. Anyways, now, that I’m here and very much a Delilah-type of MC IRL, I definitely had to recreate her look for myself. To do so, I paired some jeans, a white or black tank top (as seen in the book’s chapter header illustrations), and my white Keds together. Alternatively, like some clips from the musical demonstrate, I change out the tank for a chunky sweater. I already have glasses, so that’s done, and I toss my hair up in a low ponytail down my back. Plus, as a prop, I carry a book, because, obviously! And, since Delilah has a worn stuffed panda on her bed and both she and Oliver have faithful dogs in Humphrey and Frump, I brought out my 20-year-old stuffed animal pup as a prop too. What? It’s called authenticity.
What You Need to Replicate It: Jeans, Keds or Converse sneakers, tank top or chunky sweater, and a book (duh!)
Annabeth Chase, Percy Jackson & The Olympians
Okay, don’t hate me fellow book nerds, but I came late to the PJO fandom. I had obviously heard of it back in the day, but I was too focused on the likes of the Hunger Games, Twilight, Gallagher Girls, The Clique, and Divergent series to start anything else. So, it wasn’t until I heard songs from the musical, saw it off-Broadway, then on Broadway, and heard the cast speak at NYCC that I became a legit fan. But, now that I’m here: OMG, Annabeth. What a fierce, badass demigod! I wanna be her when I grow up. So, step one, outfit. I pair a striped tee with jeans, a choker necklace (like this one from Gagged Chokers!), and a crossbody bag. Now, IDK about you, but I’m ready to take on any monsters that cross my path!
What You Need to Replicate It: Striped shirt, jeans, crossbody, choker
There you have it! Thirteen different ways to bring your favorite book characters to life based on the clothes you already own! Yes, these looks took me out of my comfort zone, but that’s the great part. These looks gave me all the confidence that, sure, I could rock any of these looks in my usual day-to-day activities.
quite simply miranda 