Books
Iconic Accessories From Literature You Can Buy IRL
There are certain literary characters who are inextricably intertwined with their physical descriptions, clothing, and accessories. Lightning bolts and round glasses are immediate signifiers of Harry Potter; puff sleeves always call to mind Anne Shirley; and even though Arthur Conan Doyle never mentioned the deerstalker hat in the Sherlock Holmes books, it's impossible to imagine the famous detective wearing anything other than a "Sherlock Holmes hat."
All of these book characters know the importance of a signature look, but since they’re fictional, I think it’s fair game to steal these iconic looks. Some of the outfits might be hard to track down, such as Scarlett O’Hara’s dress made out of curtains (and your family would probably not like it if you cut down your curtains for the sake of your wardrobe). Some of them may be a bit formal for everyday wear, such as Anna Karenina’s striking black velvet gown. But some accessories from literature are still in style today, or at least versatile enough to incorporate into your outfits. If all you truly want is to be a book character, you’re in luck: steal the style of your favorite literary characters with the following accessories that you can buy IRL.
1Hermione's Time Turner Necklace
"... Hermione was fumbling with the neck of her robes, pulling from beneath them a very long, very fine gold chain.
'Harry, come here,' she said urgently. 'Quick!'
Harry moved toward her, completely bewildered. She was holding the chain out. He saw a tiny, sparkling hourglass hanging from it."
—J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
2Holden's Red Hunting Hat
"I took off my coat and my tie and unbuttoned my shirt collar; and then I puton this hat that I'd bought in New York that morning. It was this red hunting hat, with oneof those very, very long peaks. I saw it in the window of this sports store when we got outof the subway, just after I noticed I'd lost all the goddam foils. It only cost me a buck."
—J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye
Red Hunting Hat, $15.16, JCPenney
3Scout's Ham Costume
"Mrs. Grace Merriweather had composed an original pageant, and I was going to be a ham. She thought I would be adorable if some of the children were costumed to represent the county’s agricultural products: Cecil Jacobs would be dressed up to look like a cow; Agnes Boone would make a lovely butterbean, another child would be a peanut, and on down the line. Our only duties, as far as I could gather from our two rehearsals, were to enter from stage left as Mrs. Merriweather identified us. When she called out “PORK”, that was my cue."
—Harper Lee, To Kill A Mockingbird
4One Ring To Rule Them All
“Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky,
Seven for the Dwarf-lords in halls of stone,
Nine for Mortal Men, doomed to die,
One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.
One Ring to rule them all,
One Ring to find them,
One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.”
—J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
LOTR Ring, $11.99, FashionbyJessica on Etsy
5The Rabbit's Pocket Watch
"... When the Rabbit actually took a watch out of its waistcoat-pocket, and looked a tit, and then hurried on, Alice started to her feet, for it flashed across her mind that she had never before seen a rabbit with either a waistcoat-pocket or a watch to take out of it, and, burning with curiosity, she ran across the field after it, and was just in time to see it pop down a large rabbit-hole under the hedge."
—Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
6Katniss's Mockingjay Pin
"At the last minute, I remember Madge’s little gold pin. For the first time, I get a good look at it. It’s as if someone fashioned a small golden bird and then attached a ring around it. The bird is connected to the ring only by its wing tips. I suddenly recognize it. A mockingjay."
—Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games
Mockingjay Pin, $5.94, Amazon
7Tris's Tattoo
" 'Want a tattoo?' she says. The bird sketch holds my attention. I never intended to get pierced or tattooed when I came here. I know that if I do, it will place another wedge between me and my family that I can never remove. And if my life here continues as it has been, it may soon be the least of the wedges between us. But I understand now what Tori said about her tattoo representing a fear she overcame—a reminder of where she was, as well as a reminder of where she is now. Maybe there is a way to honor my old life as I embrace my new one.
'Yes,' I say. 'Three of these flying birds.' I touch my collarbone, marking the path of their flight—toward my heart. One for each member of the family I left behind."
—Veronica Roth, Divergent
