We admit it: In high school, we were the brainy girls who read the entire summer reading list long before it was time to shop for school clothes. Even though we’re long past the days of school lunches and embarrassing orthodontics, the books we fell in love with way back when still haven’t lost their lure.
Sure, we love things like fashion, hair and makeup. But while we could go weeks—nay, months—without painting our pretty faces or hitting our favorite department stores, we couldn’t bear to part with our favorite novels. We consider ourselves fashionistas with serious nerdy streaks.
And it appears that artist Ruben Toledo has our number. Just in time for New York Fashion Week, Toledo has teamed up with Penguin Classics to illustrate covers for reissues of The Scarlet Letter, Pride and Prejudice and Wuthering Heights, each available for $16 at borders.com. (Aside from his amazing aesthetic prowess, the man is no stranger to fashion. After all, he’s the artist behind the gorgeous watercolor illustrations of put-together city types that you’ll find at DailyCandy. And he’s the hubby of Isabel Toledo, who designed Michelle Obama’s outfit for inauguration.)
We wouldn’t dare judge a book by its cover, but these designs are downright dreamy. They’re very Tim Burton meets fashion illustration, and we adore Toledo’s witty reimagining of our most beloved heroines. Take Hester Prynne. With her dark doe eyes and fiery flowing locks, she is captivating yet haunting in a chic LBD. Even for a Puritan lass straight from 17th-century Boston, the look seems quite fitting.
Although we’ve poured over these classics several times over—and we already have copies of them on our bookshelves—we’re ordering all three anyway. Frivolous? Perhaps. But our nightstands could use an infusion of fashion genius.
While our favorite tomes certainly didn’t need a facelift, we’re smitten with Toledo’s surreal illustrations nonetheless. Especially if they ensnare a whole new audience of young readers who have yet to meet the likes of Elizabeth Bennet. Could you imagine a life sans Mr. Darcy? Yeah, we can’t either.
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Already own all 3 but soooo agree that the covers are worth purchasing them again!
I have a feeling those will be in my house come Christmas time.
Yes, Naomi…I couldn’t agree more. I’m seriously considering buying them just so I can frame the covers. Writing this blog piece got me all sorts of nostalgic for Mr. Darcy. I’ll be re-reading Pride and Prejudice (for what must be the 20th time) very soon. Thanks for the comments!
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