Okay fine: The vibe right now is that everyone wants to look like they have a PhD in art history. And I will admit: I am absolutely here for it. Not because I have a PhD in art history; my graphic design degree doesn’t even totally count; but because, for years now, I have unintentionally cultivated the style of a graduate student living off pizza rolls and_library fines…and for years now that’s been trendy-as-hell attire.
Last month, my coworker Emma walked into work wearing oversized tortoiseshell glasses, a crisp white button-down tucked into cigarette trousers, and her hair tied up in a low bun that somehow looked effortlessly chic. She had the kind of outfit that made me want to follow her around all day to learn what literature circles she perused over breakfast and how she’d designed that awesome brand identity we’d all been brainstorming by lunchtime. When I complimented her, she told me she was going for “intellectual but make it sexy.” Girl clearly nailed it.
I started noticing it everywhere. Magazine editors slipping into loafers and taking meetings wearing pantsuits and tweed blazers.
Ads for Miu Miu featuring similar pantsuits and comic book–quality tiny glasses.
Street style blogs full of influencers photographed while clutching library books in one hand and their latte in the other.
Fake glasses hanging off noses on women who could actually see perfectly well if they bothered to wear their prescription lenses. All of which got me thinking: Why is everyone trying to look like the coolest, most cerebral librarian?
What’s happening right now that made beige gender-neutral separates and rimmed glasses the height of fashion? To be clear: We’re not just talking about a trend where everyone looked like they needed to wear glasses but thought earrings were too trendy. There was method to this madness.
I think it has everything to do with what we find sexy these days. Go back ten years. Swipe through Instagram photos from the mid-aughts.
Sexy meant whatever Victoria’s Secret was selling that season. Sexy was your boyfriend doing pushups in his underwear, and now that we think about it, what was he even wearing under that thong? Sexy wasn’t smart.
Sexy wasn’t interesting. Sexy didn’t care about books. Sexy barely cared about women’s rights.
When did sexiness become intellectuality? When did rocking the looks that said “sexy librarian” become more attractive than trying to look like an angel fell out of heaven? I think we, as a society, have reached peak thirst traps and are pivoting hard into what’s smart.
To me, there’s something so refreshing about sexuality and style that prioritizes brains over boobs. Let’s be real: Have you ever found someone genuinely sexy because they were smart? Not only book smart, but they seemed genuinely curious about the world.
Maybe they knew random fun facts you didn’t know. Maybe they had opinions you hadn’t heard. The kind of person who, if they mentioned they were reading Ulysses and really liking it, you’d believe them and maybe even borrow their copy when they were done.
Smart people attract me. I know I’m not the only one. Welcome to the age of the sexy scholar.
So how do you walk the line between “I took engineering classes with my professor dad back in the day” and “Hey! Sexy brains in Houston, BABAY?” Truthfully, it takes some finesse. Easier said than done, I know.
I’ve definitely spilled tequila on my blazer while trying to achieve this aesthetic. My first foray into the sexy scholar look was less Thanville and more Office-ish. I put on a vintage tweed blazer I found at Goodwill and decided it needed a pencil skirt to complete the ensemble.
I threw on some nondesigner frameless glasses I bought at Target and headed out the door, makeup still caked on from the night before. I felt like Quinn from The Newsroom. My roommate smirked at me when I got to our flat door. “Whose theme party are you going to tonight?” she asked.
Theme party? I didn’t think I was doing a theme! I just wanted to wear glasses and looked smart!
And that was the problem. I had thought too literally about what the sexy scholar style even was. To me, sexy scholar meant visiting your professor dad’s office for midnight milkshakes.
But the real life versions of this trend I kept seeing weren’t trying to impersonate John Kermon circa 1998. They were buying into the vibe and making it work for them. The once-over I gave myself in the bathroom told me I was trying too hard.
If I actually wanted to master this aesthetic, I was going to have to scale back. Instead of big, loud pieces that screamed try-hardlibrarian, I needed to focus on tailoring and subtle details. Here’s what I learned along the way.
Tailoring is your new BFF. Buy things that fit you incredibly well and emphasise a slim silhouette. Want to buy a blazer that reminds you of your professor dad’s?
Go for it. But make sure it doesn’t look like something your grandfather would’ve worn in the ’70s. That means buying a blazer that actually fits you in the shoulders.
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Paying attention to things like trousers that hug your hips without squeezing. Button-down shirts that aren’t too tight around the collar. There’s an architectural quality to the trend that I love.
It’s less Women Who Love Architecture and more like…someone who knows how to dress. Someone who notices when their trousers are too long or their blouse doesn’t quite button. Pieces that fit together in a way that feels intentional.
Proportions that compliment the natural lines of your body. Those first two tips? They sort of go hand in hand.
To master the art of sexy librarian, you’re going to have to embrace basics. Getting a hold of that perfect white button-down is half the battle. Once you have that white shirt, you build your wardrobe around it.
Structured trousers. Well-fitting blazers. Neutral tones that read luxe but aren’texpensive.
Speaking of neutral tones… Neutral palettes are straight-up dreams. While I’m sure there are plenty of sexy scholars rocking head-to-toe black, I’m personally finding a more is-more approach to your colour palette. Rich blues, creams, maroons, forest greens.
Colours that feel weighty and more considered. You don’t want to give off the impression that you spend all day thinking about what colours match what on your lunch break. Accessories are great; but don’t go too theme park with it.
Books? Try a simple bracelet. Glasses?
Only if you actually need them. Honestly, some of my favourite parts of embracing the trend have been things I already owned. A nice watch.
Classic coats. Scarves that don’t cling to your neck like a strangulator. Same thing goes for your hair and makeup.
Skip the bedhead vibe and go for put-together chic. A strong foundation. One accent.
Maybe lipstick. Keep your eyebrows done. Bonus points if you know how to french braid your hair and can recreate that classic Samantha Jones curtain bangs vibe.
Bonusest points if you can pull off wearing your hair down and still look incredible. I have found, for me at least, that the sexy scholar trend is totally budget-friendly. I don’t feel the need to keep up with every new cotton blend that H&M pushes out each season.
Instead, I’m stocking up on wardrobe basics that will last me for years; whether that trend sticks around or not. A good blazer will take you far. One that fits?
Even further. And here’s the crazy part: As I’ve delved deeper into this whole library babe world, I feel smarter. I don’t know if it’s because I’m actually reading more (side note: carrying around a book does complete the scholar outfit, but I find myself actually reading it!) but I find myself caring more about having actual opinions instead of parroting what’s popular on Twitter.
I find myself wanting to know more. To learn more. To sound like I have things figured out when I’m discussing my favourite books no one has heard of.
I love feeling smart. I love dressing like I have a lot of knowledge to share with the world. It’s empowering as a woman in a creative industry to look the part when I know I can hold my own in a room full of dudes who’ve been doing this stuff longer than me.
To look intelligent and put-together means people actually listen to what I have to say. Instead of quieting down when I speak up, they pay attention.
Not to mention, I’m actually enjoying dressing more conservatively than usual.
Instead of worrying about showing as much skin as possible to prove a point, I’m putting effort into things that don’t typically get as much love.
My legs are sad about it, but my wardrobe is more diverse than ever. If there’s one thing I will say about all of this?
I’ve noticed the same thing with my co-worker friend Jessica. She works in publishing, and ever since she’s embraced her inner bookworm, she’s noticed guys hitting on her more when she mentions what she does for work. “It used to be the worse icebreaker at parties,” she told me. “‘Hey, what do you do?’ ‘Oh, I’m in publishing.’ *walks in opposite direction* But now guys are like, ‘Oh really? What are you reading?’ And they actually care!” Books + brains = major attractor.
Ladies: Have fun with it. Test out the trend. Wear glasses you don’t need.
Read books that you’ll actually enjoy. Most importantly: Have strong opinions about the things you love and don’t be afraid to share them. You’re smart, and your outfit should reflect that.
