While life imitates art, art also imitates art… and fashion has always been a puzzle of references. But some of its most compelling moments don’t come from art history or nostalgia grabs alone. They come from books. Across runways and campaigns, designers continue to turn to literature for a primary source in mood, symbolism, and storytelling, translating pages into silhouettes and characters into collections. From fairytales and gothic novels to contemporary fiction and modern classics, these references reveal how deeply fashion borrows from narrative worlds.
Here are 9 times designers brought literature to life on the runway.
Fendi Fall Couture 2016 - East of the Sun and West of the Moon
In Karl Lagerfeld’s “Legends and Fairytales” show, he drew on illustrations from the 1914 fairytale East of the Sun and West of the Moon as the collection’s central imagery. The original artwork by Kay Nielsen helped balance a collection that was both nostalgic and progressive.
Rodarte Fall 2009 - Frankenstein
Designers Kate Mulleavy and Laura Mulleavy drew on multiple influences for this collection, including deconstruction, nature, and anime - but more importantly, the skin of Victor Frankenstein’s Creature.
Dior Spring 2026 Menswear - Dracula & In Cold Blood
In JW Anderson’s Spring debut with Dior, both In Cold Blood and Dracula are printed across Anderson’s “Book Bag.” It’s a refreshing moment for menswear—finally offering something with personality, though slightly undercut by a hint of performative edge.
Valentino Spring 2024 Menswear - A Little Life
As part of Valentino’s ongoing Narratives campaign, Pierpaolo Piccioli drew inspiration from the “fragility” and “sensitivity” of A Little Life for this collection. Copies of the novel, reimagined in Valentino pink, were used as invitations to the show.
Thom Browne Fall 2023 - The Little Prince
Referencing The Little Prince, Thom Browne drew on its illustration style and sense of imagination. The collection translated the feeling of reading into fashion through playful details and slightly surreal proportions.
Melke Fall 2023 - James and the Giant Peach
Emma Gage’s “Peaches and Pest” collection showcases looks inspired by Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach, drawing on the playful use of fruit and insects. The color palette is also similar to the one found on Dahl’s book covers.
Anna Sui Fall 2025 - Agatha Christie and Virginia Woolf
Blending her signature style with historical references, Anna Sui’s Fall 2025 collection draws inspiration from Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple and Virginia Woolf. These influences are reinterpreted through her mod-inspired aesthetic, creating a layered mix of literary and fashion references.
Coach x Penguin Random House Book Charms
Earlier this year, Coach collaborated with Penguin Random House to design book charms featuring titles such as I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou and Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng.
What’s notable about these selections is how contemporary they feel, suggesting a shift toward signaling cultural awareness and modern literary taste. Compared to more traditionally referenced classics like Romeo and Juliet or Anne of Green Gables, these choices lean into a more current, “in-the-know” reading identity.
Miuccia Prada - The Great Gatsby
The Great Gatsby has long been a major source of fashion inspiration, so much so that Miuccia Prada helped design several iconic costumes for the 2013 film adaptation.
As literature regains cultural currency, the worlds built in fiction will continue to shape how designers think, reference, and create, proving what we read inevitably finds its way into what we wear.
