7 Stylish Writers

There’s more to learn from these stylish gents than just how to write well.
Image source: Getty.

You can tell a lot about a man by the clothes he wears. These literary gentlemen may be better known for their wordsmithery, but their iconic choice of clothes inspires an effortless sartorial style that we can’t help but admire here at Samuel Windsor.

Ernest Hemingway

Hemingway is considered to be one of the greatest American authors.
Image source: National Archives and Records Administration [Public Domain].

Ernest Hemingway is famously known as being one of the greatest American writers throughout history. Known for his economical yet effective writing style, Hemingway has won many awards for his work – most notably the Nobel prize for Literature in 1954.

Being a keen hunter and fisherman, Hemingway wore traditional Aran knit sweaters as part of his everyday apparel. Partnered with his typical craggy beard this made for an iconic signature look.

F Scott Fitzgerald

Fitzgerald’s outfit of choice was a classic three-piece tweed suit.
Image source: The World’s Work [Public domain].

No one more fitting comes to mind in terms of decadence than F Scott Fitzgerald and his wife Zelda. The Fitzgeralds encapsulated everything about the roaring twenties with their extravagant parties and bold fashion choices. Fitzgerald himself was not only known for famous classics such as ‘The Great Gatsby’, but also for his suave style.

Rarely seen in anything other than a classic three-piece tweed suit, Fitzgerald complemented this perfectly with a pocket-handkerchief and tie. There’s a versatility to his chosen suave attire that has certainly stood the test of time.

John Updike

John Updike is considered to be one of the greatest authors of his time.
Image source: Wikimedia [Public Domain].

Considered to be one of America’s greatest writers, John Updike was a prolific author. Averaging about one book a year, Updike is probably best known for ‘The Witches of Eastwick’, and his famous ‘Rabbit’ series.

A smart tweed jacket combined with Aran knit sweater, button-down shirt, and khaki chinos were a classic combination when it came to Updike’s daily outfit of choice. Updike made good use of conventional separates which gave for a classic sartorial style.

Samuel Beckett

Samuel Beckett’s preferred shirt of choice was a turtleneck.
Image source: Roger Pic [Public domain].

With several coveted writing prizes and accolades to his name, spanning across a variety of media, Beckett is truly an iconic writer. Though despite his astounding accomplishments, Beckett was reluctant to accept the fame that came with them. Even to the point where he refused to attend his own Nobel prize for Literature ceremony in 1969.

Samuel Beckett’s choice of attire was a mix of classic separates; Aran knit sweater, turtleneck shirt, suede boots, trench coat, smart shirts and ties. This quintessential combination has stood the test of time and is a must for the contemporary man of today.

Tom Wolfe

Tom Wolfe’s iconic outfit of choice.
Image: White House Photo by Susan Sterner. [Public domain].

Tom Wolfe pushed the boundaries of journalism with new and innovative writing techniques, which he dubbed as New Journalism. These literary techniques helped to give a piece more character, rather than be a bland piece of writing focusing on ‘fact’ over ‘truth’. Such experimental writing allowed Wolfe to redefine what it meant to be a journalist.

When it came to his wardrobe, Wolfe made as much of a statement as he did with his writing. For most of his life he chose to wear a tailored white suit; this debonair attire accentuated Wolfe’s sartorial style, and became a remarkably symbolic outfit for someone who was known to be a non-follower of fashion.

TS Eliot

Eliot was rarely seen in anything other than a three-piece suit.
Image source: Wikimedia [Public Domain].

A legendary poet, TS Eliot has inspired many throughout the years. Eliot wrote a number of the most well-known poems to date, such as ‘The Waste Land’ and ‘Four Quartet’, as well as several others.

His wardrobe of choice entirely comprised of a stylish three-piece suit and tie – he was very rarely seen wearing anything else. Eliot knew it was important to always look your best, a task which is effortless to achieve with a smart suit.

William S Burroughs

Burroughs made a name for himself through experimental writing techniques.
Image source: Wikimedia [Public Domain].

One of the infamous Beat authors, William Burroughs is considered to be one of the literary greats. Apart from his work with the fellow Beat authors, Burroughs is perhaps best known for his unusual and experimental writing techniques, pushing boundaries to re-define what it meant to be a writer.

Though he tended to eschew the more popular fashion trends, Burroughs found that the timelessness of a traditionally tailored suit leant a sartorial elegance that was worthy of his literary achievements. His usual outfit of choice was that of a three-piece suit, fedora hat, and a trench coat when the weather demanded it.

Are there any stylish authors that you think we’ve missed off our list? Let us know on our Facebook page or in the comments below.