This Fall, Make a Fashion Statement With a Good Book

The 2023 Scotiabank Giller Prize Lookbook highlights the best of Canadian arts, culture and literature.

The one question every celebrity is asked when they walk any red carpet: “Who are you wearing?” But rarely are trendsetters asked, “Who are you reading?” That’s why the new 2023 Scotiabank Giller Prize highlights this year’s shortlisted books in an editorial collection of photos featuring the titles as must-have fashion statements. The Lookbook explores the intersection between literature and fashion, placing diverse Canadian talent in the spotlight.

“Art begets art,” says Laura Curtis Ferrera, Scotiabank’s chief marketing officer. “For the Prize’s 30th anniversary we wanted to leverage another art form to complement Canada’s best storytellers and bring their work to more readers,” she says. “To that end the concept of the Book Lookbook was born out of the idea of personal expression, showing that novels are so much more than words on a page, they’re a piece of one’s identity and experience. A good book can be deeply connected with a sense of self, so our team began to think of ways to bring this idea to life and connecting literature with fashion was the answer.”

What is the Scotiabank Giller Prize?

Every year, the Scotiabank Giller Prize celebrates the best in Canadian fiction and awards $100,000 to the author of the best Canadian novel, graphic novel or short story collection published in English (finalists receive $10,000 each). This year’s shortlist includes: Study For Obedience by Sarah Bernstein; Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton; The Double Life of Benson Yu by Kevin Chong; The Islands: Stories by Dionne Irving and All The Colour In The World by CS Richardson. “As we celebrate 30 years of the Giller Prize and think about our continuous evolution, we hope to reach new Canadians and open the door to books through many ways, from fashion and events to education and more,” says Elana Rabinovitch, executive director of the Scotiabank Giller Prize. 

So put on your finest literary-inspired ensemble and spend an evening with this year’s Giller Prize finalists at the Giller Between the Pages tour in a Canadian city near you. Tickets can be purchased here. And be sure to tune into CBC on Monday, Nov. 13, at 9 p.m. ET to watch the 2023 Scotiabank Giller Prize broadcast ceremony hosted by Rick Mercer and presented commercial-free by Scotia Wealth Management.

How the Lookbook came to life

Photographers Saty + Pratha brought the 2023 Scotiabank Giller Prize Lookbook to life with their enthusiastic, modern and inclusive concept of beauty. Stylist Shea Hurley, who is known for her effortlessly cool aesthetic and for championing Canadian talent, gravitated toward high-quality fabrics and textures while bringing a feminine touch to more masculine silhouettes. To complement the books, she used pieces from retailers including The Bay, Gant, Uniqlo, Zara, Cuchara, Banana Republic and Hermès. The Lookbook was photographed at the Fairmont Royal York, with its distinguished collegiate look and feel. Casting a diverse group of models was a top priority for Scotiabank; models include Eli Waddell, Irakli Rodonaia, Lolade Adeoti, Saphia Lafrance and Becca Tonner. “Featuring fall fashion among a diverse cast of models, the Lookbook speaks to tastemakers across the country, keeping them in the know by featuring the biggest style trends alongside this year’s prestigious titles,” says Rabinovitch. 

Check out the 2023 Scotiabank Giller Prize Lookbook.