FASHIONABLE SCIENCE

In The Magazine’s FASHIONABLE SCIENCE editorial, we look beyond just fashion. We add personalized neuroscience to make you stand out and repair from the inside out. It defines true style with science-backed insight into how to stay balanced.

This article matches books with Spring outfits. These looks serve mental nuances while layering up style.

Personal style extends to books. Certain books keep us engaged for reasons that we might not recognize.

Beautiful Spring weather turns our minds to Summer travel. Of course, Summer travel pairs with Summer reading.

From the widely discussed Belle Burden Strangers to a Better Call Saul-type character read, here are outfits that match brain personality.

NOTE: We listened to these books for this review, but we highly suggest reading them. Despite much contrary opinions, those two are mot the same .

THE SCIENCE

Reading for leisure or pleasure has diminished more than deodorant use. That decreases cognitive, analytical, and critical thinking skills needed for survival. Importantly, problem solving requires these functions.

Reading physical books deepens comprehension simply because we are likely to mono-task. Your brain actively decodes letters into meaning, which requires higher executive control and working memory. Both are important to defending against Alzheimer’s or dementia. Also, audiobooks lack spatial anchors, so it is much more difficult to breakdown complex info and recognize patterns. Strengthening spatial memory with physical reading supports hippocampal function, so that relying on GPS decreases, for example. Unless you want to be led into the East River instead of the coffee shop. Finally, reading a book at your own pace allows the prefrontal cortex to determine if the plot makes sense. A skill highly lacking on social “I-know-the-whole-story-from-the-headline” media.

Strangers by Belle Burden

Reading Personality: Kapha aka Mrs. Boundary-Challenged

Would you make a sandwich for your husband who cheated on you? Strangers by Belle Burden has everyone gasping from that obnoxious tidbit to her bailing on her career. This is total Kapha personality. She actually made him a sandwich. He also refused to take care of their kids, and made her buy all their properties. Pitta will be infuriated by the anti-feminist divulgences and Vata will forever be scared of commitment. But those overly caring and calm personalities (so unheard of today) will say… “I did that!” Come on, ladies.

**Figure 1:** Don’t be a stranger in loud pinks and reds. And whatever you do, don’t make him a sandwich.

Pair this book with pink and red so you don’t spend the entire summer flat on your face in beach sand crying about everyone who takes advantage of you (Fig. 1). Harden up that soft heart with croc-embossed loafers (Tod’s). Layer up with a sleeveless suede vest as it is both nurturing to your spirit and body, but also adds Vata airiness to lighten your tears. The pink men’s button down makes the vibe more structured, and the bright pink Hermes scarf wakens you up. The chevron bag (Chanel) is a real abstract angular piece for added chaos.

The Widow John Grisham

Reading Personality: Pitta aka Elle Spicy Woods

Does the old woman have as much money as he thinks? This one sustains the need for Saul Goodman in our lives. Get wrapped up in an intense legal drama where the main character is reminiscent of one of TV’s favorite semi-villains. This classic John Grisham story, The Widow, engages highly analytical minds. People who cannot stop working even at the pool. Always analyzing and solving puzzles.Chapter 52 brings the wow factor. Fretting Vata will check their bank account while Kapha will check on grandma.

**Figure 2:** The thought of Birkenstocks is as appealing as a non-working vacation. You practice law as a hobby. Accessorize with hippie accents like a hobo bag and clogs for much-needed un-focusing.

Yes, you can keep your animal instinct (Fig. 2). But make them hippie Birks and add deep red suede. An asymmetrical long t-shirt is just the top needed to set Ms. Prim and Perfect off balance. Fun argyle socks and an easy denim zip up hoodie jacket play that up more. Accent it all with a red-outlined scarf, soft suede bag, and a solid cuff.

I Could Be Famous by Sydney Rende

Reading Personality: Vata aka High-Drama Visionary

Let’s slide between Euphoria and what might by Sydney Sweeney’s real life. The most annoying book from a Pitta perspective tops Vata’s Spotify Wrapped. I Could Be Famous by Sydney Rende is bunch of short stories that seem like one giant twisted SoCal mess. Vata is all over the place, so her mind cannot pay attention for very long. Most of all, it will make you wonder how many people wind up at prostitution parties. These short salacious stores are for Algorithmically Selective Hearing. Translation: people whose brain filters out selective prose, but instantly locks in when the content matches their highly specific spicy preference. Pitta deems this as ridiculous filth, skipping each chapter looking for depth, not surface-level social influencer stupidity. Kapha is too sensitive for this cruel literary world.

**Figure 3:** Listen up you crazy lady! Purples and flats help calm your chaotic visionary mind. A heavy bag and layers upon layers upon layers keep your fidgeting self occupied for the seasons ahead.

Layer up with all the purples and a jacket for calmness and warmth (Fig. 3). Accessorize with all the shoes. From kitten heel mules (Manolo Blahnik) to ballerinas (Sandy Liang) and bunny slippers (Bode) because you have no idea where you are going to wind up. Knot up a scarf that dreams as crazy as you with a tree of apples and critters growing out of a horse. Pastel socks to tone it down, please. A heavy dark burgundy bag adds grounding for a tad bit of balance this Spring and Summer.

Layer Up, Accessorize Down: Books to Match Personal Style