A decade ago, Austin Butler was pictured on an LA balcony reading aloud the script of Orpheus Descending. It’s a very serious play by Tennessee Williams, and sees the story of the Greek legend Orpheus transposed to a dry goods store in the American South of the ’50s. Cue lots of grim themes. But on a lighter note, it did sow the seeds of Butler becoming something of a bookworm. Because 10 years later, he’s not only repping girlfriend Kaia Gerber’s book club, but he’s wearing the merch.
Last Thursday, the Dune: Part Two actor landed on the JFK tarmac in the Library Science “namesake tee.” White, slightly cropped and boxy, it has the brand name stamped to the front (think neat, unassuming, crystal healer shop sign) and… not much else. According to the brand website, Library Science was co-founded between Gerber and New York editor Alyssa Reeder as an online community “of avid readers, book enthusiasts, friends, and fans.” What was originally an Instagram Live became a label proper. Now, it’s a place that gets the jump on all the books your most well-read friend steams through on park benches while you watch a rug cleaning video.
Adrian Edwards
As with all things culty in 2024, the merch comes thick and fast. Alongside the T-shirt, there’s a very austere tote, a highlighter to really pick out the most touching lines, and a navy tee that reads ‘come to my house, I have great books’. Plus, it doesn’t cost a bomb either: Butler’s shirt is just $50. But it is largely sold out for now.
He’s not alone, either. Last summer, Olivia Wilde was photographed wearing a cap from Des Pair, a famed book and art store in LA’s neo-Bohemian neighborhood Echo Park. In 2018, Queer Eye‘s Antoni Porowski wore the famed ‘Jude&JB&Willem&Malcolm’ T-shirt, which served as a tribute to the very sad heroes of misery porno A Little Life. And listen, everyone still carries around a New Yorker bag.
Austin Butler is yet to run a limited drop of T-shirts about Greek tragedies. But until then, he’ll play supportive boyfriend and run Gerber’s merch instead.
This story originally appeared on British GQ with the title ‘Austin Butler, Hollywood’s most supportive boyfriend, wore a T-shirt from Kaia Gerber’s book club’
