diff --git a/gaphor/core/modeling/diagram.py b/gaphor/core/modeling/diagram.py
index b0d005192..3b829be83 100644
--- a/gaphor/core/modeling/diagram.py
+++ b/gaphor/core/modeling/diagram.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Iterator, Optional, Sequence, Union
 
 import gaphas
 
-from gaphor.core.modeling.coremodel import PackageableElement
+from gaphor.core.modeling.coremodel import Element, PackageableElement
 from gaphor.core.modeling.element import Id, RepositoryProtocol
 from gaphor.core.modeling.event import DiagramItemCreated
 from gaphor.core.modeling.presentation import Presentation
@@ -79,6 +79,37 @@ def removesuffix(self: str, suffix: str, /) -> str:
         return self[:]
 
 
+def rgetattr(obj, attrs, default=None):
+    a, *tail = attrs
+    v = getattr(obj, a, None)
+    print("")
+    if isinstance(v, (list, tuple)):
+        if tail:
+            for m in v:
+                yield from rgetattr(m, tail)
+        else:
+            yield from v
+    else:
+        if tail:
+            yield from rgetattr(v, tail)
+        elif v is not None:
+            yield v
+
+
+def attrstr(obj):
+    """Returns lower-case string representation of an attribute."""
+    if isinstance(obj, str):
+        return obj.lower()
+    elif isinstance(obj, (bool, int)):
+        return "true" if obj else ""
+    elif isinstance(obj, Element):
+        return obj.__class__.__name__.lower()
+    log.warn(
+        f'Can not make a string out of {obj}, returning "". Please raise an issue.'
+    )
+    return ""
+
+
 class StyledDiagram:
     def __init__(self, diagram: Diagram, view: Optional[gaphas.View] = None):
         self.diagram = diagram
@@ -95,7 +126,8 @@ class StyledDiagram:
         return (StyledItem(item, view) for item in self.diagram.canvas.get_root_items())
 
     def attribute(self, name: str) -> str:
-        return ""
+        fields = name.split(".")
+        return " ".join(map(attrstr, rgetattr(self.diagram, fields))).strip()
 
     def state(self):
         return ()
@@ -132,7 +164,11 @@ class StyledItem:
         return (StyledItem(child, view) for child in children)
 
     def attribute(self, name: str) -> str:
-        return ""
+        fields = name.split(".")
+        a = " ".join(map(attrstr, rgetattr(self.item, fields))).strip()
+        if (not a) and self.item.subject:
+            a = " ".join(map(attrstr, rgetattr(self.item.subject, fields))).strip()
+        return a
 
     def state(self) -> Sequence[str]:
         view = self.view
diff --git a/gaphor/core/modeling/tests/conftest.py b/gaphor/core/modeling/tests/conftest.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4cd29a406
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gaphor/core/modeling/tests/conftest.py
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+from gaphor.diagram.tests.fixtures import diagram, element_factory, event_manager
diff --git a/gaphor/core/modeling/tests/test_style_attributes.py b/gaphor/core/modeling/tests/test_style_attributes.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7296e6cc0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gaphor/core/modeling/tests/test_style_attributes.py
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+from gaphor import UML
+from gaphor.core.modeling.diagram import StyledItem
+from gaphor.UML.classes import ClassItem
+
+
+def test_attribute_of_item(diagram):
+    classitem = diagram.create(ClassItem)
+
+    node = StyledItem(classitem)
+
+    assert node.attribute("show_attributes") == "true"
+
+
+def test_nonexistant_attribute_of_item(diagram):
+    classitem = diagram.create(ClassItem)
+
+    node = StyledItem(classitem)
+
+    assert node.attribute("foobar") == ""
+
+
+def test_should_get_type_of_element_attribute(diagram, element_factory):
+    class_ = element_factory.create(UML.Class)
+    classitem = diagram.create(ClassItem, subject=class_)
+
+    node = StyledItem(classitem)
+
+    assert node.attribute("subject") == "class"
+
+
+def test_should_read_attribute_of_subject(diagram, element_factory):
+    class_ = element_factory.create(UML.Class)
+    classitem = diagram.create(ClassItem, subject=class_)
+
+    class_.name = "myname"
+    node = StyledItem(classitem)
+
+    assert node.attribute("name") == "myname"
+
+
+# test attributes that can be any of a list
+def test_nested_attribute_of_subject(diagram, element_factory):
+    class_ = element_factory.create(UML.Class)
+    attr = element_factory.create(UML.Property)
+    class_.ownedAttribute = attr
+    classitem = diagram.create(ClassItem, subject=class_)
+
+    attr.name = "myname"
+    attr.isService = 1
+    node = StyledItem(classitem)
+
+    assert node.attribute("attribute") == "property"
+    assert node.attribute("attribute.name") == "myname"
+    assert node.attribute("attribute.isBehavior") == ""
+    assert node.attribute("attribute.isService") == "true"
+    assert node.attribute("attribute.notAnAttribute") == ""
+
+
+def test_multiple_nested_attribute_of_subject(diagram, element_factory):
+    class_ = element_factory.create(UML.Class)
+    attr1 = element_factory.create(UML.Property)
+    attr2 = element_factory.create(UML.Property)
+    class_.ownedAttribute = attr1
+    class_.ownedAttribute = attr2
+    classitem = diagram.create(ClassItem, subject=class_)
+
+    attr1.name = "first"
+    attr2.name = "second"
+    node = StyledItem(classitem)
+
+    assert node.attribute("attribute") == "property property"
+    assert node.attribute("attribute.name") in ("first second", "second first")
+    assert node.attribute("attribute.notAnAttribute") == ""