Item Of Interest: The Virtues Of Beautiful Stationery
In this fortnightly column, we take a keen interest in things, celebrating the moods and whims that fuel desire. In this edition: a look at well-designed stationery to combat humdrum utility and bring a touch of loveliness to your desks.
When was the last time you received a letter or note that made you smile and want to keep it for memory’s sake? For me, it was a surprising moment earlier this year when I attended a fairly routine presentation for a fashion collection. The person who was taking me through, and who I’d just met, slipped me a note as I headed off. In it was a handwritten note of thanks for my time – a stunningly simple and lovely gesture.
It got me thinking about the civility and graciousness of correspondence. In this epoch of instant, digital messaging, the uniqueness and thoughtfulness of something in your own hand has a fresh significance. It’s that little old thing of the personal touch.
I’ve noticed this sort of personal communication happening in fashion too. When Pieter Mulier made his debut at Alaia, it was accompanied by a letter he’d written as a thanks and homage to the late couturier. In his more recent second show, he penned a letter once again. It starts like this: “Dear friends, / It’s the second time… and I’m even more nervous than the first.”
Gucci’s Love Parade show was also accompanied by a letter written by creative director Alessandro Michele. Michele’s an endearing wordsmith, and the letter tenderly explains how his mother inspired a love for Hollywood glamour and artifice in him. Granted both these examples are typed and printed, but they have a way of speaking directly to you that’s more touching and emotional.
The central set piece of Kim Jones' Jack Kerouac-inspired Fall/Winter '22 collection for Dior – which unfurled into a catwalk – was a giant facsimile of the novel On The Road. There is something about the written word that's brewing. Chanel has its Literary Rendezvous series of videos; Proenza Schouler recently enlisted author Ottessa Moshfegh to write a short piece for their Fall collection; Valentino collaborated last year with actress Emma Roberts' book club; Hedi Slimane just launched a perfume named Rimbaud for Celine... something to think about.
But back to things by hand. There’s something really charming and romantic about dashing exquisite little notes off to people. To your friends and loved ones (and especially with a gift), it greatly enhances well-wishes.
Sent to a foe, it’s devastatingly chic. On the occasion of a feud, the delivery of a well-timed note can be a killer move. It says you’re the bigger, more graceful person; the etiquette around not needing a reply means you get the last word in; and you get to show that you have better stationery to boot.
But those are hypothetical scenarios. The more pressing concern is surrounding yourself with beautiful stationery. It’s a functional category but that doesn’t mean it needs to be humdrum. Notebooks that make the thoughts you pen down feel a little more precious. Pens so lovely you think of them as instruments of writing rather than plastic sticks that merely facilitate reliable ink flow. Cream or ivory paper that makes standard issue black and blue ink look even better. There’s a whole world of lovely objects to make your desk a sophisticated little bubble to enjoy sitting at. Here are some ideas.
Last year, Gucci launched an exciting new lifestyle range. There's a lot of vintage-looking floral and nature prints, Donald Duck, and the general sense that it's all a logical extension of Alessandro Michele's eclectic universe. Particularly compelling is this set of 20 note cards with matching envelopes, packaged in a beautiful box with a geometric monogram print lifted from the archives.
British brand Smythson make some really handsome writing pads and cards (Nile blue highly recommended!) that naturally come with the option of customisation. They're an ideal as far as fantasies of monogrammed stationery go. But I'd like to point out what I think is the brand's cutest offering: a packet of ten correspondence cards with an adorable Scottish fold cat printed on it, with matching orange borders on the cards and tissue lining on the envelopes.
I've written before about the versatility of pouches with unspecified uses. Well, this time Saint Laurent has actually put a name to this new pouch from Spring/Summer '22 that's quite apt as a stationery accompaniment.
Hermes is the obvious answer if you want fine leather stationery. The fact that notebook covers are such simple designs – they essentially just wrap around paper refills – means the materials should speak for themselves. In this case, supple grained Togo calfskin which is said to soften over time.
The many customisation options available on Bynd Artisan's notebooks are perfect for picky folks. Options include covers with grainy, smooth and moire-like finishes in many colours; thick 120gsm lined or blank paper in white or ivory; three different closure methods, each with numerous colours; text embossing in five different typefaces in a position and colour of your choice.
Montblanc pens are the benchmark to which luxury writing instruments are held. While I can appreciate the time-honoured aesthetics of the brand's signature black lacquered Meisterstuck, the Montblanc M is a more contemporary model. It's designed by Marc Newson, one of the most prolific industrial designers of his generation. The cap attaches magnetically so the clip is always centred, and the weight is perfectly balanced both when posted and not. At price points like this, the general wisdom is to spring for a fountain pen. But I'm of the belief that, unless you are used to writing with fountain pens, the ease of rollerballs and ballpoints will get you more use out of your pen.
Fountain pens are a fun way to get into fancy writing. Between the innumerable different types of pens, nibs and inks, there's an infinite number of ways to get words down on a page. What I suggest is finding a good-looking workhorse to start with, and taking it from there. Ystudio's modern sculptural designs are a great gateway. The minimalist, Zen-like aesthetic of this Taiwanese brand has made it a bit of a cult favourite among fountain pen lovers, who generally appreciate the balanced weight of its brass and the comfortable experience in the hand.
Loewe's funky Bracelet pouch is two-for-one accessory. It can be wrapped up into a bracelet (hence the name) and turned into a small bag with an attached strap. Here's a third use that capitalises on its tubular form: an extremely luxurious pencil case.
Here's a grown-up pencil case. It's travel-sized so it's easy to tote around, and constructed with a flat base that sits on a table with dignity.
Desk mats are a bit of an old school thing, but they do actually make it nicer to rest your palm on the table. This one's handsome and understated, complete with Margiea's rather discreet basting stitches. A bit of a table-bound if-you-know-you-know.