VIBE

Ultra posh stationer Smythson has been hand-crafting gorgeous diaries and leather goods since the 19th century, and their luxe products have remained a solid favorite of the blue-blood set from the very start. (Leading ladies ranging from Queen Victoria to Grace Kelly have stocked their desks with Smythson’s iconic pale-blue stationery products.) The shop is as stiff and formal as you would imagine a historic stationer to be–all hushed voices, glass cases, and look-but-don’t-touch displays. Nonetheless, their stationery has branched out into more experimental terrain recently–check out their kicky rocket ship cards, which retain the usual thick, creamy paper and hand-painted borders but add funky intergalactic designs.

USE A PURCHASE FROM HERE FOR

Home or office accessories; graduation or new job gifts

WHY WE LIKE IT

Even though–being addicted to our iPhones, Blackberries, and laptops–we don’t actually deal with diaries and stationery very much anymore, when we do it’s lovely to use Smythson’s gorgeous pieces. Their cards are great for special occasions like fancy-schmancy party invitations, and their diaries make lovely graduation or new-job gifts.

GOOD TO KNOW

If you really dig Smythson, check out the small museum in the back of their store–it highlights key moments and products in the history of the company, like their WWII stationery and personalized mother-of-pearl and gold leaf stationery produced for Indian maharajas during the colonial period.

OTHER LOCATIONS

Sloane Street (London); Westbourne Grove (London); Royal Exchange (London); Harrods (London); Harvey Nichols (London); Selfridges (London); Heathrow Airport (London); Oxford; New York; Beverly Hills; Hong Kong; Dublin

CLOSEST COMPS

Pickett (London); Asprey (London)

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