What to take home Wednesday: Smythson books

I’ve been harbouring a secret girl crush all year. Her name is Nancy and she’s a bag. Her last name is Smythson, maybe you’ve heard of her?


Just look at her sitting there in all her cute and quilted glory. And her large retro-style clasp is quite heavenly in a Jackie O kinda way. But at £750 for her small version, she doesn’t come cheap, so for now she will reluctantly remain on my crazy-dreamin’ wishlist.

But apart from being so damn good-looking, there’s so much more to like about young Nancy here, not least because of her fine pedigree.

Smythson is synonymous with stylish bespoke stationery and quality leather goods, and is steeped in a rich London heritage dating back to 1887, when Frank Smythson opened his first store at 133 New Bond Street.

The brand is also famous for its covetable leather diaries and notebooks in fashion-forward colours and tongue-in-cheek titles, like the Blondes, Brunettes, Redheads address book from the 1950s, and more recently, Me, Me, Me; Therapy Notes and Seduction Notes. Handsome and practical!

Trademark features of a Smythson book include “featherweight” pale blue watermarked pages; supple leather binding and gold or silver-stamped cover titles, which can be personalised for an extra fee.

The Beauty Bible, at £40, makes a stylish London souvenir. It's bound in soft grained lambskin leather and includes indexed sections for make-up, skincare and hair, diet, exercise and treatments.


Smythson
www.smythson.com

40 New Bond Street
London
W1S 2DE
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7629 8558

Click here for a Wee Birdy map.

Opening hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 9.30am-6pm
Thursday 10am-7pm
Saturday 10am-6pm

Nearest tube: Bond Street, Oxford Circus, Green Park