Style: Dear Diary…

The gardeners of the soul – commonly known as psychologists – have long been advocates of the somewhat lost art of penning one’s thoughts into paper.
Clearing mind clutter is indeed one of the best ways to keep in touch with one’s emotions (whichever their shape or form) and finding a non-judgemental, sympathetic ‘ear’ – such a luxury in this day and age.

Amongst my favourite diarists are Oscar Wilde, Cecil Beaton, W.N.P. Barbellion and his ‘A Journal of a Disappointed Man‘ (a deeply honest and rather unfortunate account of a man whose love of the natural world took him to London’s Natural History Museum) and Edith Holden, whose posthumously published ‘The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady‘ (1977), is my go to resource when in need of observing an artist’s beautifully drawn musings on Bristish fauna and flora throughout the seasons.

Needless to say, my ever-searching gaze couldn’t believe itself on a recent visit to Anthropologie, purveyors of some of the most eye enticing finds known to Mankind.

Reminiscent of Coralie Bickford-Smith‘s work for Penguin, these beauties are clothbound in five mouth-watering shades – plum, rose, aqua, ochre, and cobalt – and resemble the literature of yore, each sporting a detailed illustration and gold-leaf lettering.
Having purchased the one with the portrait of a lady (shown above and in main image), I could easily get them all as they look absolutely at home amongst my vintage collection of books.

With its thick white pages and wholesome good looks, do emulate the Irish novelist by always having on hand something sensational to read – your very own words.