Pen To Paper: A Stylish Spin On A Traditional Writing Kit

Is there anything more nostalgic than new-season stationery?

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The best bit about autumn was always the trip to buy a new notebook, ruler, Tipp-Ex, erasers (scented, ideally) and, best of all, a pencil case. Right now, there’s a big return to pre-digital habits, such as disposable and film cameras. And a colourful celebration of handwritten letters, paper diaries, elegant fountain pens and brilliant inks is along the same lines. This season, a host of top fashion and beauty brands are putting a luxurious new twist on old-school stationery.

ANYA HINDMARCH has always fetishised stationery, and her current Peanuts collaboration celebrates universally beloved Snoopy and co on everything from key charms to journals, rulers and paperclips. Also, her take on retro classics, such as key charms shaped like Tipp-Ex bottles and neon highlighter pens, are also begging for a place in your new-season satchel.

Fragrance brand DIPTYQUE has been expanding into lifestyle items for some time now, and its new office accessories line elevates pencil pots, notebooks and cards, with monochrome panache.

London store CHOOSING KEEPING is a shrine to the beauty of stationery, with its picturesque displays of pens, papers, inks and the most elegant staplers. Coibhe Butler’s Plunkett Press Stationers, based in Co Wicklow, champions traditional letterpress printing with a range of hand-embossed personalised stationery.

Irish online stationery store NÓTA PÓCA specialises in beautiful paper and handprinted cards.

For pens, go and chat to Brendan Kerrigan at THE PEN PLACE, Dun Laoghaire, for an expert take on the finest writing instruments in Dublin. Remember, nothing beats a handwritten thank you note.

The trend is spilling over into beauty, too. There are crayons for lips, by Nars and Kiko Milan; perfumes inspired by ink, paper and the smell of leather-bound books, such as Ink eau de parfum by PERFUMER H, COMMODITY’s Paper (Jérôme Epinette uses woody, mysterious molecule Iso E Super to create intimacy), and Diptyque’s subtle L’Eau Papier, which suggests a fresh sheet of crisp paper via delicate white musks and a hint of mimosa.

The new collection of lip and eye pencils – plus designer sharpener – by HERMÈS is presented in a show-stopping box of colours that’s as exciting as any Crayola collection from our childhood. @sarahhalliwellbeauty