In our increasingly digital world where our phone notes app is our personal diary, there’s something luxurious about putting pen to paper – and not just for birthday and Christmas cards.
A handwritten to-do list, an idea jotted down, or a dinner date with friends immortalised on the page: an old-school diary adds a touch of tradition to your everyday.
I don’t just mean any diary from your local WH Smith; I’m referring to a leather-bound, silk-lined, weekly planner from none other than Smythson. Screen fatigue hits us hardest at the end of a year, so it’s no surprise these decadent diaries top annual Christmas gift lists – my own included.
Founded in 1887 by Frank Smythson, the brand has built a reputation on exceptional stationery and leather goods, becoming synonymous with a distinctly refined approach to everyday essentials.
From its iconic correspondence cards to its beautifully bound notebooks, Smythson has long understood the sense of occasion in stationery. Introduced in 1908, the Panama diary was the world’s first lightweight, portable diary made from featherweight airmail paper.
The Shamrock green colourway makes a statement out of your stationary
Smythson/The Standard
The brand has enjoyed favour with everyone from Royalty, including Queen Victoria, to Hollywood royalty such as Grace Kelly and Katharine Hepburn. It earned a Royal Warrant from Queen Elizabeth II in 1964, and Smythson remains the gold standard for diaries – particularly when it comes to gifting.
Smythson/The Standard
Whether keeping track of a busy work schedule, coordinating social occasions or recording small details, Smythson’s 2027 diaries embrace the written word in your everyday life.
As an editor who spends more time looking at screens than away from them, my sole resolution for the new year is to swing the pendulum the other way. Writing and ticking off my daily to-do lists in a luxurious diary, rather than a chaotic Google Doc, is top of the agenda.
Small enough to slot into my work bag and not occupy space on my desk, Smythson’s diary is stylish with classic detailing. Boasting a week-to-week layout and daily note pages for easy planning, the heritage brand’s patented pale blue featherweight paper is housed in a bound cross-grain lambskin cover, with silk linings and a ribbon bookmark for keeping track.
Whether choosing for yourself or another, there are 15 finishes, from leopard print and hot pink or red to classic forest green, blue and black. The option to personalise the diary means it’s tailor-made for gifting.
If you’re looking to reduce screen time and make weeks more manageable, Smythson’s 2027 diary is the solution.