« Fall Foliage | Main | Super 8 Night at Barbes »

September 30, 2005

Swanky Stationers

High-end stationary stores are such a throwback to an earlier, pre-internet age. I spent my lunch break recently walking around Lincoln Stationers, near Lincoln Center. It's the kind of store that is thrilling for anyone with a passing interest in writing, and it completely turned my mood around. Every possible type of writing utensil, paper, or related paraphernalia is available and elegantly displayed.

There are rows of leather-bound journals, fancy notecards, and every possible color of standard paper. Two entire floors are filled with things that I would buy if I could think of any practical reason for owning them. European-style notebooks, which I love, are available with solid, graph, or lined paper. Office supplies of the sort that might appear in an Upper East Side antique writing desk are plentiful -- custom paper clips, specialty envelopes, etc. There was large display of little wooden cubby holes with at least a hundred types of pens, and another wall had larger cubby holes filled with folders and binders. There are scrapbooks, frames, and beautiful calendars.

The effect of browsing in a store like this is that I begin to feel inspired to write something -- anything. The sheer volume of pens and paper is intimidating. On the other hand, I'm not sure that anything I could write (or my handwriting) would be worthy of the paper I would be writing on. It's always so much more perfect on the shelf. I felt that I should have a regular correspondence with some Rich Ladies Who Lunch, so I might have a valid reason to send out little green "Thank You" cards. I mean, why is my social life so lacking that I have no use for thin decorative paper printed with blue and green polka-dots and costing a fortune?

Despite the inferiority complex, I managed to leave with a very swanky (but reasonably-priced) little journal. I highly recommend visiting your local upscale stationary store -- it's mecca for crafty people who know what to do with polka-dotted paper, and it's inspiring for the rest of us. I mean, why go to Staples and Office Depot (unfailingly decorated with large steel shelving and concrete) when you can pretend to be a Rich Lady Who Lunches (And Writes Elegant Thank You Notes)?

Posted by csageday at September 30, 2005 12:56 AM

Comments

Posted by: Laura at September 30, 2005 01:09 PM