I love getting mail...not email, though sometimes that can be nice...usually I spend more time hitting delete than reading. The mail I love to receive is handwritten, in an envelope, with a stamp. Like most of us, I live my life typing emails. To open the mailbox and receive a handwritten note on lovely stationery is so rare but such a joy and the ultimate gesture. For someone to take the time to sit and actually take pen to paper to write me means they care.
I grew up with a love for beautiful paper and will always believe that handwritten matters! So it was with sadness that I learned of the closing of Mrs. John L. Strong. Since 1929 the stationer created paper for royalty, presidents, world leaders, socialites, icons of style such as Jacqueline Bouvier, The Duchess of Windsor,Diana Vreeland, Anna Wintour,celebrities and people who just wanted to make that special impression.
Mrs. Strong began selling engraved papers, invitations, calling cards, etc. to her New York social register clientele from her sister's trousseau shop and eventually grew to take her own atelier at 699 Madison Avenue. Mrs. Strong also sold through Gump's and Henri Bendel's and was considered THE source for occasions, announcements, invitations and that important daily note.
Very little changed at Mrs. Strong. The bespoke line included luxury papers that were all hand crafted in the New York workroom- hand engraved, hand lined envelopes, hand cut borders and beveling, artist engraved steel dies, hand painted invitations, hand monogramming with custom mixed inks on Mrs. Strong's signature Strong's Vanilla hand cut cotton archival paper.
The company was sold to designer Nanette Brown in 2002...the traditions were brought up to date with "ready to write" collections designed in fashion forward colors and style to appeal to a younger modern audience.
Facing the economic turmoil and an inability to finance expansion or find a buyer Mrs. John L. Strong has closed and with it the last of an age when attention to detail and luxury were important.
Yes, we live in a very different world, white gloves and hat boxes are of a different age. Economy is what we all work toward, but manners and grace and precious details should always be in fashion. A note to say "I am thinking of you", "Thank you", "Love to come", or to announce life's occasions, changes and events should still be handwritten, on beautiful paper, with care and thought.
You don't have tro spend $1500 for a box of notepaper...Here are some wonderful resources to express yourself with pen and paper:
