Victoria Magazine, August 1993
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Before Pinterest I had Victoria Magazine.
In the late 90s/00s I could sit for hours in the living room corner pouring over the same issues of Victoria Magazine propped up on a little footstool, reading all about pretty little antique shops, women who owned cafes nestled into secret gardens, recipes for tarts and biscuits, and beauty tips that always included Clinique or Estée Lauder. At one point I got (and still have) calligraphy pens and ink and would find any lettering tucked away in photos or illustrations and copy them in a notebook.
My own nostalgia aside there's something warm and inviting about Victoria Magazine from a pre-digital age. The hazy photos contain an I spy level of maximalism, the paper is thick to the touch, even the few full page ads flow into the editorials, making enjoyment seamless.
I try to look at accompanying months issues as I move through the year so I can feel a bit more grounded in what this time has to offer instead of impatiently waiting for what's around the corner. I hope you enjoy this August issue from three decades past just as much as I do.
A little nook for a personal beauty apothecary!
How much do you wish all our shopping still got wrapped in brown paper?
Show me a store with dried flowers hanging from the ceiling and you'll have a hard time getting me to leave.
I suddenly feel the need to embroider a little felt heart.
There's something about a tea tray on an overstuffed chair that just feels right.
I love a tablecloth that just barely hangs off the edges, it's pretty but casual.
This Parisian flower shop only carries white flowers, stepping foot across this threshold would feel like entering the Netherfield Ball in the 2005 Pride and Prejudice.
My teenage obsession with upholstery outerwear becomes clear.
Sometimes I forget about salads, y'know? I think I need more greens this month.