I think it’s time that the humble newsletter got a little shout out! I don’t know about you, but a definite side effect of these strange, new-normal COVID-19 days has been that it seems harder to really concentrate on something for long stretches of time. Friends and family have also shared they’re either struggling with reading full books at the moment, or really being able to focus on a full movie. Perhaps it’s this need for shorter bursts of information that has recently drawn me back into the world of the humble newsletter. There is something brilliant about one popping into your inbox at a random part of the week, curated to tell you little titbits of information you might just want or need to know. Perhaps it’s a new recipe, a link to a playlist to pop on while you’re working from home or a new bar to check out in London to continue to support local businesses. Maybe even some interior design inspiration or holiday wanderlusting for when travel is firmly back on the agenda again. I’ve shared eight firm favourites below, to add some interest and variety to your inbox for the cold Autumn months ahead…
1. Hoste London is run by presenter Laura Jackson, and the company’s first love is food first and foremost. The brand tagline is that they want to ‘take you on a journey through food, travel, interiors and culture’ – if all of these things are some of your passions too, you’ll love the Hoste newsletter. I always feel inspired after a dose of their cheering anecdotes appear in my inbox; the content ranges from news on their supperclubs, to tips on putting together beautiful tablescapes and sharing recipes. If you can’t get enough, you can also listen to the Hoste podcast, which has a great back catalogue of episodes.
2. Dolly Alderton is one of my all-time favourite writers and I’m sure I’m not alone in saying that as a 30-something woman, many of us feel a kindred spirit with Dolly’s equally humorous and touching stories about female friendship and love in the modern age. To celebrate the pre-order of her new novel Ghosts, Penguin Books have cleverly launched a newsletter where Dolly shares an essay a month, alongside her recommendations on what to listen to, what to read and what to eat that month.
3. Hotel Weekend is an online magazine & travelling concept store made for the modern & conscious traveller. I discovered this site via Instagram and am so glad I did; I’ve since spent many an hour in the company of their stunning lifestyle platform for all things travel, featuring a carefully curated list of boutique hotels, insider guides and slow travel diaries. They also make and curate beautiful products across fashion, beauty, homeware & wellness at their Souvenir Shop. Their content is for ‘the ones who love room service, huge beds, #outofoffice emails & seeing the world with fresh eyes. Those who find the hidden gems that are not in the guidebooks: the authentic, raw & unique places in every destination where you can feel the city’s heartbeat.’ If this is you, sign up immediately for all of Hôtel Weekend’s inspiration (their playlists are brilliant too for long car or plane journeys).
4. Stories Studio is a growing brand by two incredibly talented designers Emily and Melissa. Both women curate a stunning life in Barcelona, taking us with them through their musings on design, travel and mindfullness. They’re inherently inspiring and their Sunday newsletter allows for the ultimate dose of escapism through their stunning imagery and carefully curated prose, often pulling beautiful quotes and passages from books and authors. I love the way they see the world and highly recommend signing up to receive their beautiful stories here.
5. The Handbook newsletter. Stay in the know with everything London, food & drink and culture with the impressive weekly newsletter offering from The Handbook. Here you’ll find constant inspiration and well curated lists for things to do in / around the city – these guys always seem one step ahead, so if you like to be ‘in the know’ for all that London has to offer, this newsletter is for you.
6. Vogue magazine has become a serious firm favourite of mine since Edward Enniful took over the editorship. It’s a brilliant mix of informed journalism, culture, fashion and beauty recommendations, all with the Vogue touch. Sign up for either a daily or weekly newsletter from them to have news directly to your inbox.
7. Another round-up I really enjoy is the SheerLuxe newsletter. Whether you want to know which films / TV shows you should be watching next, which coveted oversees fashion brand now ships to the UK or the latest fitness tips or beauty hacks, SheerLuxe is a great one to sign up for. They also have a great weekly TV show that is worth a watch for recommendations and inspirations.
8. Messy Nessy Chic is a Paris based travel blogger and writer and her newsletter is a quirky dose of information that lands in your inbox each week. I particularly enjoy the ’13 things I found on the internet today’ series where writer Lindsay finds brilliantly random facts and images from the web. She also had a real range of features included in her newsletter, so whether you want to find out where is best in Paris to visit, this is one to expand your mind and continue learning while you drink your morning coffee.
I hope this has provided some inspiration and I’d love to hear from you with any other newsletters I should be signed up to!
LMNH x
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