At the beginning of the renowned travel writer Sara Wheeler’s brilliant new memoir Glowing Still, she unearths the notebooks in which she has recorded her far-flung trips over the years. The diaries are battered, with destinations scrawled on the spines (China, Serbia, Fiji, Norway). She writes: ‘Sensations rose like milk to the boil when I re-read the tattered notebooks, and I found it tender to be in the company of my younger self.’
I experienced a similar feeling on a recent visit to my storage unit in highly unexotic Hoxton, in east London. Looking for a coat that I could not find (inevitably, I am sure, at the bottom and in the back, such are the rules of Sod’s Law), I ended up rummaging through boxes where it definitely would not be. Why? Because ‘SUMMER’ was scrawled across them in Sharpie, sometimes followed by a smiley little sun in case I missed the memo.
The contents of those boxes were mixed: some things had cost more than business-class flights and others had been cheaper than a drink; some were sturdy and sensible and others, well, not. All of them, however, were as battered as Wheeler’s notebooks and, like them, told their own (albeit more sedate) stories of travel. There was the Theyskens’ Theory dress bedecked in sequins – some of them now missing – worn under shooting stars in the Joshua Tree desert. There were the embroidered smocks, blouses and dresses picked up in Mexico, Morocco and India, crinkled from being stuffed into a cloth tote from Hotel Il Pellicano. There were big hats and bigger sunglasses and a huge Gucci silk scarf that had been worn around my hair or waist, now dried stiff with the salt of seawater.
This story is from the July 2023 edition of ELLE Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the July 2023 edition of ELLE Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Destination Vuitton
Louis Vuitton transforms its new Bangkok store into an immersive lifestyle destination and multifaceted luxury experience.
Ahead Of The Curve
Dior's new backpack blends canny craftsmanship with innovative versatility.
The Real You
Set in a vibrant virtual universe, Coach's latest campaign tells a story about authenticity.
Girl Power
K-pop group STAYC embodies a "Teenfresh" appeal that sends an uplifting message of self-love and authenticity. We caught up with the six-girl band right after their concert in Singapore in this ELLE Singapore exclusive.
To The Château!
Roger Vivier melds classic heritage with contemporary flair for its spring/summer 2024 collection.
On The Road
TISSOT's new PR516 chronograph is a great gift for when your significant other has been a good boy.
Dancing With V-Reality
Creative visionary Blanca Li brings together dance, technology and fashion in a one-of-a-kind virtual reality live performance show-CHANEL couture included.
ON THE Scent
The nose is a peculiar thing; fickle, peculiar, and hard to please. But when a delightfully enchanting scent radiates through the air, we can't help but follow its lead. Here are some fragrances that have us bewitched.
IN Conversation
Can poetry and romance thrive in our fast-paced digital age with three-second attention spans? Charmaine Ho finds out through her chat with Van Cleef & Arpels president and CEO Nicolas Bos that they can-and they have.
To the MOON and BACK
Omega's new Constellation Meteorite collection delivers piece of the universe into your hands.