the zeitgeist of zoe

What is the quote? “Wherever you go, no matter the weather, always bring your own sunshine”.

Not always an easy task, especially here in the Northeast where there are not a mere 4 but 12 seasons, most of which are not particularly sunny (we’ve got winter, fool’s spring, second winter, spring of deception, third winter, “the pollening”, actual spring – which lasts approximately 15 minutes, summer, hell’s front porch, false fall, second fall, actual fall and then right back to winter).

Today we are reveling in the oh so glorious New England summer. And thus my review of the Filofax Finsbury in the new color for 2022. They called it Mustard, but to me it looks like Sunshine.

The Finsbury is a classically styled Filofax organizer beautifully crafted out of a unique, soft “rambler leather”, and features a rich two-tone finish as well as matching stitching. 

The Finsbury binder has been around since the early 2000s, with Filofax releasing new colors from year to year. For 2022 they came out with this lovely Mustard, and I just had to have it. Yes, me…she who loves neutrals…had to have an actual color. Who am I and what have I done with myself?

Although the Finsbury is not completely leather (there are some textiles used in the manufacture and in fact the interior is a durable canvas material), it is a great entry level leather Filofax with a reasonable price and a lot of great features to keep you organized:

• The rings are 23mm
• The interior front has 6 card slots on top of a vertical slip pocket
• The interior back has a zipped pocket and one leather pen loop
• The binder itself measures 7.5” high x 5.7” wide and it fits Personal size inserts (3.75” x 6.75”)

Truth be told, I am a huge Finsbury fan from way back. I love the Finsbury for its no-nonsense, classic design and for its structure. I do a lot of note taking on the go and it is so nice to be able to pull out my Filofax and write on my lap or in the car without issue. It also feels sleek and streamlined in the hand.

I like carrying it as a clutch when running errands or at appointments so I have the chance to whip it out instead of my phone and say, “Hang on, let me check my…Filofax“.

I know. I’m a rebel.

I have been Filofaxing since, are you sitting down, 1985. Yes, I’m old. That was the year I fell in love with a gorgeous Ostrich Filofax in Personal size and I wish every day that I still had that thing. Unfortunately I was 20 years old, married to a musician, moved around a lot (partied a lot), and I have no idea what became of it. I do know it lasted longer than my marriage. But that’s a story for another day.

That Ostrich Filofax was the first of *cough* many, and I have not been without a day planner since purchasing it.

Over the years I have owned a few the many Finsbury colors released (all sold by now, much to my regret). Turquoise, which debuted in 2010-2011 I think, Raspberry circa I have no idea but it has been around a while and is still available to this day, and of course I had a Yellow Compact Finsbury back in 2012 which was the subject of this now infamous drunken review.

I set up a YouTube channel just to post that relic so you guys could get a good laugh. You’re welcome.

The release of the new Mustard Finsbury threw me into a fit of nostalgia and not only did I order that one from Filofax USA, but also the 2022 version of Turquoise now called Aqua, and the amazing Coral.

I have no idea when the Coral was released or how it managed to slip under my radar for so long because it just screams “umbrella drink on a beach in the Caribbean” and I am a huge fan of umbrella drinks, beaches, and all things Caribbean.

Lest we forget the Aqua

If you are in a summery mood or just appreciate a great binder, a Filofax Finsbury might be for you. Of course they also come in more low key colors such as Black, a mellow but lovely Vista Blue, the aforementioned Raspberry, and a very distinguished Slate Grey (that I may or may not pick up as my winter Finsbury).

In the meantime, nobody tell all my tan planners how much I am loving these colors!