Parisian Louise Carmen notebooks gain celebrity cachet amid mixed customer reviews

Louise Carmen, a Parisian stationery brand, has seen its leather notebooks become a social-media status symbol after appearances tied to celebrities including Kendall Jenner, who placed one in a recent gift guide, and singers and actors who have shown the notebooks in brand videos such as Lana Del Rey and Shay Mitchell.

Videos of the boutique typically show customers being led to a counter to choose leather cuts, metallic hardware and charms, then leaving with a custom-made notebook. The company was founded in Paris a decade ago by Nathalie and Fabien Valmary. Pocket-size, 64-page notebooks start at about 122 euros (roughly $142), with prices rising for larger sizes, materials and adornments.

The notebooks are sold on the brand’s website and have appeared at retailers and pop-ups, including a 2024 pop-up at Goods for the Study in New York, where staff said customers often call asking for the brand by name. Customer reactions are mixed. Lindsey Nguyen said she booked a video appointment and paid more than $300 for a personalized design and a “white-glove-service experience.” By contrast, Annie Given said she paid $450 including shipping but received a box that was partially open and a notebook with broken charms, prompting her to post about it on TikTok; Reddit comments, the article said, recounted similar disappointments.

Some buyers pursue the look on a budget: a content creator in Toronto made a Louise Carmen–inspired journal for about $22 and has since made several more.

Key Topics

Culture, Louise Carmen, Paris, Kendall Jenner, Leather Notebooks, Nathalie Valmary