A look inside the journals modern It girls keep close&mdash;and why the art of physical media still matters.

There may be nothing quite as precious as a girl&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/travel-living/what-is-junk-journaling" target="_blank" rel="noopener">journal</a>. From childhood onward, its pages quietly collect the most intimate fragments of a life in progress: the name of a first crush written, dramatic midnight revelations, fleeting opinions that capture who you were in a single moment in time. A journal is more than a notebook&mdash;it is a confidant, a witness, and a record of becoming. Often hidden away, tucked beneath pillows or buried in drawers, it remains sacred, meant for your eyes only.
As the <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/2026-horoscopes-zodiac-sign-reading-mercury-retrograde-dates-2026" target="_blank" rel="noopener">new year</a> rolls around, resolutions are made with the best intentions. Some stick, some don&rsquo;t&mdash;but journaling is one habit that continues to resonate, especially now. In a world that moves fast and demands constant output, journaling offers a pause. Whether it&rsquo;s a daily ritual, a once-a-week check-in, or something you return to only when you need it most, the act of writing things down can feel grounding, cathartic, and even transformative.
In connection with&nbsp;L'OFFICIEL's <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/film-tv/michelle-yeoh-interview-wicked-for-good" target="_blank" rel="noopener">December/January 2026 issue</a>&mdash;our Precious issue&mdash;we began thinking about the tangible objects that carry deep personal meaning. Heirlooms passed through generations, keepsakes imbued with memory, and objects that quietly hold our inner lives. Among them, the journal stands apart. To explore the significance of this deeply personal object, we spoke with a range of modern <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/ashtin-earle-wildflower-case-interview-alix-earle" target="_blank" rel="noopener">It girls</a> spanning fashion, culture, and beyond about their own treasured journals. From <a href="https://www.instagram.com/olafflee/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Olivia Yang</a> to <a href="https://www.instagram.com/rubylyn_/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ruby Lyn</a>, each offered a glimpse into the pages that have shaped their thoughts, creativity, and sense of self. Below, see a peek at their journals and explore why the practice of keeping one is precious in itself.&nbsp;

<h2 style="text-align: center;">Olivia Yang&nbsp;</h2>

L'OFFICIEL: What does journaling mean to you?
OLIVIA YANG: To me, journaling is an intimate ritual that helps me practice gratitude and curate a positive mindset. Once you write something down, it&rsquo;s just a safe space between you and your thoughts; it almost feels like a personal letter addressed to yourself. The practice brings awareness and intention to my day, checking in with my feelings and reflecting on my experiences. To me, it feels like the highest and most intentional form of self-care.
L'O: In what ways does keeping a journal fuel your creativity? Does it help you capture ideas, process thoughts, or see the world differently?
OY: My journal is my hub for all things creative and inspirational. Whether it&rsquo;s noting down something I saw during the day that inspired me or thoughts I have whilst in the shower, I always like to document every small thing. Often, the act of writing these notes helps me gain a fresh new perspective on ideas and see things in a new way, which can spark a whole creative concept.
L'O: What&rsquo;s the primary purpose of your journal? Do you fill it with things that inspire you, creative thoughts, secrets, or something else entirely?
OY: The main purpose of my journal is to note down my inspirations and thoughts. It serves as an unfiltered space where I can process my day and feelings, as well as organise my creative ideas. I like to note down my favourite songs, movies, and just random things that have interested me recently. Keeping a journal over a long time period also acts as an archive where I can check my previous entries. It is inspiring to see myself grow in different ways over the years.
L'O:&nbsp;If someone read your journal, would they feel like it reflects you, or does it take on a persona all its own?
OY: I tend not to overthink, but I do daydream a lot. I think if someone read my journal, it would be an insight into my deeper mind, almost like a different world inside, where I often romanticise every small detail and experience into a story of its own.

L'O:&nbsp;If your journal could speak, what advice or insight would it give about your creativity?
OY:&nbsp;Keep an open mind, and take note of the little details, even if they seem insignificant. Come back later, and you never know what might inspire you.
L'O:&nbsp;Do you have a favorite page or entry that perfectly captures a moment of creative inspiration?
OY:&nbsp;I noted down a few thoughts when I was younger after watching several movies, movies I grew up watching so candidly. Now looking back at the entries, I can see how these movies have shaped my creativity into what I do today and the type of content I create online.
L'O:&nbsp;With our December/January 2026 theme being &ldquo;Precious,&rdquo; what&rsquo;s one object you hold entirely precious&mdash;a piece of jewelry, clothing, a book, or perhaps an heirloom or gift? What makes it so special to you?
OY: I kept an old Ladur&eacute;e box, a gift my dad brought me on his way back from work. It&rsquo;s such a small, simple item that instantly transports me back to my childhood roots. In an extremely materialistic world, the small paper box reminds me of a much more innocent time and how sometimes the smallest acts of kindness can be the most valuable.

L'OFFICIEL: What does journaling mean to you?
RUBY LYN: I&rsquo;m new to journaling, but it&rsquo;s something I&rsquo;ve surprisingly found so much joy in. Life moves so fast, I often find myself not being able to remember what I did the day before. So, taking the time for yourself, offline, to recount your emotions, thoughts, and accomplishments, big or small, is something I know I&rsquo;ll never regret. I&rsquo;ve always been more of a visual learner, so I treat my journal a little bit like a scrapbook as well. So, there are also tons of keepsakes, photos, and receipts that spark memories when I look through them. My journal gets thrown around quite a bit, so there's lots of wear and tear, but I love every bit of her nonetheless.

<h2 style="text-align: center;">Dominique Defoe</h2>

L'OFFICIEL: What does journaling mean to you?
DOMINIQUE DEFOE: I journal to pin myself in a moment down to paper. It may seem unnecessary, but the most debilitating and gorgeous thing in my life is my unstoppable, continuous stream of consciousness. I love to devour life, but that requires a lot of alone time to process. The whiplash between desiring connection and craving solitude inevitably makes my feelings and opinions at different parts of my life hard to track as I race towards the waves, then away. It is so easy to forget who you are and who you&rsquo;ve been when your inner world is constantly fluctuating, which is why I have to journal to remember and to recenter. Memory can lie to you, but your honest self sitting down and committing yourself to paper is rebellion in a world that is built to make women forget themselves, their dreams, their desires, their pain. I refuse to forget.

Why a Girl’s Journal Might Be Her Most Precious Possession

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