First Impressions: Filofax Original in Stone

After over a year... in fact, 21 months to be exact, I recently took the plunge and bought a new planner! To those not in the planner community, this decision probably doesn't seem that big of a deal, but it really was. I actually felt intense anxiety as I was choosing which planner to buy. I had just put in a ton of work to do a small re-brand of EO Edits. I worked hard at choosing the brand color palette and really nailing down the aesthetic I wanted to achieve and this new planner, which would be in every instagram photo, needed to be the work-horse to carry out this vision that I had for my brand.

First things firs:, Don't get me wrong, there was absolutely nothing wrong with my previous planner - the Filofax Ebony Classic Croc in personal size. In fact, I still absolutely LOVE that planner and I'm so happy it will forever be a part of my collection. Mostly, I just felt that I needed a change and a planner that would better represent the re-branded aesthetic I was going for.

It took a while, but I was eventually able to narrow my choices down to two planners - Filofax's Original in Stone and Filofax's Original Patent in Nude. In the end, the shiny patent just wasn't for me and that's what swayed my decision.

SO! Now, my new planner has arrived and I've spent a few weeks in it and have a good feel for it. Was it the right choice?! Overall, I'll start by saying that I'm really happy with my choice and I really love this planner. Below are a few things that I noticed in my first few weeks transitioning from one planner to the next. Here are my first impressions on the Filofax Original in Stone:

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1. Color

The very first thing I noticed about this planner is that it's definitely more of a pale blue color rather than the stone grey that I was expecting. With everyone's Instagram filters these days, it's hard to know exactly how something will look before seeing it in person. So, if you think it's from the photos online, it's not. In a way, I do wish this was a touch more gray, but I'm not disappointed with the color by any means. It feels very fresh and clean compared to the dark dramatic vibe of the croc.grey

Image from Filofax.com

2. Quality and Feel

The Ebony Classic Croc Personal is over $300 CAD once it's all said and done, which is a lot! Whereas, the Original Personal Stone is closer to $125 CAD. I should have been expecting this, but it surprised me to see the difference in quality between the two planners. The croc is so soft, supple, and just feels great. The original feels a bit stiff by comparison. Maybe just because it's new? It doesn't lay flat and I have to do a bit of trickery in my instagram photos.

Looking closely, the stitching and edge of the original planner are quite telling of the quality. That being said, budget was important and I didn't want to buy another planner that was over $300 so you do get what you pay for!

3. Pockets & Functionality

When choosing a planner this round, I had to take a long, hard look at how my planner currently functions. The reality is that I just don't need as many pockets, zips, and pouches as those in the Ebony Croc. I work from home and my planner rarely leaves the house so it doesn't matter to me that my planner can't hold tons of stickers, notepads, and pens. Chances are, I'm sitting at my desk while I'm planning and have all of my supplies around me. In the front, the original planner has 2 card slots, a band, and large pocket. There's another pocket in the back as well as 2 more slits for cards or notepads. To me and my current planning style, this was just the right amount.

When choosing a planner, I had actually looked at the Classic Stitch Soft Personal planner from Filofax in the grey shade, but in the end opted not to go with it since it was almost as much as the Ebony Croc. However, if you're wanting the same quality and functionality of the croc but love the soft grey or nude colors, this would be a great option.

4. Overall Aesthetic

The overall look of the Original planner in stone gets an A+ in my books. I love how minimal and clean it feels. It gives off such an effortless vibe. I also absolutely love the mix of the grey leather with the beige interior and elastic strap. It's the perfect spring and summer planner.

5. Pen Loop

Has anyone else noticed that the pen loop on the original planners is massive? My pens would fall right through if they didn't have a cap/clip situation. I don't know if I just prefer really small pens or what, but this is kind of a nuisance. Unfortunately, it kind of makes the pen loop unusable for me. Not a big deal, as I mentioned above that my pens are typically stored in my desk, but still a little irritating. When have to plan something quick, my pen isn't there in the loop and I have to go find one.

6. Size

One thing that does really bug me about this planner has to do with what happens when I close it. I'm not positive, but I believe the Croc is just a touch wider than this planner. If I close the planner with a pen in the pen loop, it pushes down on the side tabs and I'm worried that will warp the tabs over time. As it doesn't matter too much to my planning, I've decided not to keep a pen in the loop or else not snap the planner closed. A minor pet peeve, in my opinion, but something that might bother others!

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Well, there we go. As I mentioned, I am really happy with this planner overall. To me and my brand, aesthetics and style is a bigger priority than the true functionality of it, but to you, you might be the opposite. Each planner is unique to the individual that uses it and you may need something that's better for on the go than I do.

I hope you found this post helpful if you're in the market for a new planner and have had your eye on this one in particular. If you did, be sure to share it on all social platforms. If you have had this planner, what are your thoughts on it? What details make the perfect planner for you? Let me know in the comments.

-Emilee