Five Favourite Things with Freelance Journalist Issy Carr

In this series we ask a creative from various fields to choose five of their favourite things. These are items that could have inspired their work or given meaning to their life in some way; objects that represent a moment in time, or that forms part of journey leading to where they are now. I think it’s wonderful to, especially in these times, be able to dip into what certain things mean to people. The objects we cherish often carry energy such as love, joy and hope, and can evoke memories as well as those emotions when we think of them. The idea is to tell short stories through objects, and that with just five items you can take part in someone else journey and get to know them a little.

Next up is Issy Carr, a freelance creative who divides her time between Edinburgh and London. In September, she will go into the final year of her English Literature and History of Art Masters at Edinburgh University, whilst continuing to freelance on the side. Her creative disciplines include journalism, contributing to magazines such as Wonderland, Rollacoaster, Harper’s Bazaar and Town & Country, as well as editorial production and fiction writing. Her goal after leaving University, and a few years down the line, is to open her own creative agency in London. But for now, she is off to Tuscany for the summer, to help run the artist residency programme at Villa Lena.

Follow her at @issycarr_

The Accessory

For my eighteenth birthday, my godparents gave me a jade heart-shaped keyring, engraved in gold with my initials. Attached to the keying, was a key to their house in South London and the invitation that I could stay with them whenever I wanted. Living in the countryside at the time, it symbolised freedom and enabled me to start working during my long summers off from University. The accessory would later be attached to the keys to my eccentric first flat in Edinburgh, a gorgeous top-floor apartment with high ceilings a yellow roll top bath.  At the moment, there is nothing on the keyring and I look to it as representing an openness for the future. The next time I attach a pair of keys to it will be a new chapter in my life, likely the new flat I move into in Edinburgh in September. So for that, it represents opportunity, identity and freedom. 

Wearing the dream dress from Haney

The Evening Gown    

I am of the mindset that there are certain items of clothing worth investing money into. These include a good winter coat, a crossbody handbag and an evening gown - all of which will be used again and again. Queue, my very stylish Mother who found me the dream dress from Haney on a Net-a-Porter sale. It is an asymmetric lace-panelled silk midi dress in a gorgeous cranberry shade and is perfect. For someone who is very petite, an evening dress is hard to find. Since lockdown, I have been so nostalgic for nights out and parties, so a glimpse at this dress every now and then takes me back! Its first outing was a sensational summer party in Worcestershire, where the theme was saucy and it was the end of the summer so everyone really went all out. It has since been worn to numerous parties and balls, but none more special than a birthday at my one of my closest friend’s home in Inverness. It was January, the hills were dappled with ivory snow, yet we still swam in Loch Ness and danced each night away to Luther Vandross and Diana Ross. It’s important to add that I’ve never worn the dress with anything other than cowboy boots, no underwear, just a kickin’ Western heel. 

The Coat

Living in Edinburgh, it is essential to have a warm coat to beat the unpredictable weather. Unfortunately, most of the time it means the only sensible outfit is an oversized parka, jeans, layers and boots. But this uniform gets boring after a while, so I realised I needed to invest in something bright and warm to brighten up my week. I’ve always been a huge fan of the British brand Shrimps and have adored Hannah Weiland’s clever designs since she first started the company. I think her modern take on the faux fur was innovative and unique, particularly those early pieces. As a student, I could never quite justify buying one brand new so I decided to sit it out and hope to find a vintage one. Sure enough, after setting many alerts on Ebay my favourite design came on the market and at a very reasonable price. The perfect forest green knee-length coat, with salmon-pink trimmed sleeves and a glorious peter pan collar. It fits like a glove, worn with everything from vintage Levi jeans to evening attire, it has been an essential addition to my wardrobe. I was so impressed with the quality of it, that earlier this year I also invested in a boxy ivory cropped Shrimps coat with cherubs on the elbows. It always feels great to be wearing something British and it is true that nothing quite beats feeling a little bit glamorous from time to time. 

Anupa Gardner’s print The Keen Botanist

Issy in her Shrimp’s coat

The Artwork

Art has always played a huge role in my life and I think this stems from my Mother taking me to exhibitions from an early age when we lived in London. I curated my first art exhibition at the Dundas Street Gallery last year and have since been collecting works. I bought my first artwork last year from a gallery in Edinburgh, by the printmaker Anupa Gardner and it was love at first sight. Luca Guadanigno’s film Call Me by Your Name is one of my all time favourite films. I love the setting of an Italian summer, also the dichotomy between classical academia and eighties pop. Gardner’s print ‘The Keen Botanist’ really reminded me of both European summers and Guadanigno’s movie. A denuded handsome male arranges a hanging plant, he reaches up gently to it and puts one knee on a patterned sofa. It swims in beautiful shades of mediterranean ocean blue and deep purple, really encapsulating the essence of summer. The print is escapist and I have always found it transports me abroad, particularly during the long, bitter Scottish winters. 

Roberts Radio

Buena Vista Social Club Album

The Object

      Music was always very important to my childhood. Memorably it was soundtracked by artists like Amy Winehouse, Cafe del Mar, Buena Vista Social Club, Jungle and Florence and the Machine. I have fond memories of holidays in Europe listening to music on a terrace at sundown, going to concerts at Alexandra Palace and fantastically fun festivals during glorious English summers. We would always have the radio on at home and specifically Roberts radios - they have always been central to my musical education. I bought myself a cherry red one before I moved to Edinburgh, so to take a piece of my childhood with me. I adore the classical model, the quality and have always felt it brought a bit of memory and sophistication to wherever I was.