Latest articles from Retro To Go

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• 1960s-style sleeveless check dress at Matalan
• eBay watch: The Queen Mother's 1970s Bedford 18-seater staff bus
• John Lewis Connections-patterned craft accessories
• Celia Birtwell candy flower apron for Hotpoint
• Jonathan Adler Pop Menagerie Christmas Tree Ornaments
• Twin Peaks UK Festival at the Riverside Studios, Hammersmith
• Adidas Munchen trainers are a Size? exclusive reissue in blue
• Vintage UPA cartoon-style portraits by SkribblyKids
• To let: 1930s modernist High Cross House in Dartington, neat Totnes, Devon

1960s-style sleeveless check dress at Matalan Posted: 19 Nov 2010 07:47 AM PST Perhaps not the first place where you would look for retro style, but this 1960s-style sleeveless check dress is avaialble at Matalan right now. Very much in a mid-60s style, it uses a vintage-like check cloth and black contrasting detail for that very 60s collar and pocket detailing. It's new in and most sizes are in stock. Grab one online (and possibly instore) for just £18. Find out more at the Matalan website Via Modculture

eBay watch: The Queen Mother's 1970s Bedford 18-seater staff bus Posted: 19 Nov 2010 07:21 AM PST It's great finding weird and wonderful items on eBay - like this 1970s Bedford 18-seater bus, once owned by the Queen Mother. Yes, according to the listing, this 1971 bus was bought for transporting the Queen Mum's luggage and staff and was finished by the bespoke bus bodybuilders Willowbrook in Leicestershire. In doubt? You'll also get all the original paperwork with it, including sale receipts, a quotation and letters from the Queen Mother's secretary and even a picture of the bus rolling off the production line. So what do you get? Well, a vintage bus, one with a '4.9 petrol engine' with fiver-speed manual box, those 18 seats and a luggage compartment at the rear to accommodate three special clothing trunks (not included in sale). There are also guard's rails, parcel racks, sliding windows and a partition fitted behind the driver. Described as being in 'excellent Original condition', it's probably more of a museum piece than a regular drive, but would be great for doing a vintage 'summer holiday' for you and your mates. Sadly, the cost is likely to put many off - the seller wants £13,000 for it. Find out more at the eBay website

John Lewis Connections-patterned craft accessories Posted: 19 Nov 2010 05:59 AM PST John Lewis has got some great retro prints at the moment, not least the 1950s-influenced Connections pattern. Keen crafters will be pleased to know that they've used the print across a range of craft accessories.  The bold pattern makes a nice change from the chintzy designs that are often used such traditional items such as the sewing basket pictured. The range also includes a sewing case, pin cushion, craft bag and knitting needle roll. In fact, all that's needed to inspire a spot of making over the winter months.  Prices range from £6 up to £35, with the basket pictured costing £20.  Buy them online

Celia Birtwell candy flower apron for Hotpoint Posted: 19 Nov 2010 05:54 AM PST In latest of long line of collaborations for the designer, Celia Birtwell has made a bit of unlikely partnership with Hotpoint to create this candy flower apron. The apron utilizes one of Birtwell's most recognisable floral textile patterns, teaming it up with her Pop Check design for the aprons strings and trim. There's some pretty touches that make it nicer than the average apron, such as the gathered pocket.  The apron costs £35.  Buy it from the Celia Birtwell website

Jonathan Adler Pop Menagerie Christmas Tree Ornaments Posted: 19 Nov 2010 01:54 AM PST   Jonathan Adler's new Pop Menagerie range proves that Christmas tree ornaments don't have to be twee or tinselly. There are three ornaments in the collection; a lion, a peacock and an elephant. Each one is made from white porcelain, decorated with bright bursts of pattern, in the 60s/70s style we have come to expect from Jonathan Adler. They are suggested as an ideal commemorative gift for a baby's first Christmas, and are supplied in a matching gift box, but I don't think you need the excuse of a baby to add something this stylish to your tree. The ornaments cost $28 each (about £20) from the Jonathan Adler website.

Twin Peaks UK Festival at the Riverside Studios, Hammersmith Posted: 19 Nov 2010 01:52 AM PST   Ordinarily, 1990 is not (yet) considered retro, but the series celebrating its 20th birthday is such a landmark that it seems worthy of inclusion here. This year is the 20th anniversary of David Lynch's groundbreaking television show, Twin Peaks and to celebrate this, the Riverside Studios in Hammersmith is hosting the firs Twin Peaks UK Festival on Saturday 27th November. The 12-hour event includes a screening of the film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me, a Lynch-inspired cabaret club, The Double R Club and Julee Cruise performing her Twin Peaks related material, including its theme song, Falling. The event will also feature appearances by some cast members, including the Lady with the Log, a costume competition and plenty of coffee with cherry pie. Tickets cost £50 and are available to buy from the Riverside Studios' website. Full event details can be found on the Twin Peaks UK Festival website.

Adidas Munchen trainers are a Size? exclusive reissue in blue Posted: 19 Nov 2010 01:20 AM PST An exclusive landed in green a couple of weeks back and didn't hang around long, but now there's a Size? exclusive of the Adidas Munchen trainers in blue. It's likely to sell out just as quickly. A classic from 1979, it was first introduced as a training shoe, but didn't take long to make it as a terrace classic. This Size? exclusive has an upper made from a full blue suede and nylon mesh panels featuring serrated three stripe branding and clean white laces. Sizes are already selling through, so be quick - £59.99 gets you a pair. See another shot over the page. Find out more at the Size? website

Vintage UPA cartoon-style portraits by SkribblyKids Posted: 19 Nov 2010 01:10 AM PST It's a portrait of you - but these vintage UPA cartoon-style portraits by SkribblyKids come with their very own retro twist. As the title suggests, it's a personalised portrait on offer - you send over a photo, clothes you want to be wearing, colours etc, the artist will send back a rough drawing, changes are made and the final image is posts off to you. Yes, you and your family (or anyone to be honest) in vintage cartoon glory. The image above is just one example, but more are available to view on the Etsy page. Want one? You're looking at around $100 (around £64). Find out more at the SkribblyKids Etsy website

To let: 1930s modernist High Cross House in Dartington, neat Totnes, Devon Posted: 19 Nov 2010 01:01 AM PST You could be living in one of Britain's most famous modernist houses - if you decide to let High Cross House in Dartington, neat Totnes, Devon, even if it's only for a short time. High Cross House was designed in 1932 by William Lescaze and is located on the Dartington Hall estate in the countryside near Totnes, Devon. It covers 3,000 sq ft, is Grade II listed and has approximately one acre of gardens. It was refurbished by renowned architect John Winter in 1995, but has not been lived in since, so there are some things you'll need to do yourself before moving in - like add a kitchen, would you believe. Original features still abound, including a roof terrace with impressive views, large reception spaces with period detailing and of course, large windows and sharp edges. But the renovation has also made concessions to modern living, so it's certainly no museum you'll be moving into. Although looking at the vintage pictures on the seller's site, there's a remarkable similarity to the interior of the past. In terms of specifics, there are seven rooms on the ground floor, plus two cloakrooms, with the upstairs hosting a further eight rooms and a bathroom. Outside is a roof terrace and gardens. As we mentioned earlier, no kitchen - much of the house is more of a shell right now for you to finish off. So make sure you want to stay a while if you do buy a kitchen. Offers invited in region of £2,500 pcm / £600 pw are invited for Dartington. More images and detail on the seller's site. Find out more at the Modern House website

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