Friday, January 7, 2011

Latest articles from Retro To Go

Latest articles from Retro To Go


1950s-inspired Fred Perry Laurel Wreath Collection by Richard Nicoll

Posted: 07 Jan 2011 12:16 PM PST

Fp1

Ken Russell's iconic images of 1950s Teddy Girls provide the inspiration for the new Fred Perry Laurel Wreath Collection by Richard Nicoll.

It's the first collection by Nicoll for Fred Perry, which promises 'Edwardian dandiness' and vintage reference points like pointelle cardigans and mother of pearl brooches, as well as period colours to create something modern, but with a distinctly 1950s twist.

You can find out for yourself if it works from Monday 10th January, which is when the collection goes on sale online and instore. Or you can check the images above and over the page. Prices, as you can imagine, vary.

Fred Perry website

All images (c) Paul Wetherell

Fp2

Fp3

eBay watch: 1970s Borje Johanson-designed Venus chair

Posted: 07 Jan 2011 11:51 AM PST

Venus

A lesser-known but very stylish design classic has landed on eBay - this Borje Johanson-designed Venus chair.

The work of Scandinavian designer Borje Johanson, it has a chrome-plated, tulip-style swivel-base, with black leather upholstery and by all accounts is in pretty decent condition.

The seller claims it is in 'very good above-average condition', with 'marginal signs of age, fine and slight scratches on the chrome-plated base, but nothing major'. So a decent example and despite some interest, still only at the £21 mark.

Find out more at the eBay website

Hanon gets exclusive reissue of Le Coq Sportif Arthur Ashe trainers

Posted: 07 Jan 2011 08:59 AM PST

Ashe1

An interesting collaboration using a minor classic of days gone by - the Le Coq Sportif x Hanon Arthur Ashe trainers.

As you might have guessed, this is a Hanon retail exclusive, with the shoe a remake of the original tennis shoe of the 1970s and 80s, designed (as you might also have guessed) for the US tennis icon Arthur Ashe. It's a no-nonsense trainer with perforated detail for breathing, a soft lining for comfort and premium upper for 'extra resistance'. It also features the original Le Coq Sportif 'practice' logo on the heel and the Arthur Ashe signature on the side.

These should be available this month on the Hanon site, as yet no price details have been announced. Another shot of the shoes from a different angle over the page.

Hanon website

Via His Knibs

Ashe2

Belle Interiors Snail Chaise

Posted: 07 Jan 2011 08:26 AM PST

M_LWC002_1266227891_23 
Amongst French furniture specialist, Belle Interiors' selection of traditional chaise longues, I spotted this more unusual design, the Snail Chaise.

The curved foot and back suggest the spiral shape of a snail's shell, with this brown finish to the wood particularly drawing attention to the effect. The chaise is available in a choice of wood finishes, including metallic and gloss shades, and the seat can be upholstered in your own fabric at no extra cost.

The Snail Chaise is available to buy from Belle Interiors, priced £995.

Meyer Prestige Dome Kettle

Posted: 07 Jan 2011 08:13 AM PST

365903_l 
If you liked the Meyer Prestige Toasters mentioned earlier in the week, then the matching kettle might also be of interest.

The Meyer Prestige Dome Kettle ha s a traditional stove-top kettle shape, but is a modern electric kettle with all the features that usual entails. The exterior is decorated with a monochrome check, which is described as art deco, but looks more 60s op art to me.

The kettle costs £54.99 from Leekes.

In With The In Crowd 1960s-style dresses

Posted: 07 Jan 2011 07:48 AM PST

Crowd1

We featured these over at our Modculture site yesterday, but we suspect there will also be an interest in the In With The In Crowd dresses and clothing line over here too.

In With The In Crowd's Melissa recently started designing and making her own dresses and jackets because she couldn't find anything suitable for herself, with all items produced 'to a high quality', fully lined and with 60s-style detailing (like covered buttons for example).

Prices start at £32.99, although Melissa has sent across a discount code too - if you enter the code RetroToGo at the checkout, you'll get another 15 per cent off. See more designs over the page or check out the site for even more.

In With The In Crowd website

Crowd2

PlayPlax reissued by Portobello Games

Posted: 07 Jan 2011 06:51 AM PST

PlaypaxAnother reissue of a '60s design - this time a classic game as Portobello Games is now selling PlayPlax.

Though you might not remember it by name, the game is visually striking and is made up of 48 brightly coloured square that interlock to create vast structures. That's as complex as it gets really - perhaps reflecting a simpler time for children's entertainment! 

It was invented by Patrick Rylands in 1966 but the rights have just been bought by Portobello Games. They're making it in the same factory that was used to produce the game back then and using the same dye recipes to reproduce the original colours of the toy so the authentic feel of the classic game should still be there. 

The game is available for £15.99. 

Buy it online

via India Knight

Sanna Annukka Aurinko tea light holders

Posted: 07 Jan 2011 06:43 AM PST

Aurinko_tealight
Regular readers will know that we're big fans of the work of Sanna Annukka and her take on traditional Scandinavian art done with more than a hint of the 1970s. In the style of her soul birds that we showed you a little while back, she's now applied her trademark type of pattern to these Aurinko tea light holders

Made from solid oak, the tea-light holders measure around 20cm high. Each has been screen-printed with a different folk art style pattern meaning no two designs are the same. The use of the black pattern against the oak gives a contemporary feel to the objects and they are interesting pieces in their own right, whether or not you choose to add the tea lights. 

These holders have been made in an edition of only 100 pairs so, if you like them, you should probably invest now. 

They cost £89 for a pair. 

Buy them online

Adidas Adicolor Airline Bag in blue

Posted: 07 Jan 2011 06:30 AM PST

Adi

Like the colour blue? Well, you're in luck because that's the latest colour reissue of the classic Adidas Adicolor Airline Bag.

Aside from that, this is the same familiar, travel-friendly bag, with that classic blue contrasted with a white logo and trim, offering a large storage area, outer pocket and adjustable shoulder strap.

End Clothing has it, priced at £39.

Find out more at the End Clothing website

Kare Design Sputnik Hanging Lamp discounted at Achica

Posted: 07 Jan 2011 06:18 AM PST

Sputnik

We have mentioned Achica a few times - it's an online 'club' that does short-term clearance sales of interesting brands. Indeed, they've got a clearance of Design House Stockholm right now, which is well worth a look. But we've picked out something from elsewhere on the site - this Kare Design Sputnik Hanging Lamp.

It's a stunning, 1960s-inspired centrepiece for a room, made of chrome-plated metal with 20x 20 watt bulbs providing the light in the room. Bulbs, you'll not be suprised to hear, are not included.

The entire structure is about 54cm high and around 53cm wide and usually sells for £249. But for the next day or so, you can get one from Achica for £149. So if you fancy a Sputnik, don't hang about. Note that you do have to register at Achica to enter the site, but it only takes seconds and is free.

Find out more at the Achica website

Miss Ann Darrow dress by Able Grable

Posted: 07 Jan 2011 05:00 AM PST

Able

The party season may be well and truly over for now but the Miss Ann Darrow dress from Able Grable will give you picture perfect 1930s chic at any occasion.

Inspired by the character played by silver screen icon Fay Wray in the original King Kong, this elegant silk & satin cocktail dress is as glamourous as it's namesake. The oversized bow accent and flattering puff sleeves wouldn't look out of place on any red carpet in the heyday of Hollywood.

The Miss Ann Darrow dress is £119.99 and is made to order for a flawless fit. Available in 14 different colours ('Kingfisher' pictured).

Find out more from the website.

Lady Gaga re-invents the Polaroid camera with the Polaroid GL30

Posted: 07 Jan 2011 03:54 AM PST

Pol1

Some of you might know that Lady Gaga is the Creative Director at Polaroid and as such, is in charge of producing products that will grab the world's attention. At the current CES gadget circus, she's just turned up to show off a printer, some bizarre camera glasses and this - the Polaroid GL30.

All the products are under the Grey Label (by Haus of Gaga) banner, but we're not sure when these are going into production, although 'later this year' has been floated as an approximate date for the GL30. It's a modern-day interpretation of the Polaroid camera, keeping a retro look (in this case looking like something out of a 60s sci-fi movie) and still printing out images on-demand, this time with the latest Zink printing system. Only this time, there's a flip-out screen and options to customise your images (filters, borders etc) before you print them out.

See another shot of the camera over the page. It's a head-turner no doubt, even if it's a lot bulkier than the camera on your mobile phone. As soon as we hear news on price and availability, you'll be the first to know. See the Polaroid site for the promo film of the launch too.

Find out more Polaroid website

Pol2

Images via Pocket Lint

Don't Be So Quick to Overlook the Maserati Grecale Folgore

If the GranTurismo Folgore is a guide, this Grecale Folgore could be surprisingly competitive. The EV GT was one of the year's best surp...