Monday, February 14, 2011

Latest articles from Retro To Go

Latest articles from Retro To Go


For sale: 1960s six-bedroomed modernist house in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, near Paris, France

Posted: 14 Feb 2011 01:11 PM PST

Paris1
Our search for a super-cool property has taken us to the outer suburbs of Paris, specifically to this 1960s modernist house in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, near Paris.

No mention of the architect, but we suspect this was cutting edge design for someone affluent and forward-thinking back in 1969. Indeed, fast forward 42 years and it's still cutting edge. A testament to someone's vision 'back in the day'.

Paris2

For your money, you get a lot. For a start, you get a large expanse of house over two floors, , not to mention surrounding land, a location near the Marne river and a large heated swimming pool. There's also plenty of internal accommodation too, with four bedrooms, two shower rooms, one kitchen and a double height living room (with a huge fireplace and large windows) downstairs, while upstairs there's two study rooms, two more bedrooms and a bathroom made of concrete. All rooms have access to the terraces too. Nice. Oh yes, there's a huge roof terrace as well.

Ok, it's not cheap at the equivalent of £1,488,000, but compare something like this to a property of this style just outside London (if you can find one). On that basis, it's not badly priced. For the rest of us…well, we can dream.

Find out more at the Your Choice Property website

eBay watch: 1970s Crayonne for Habitat space age ice bucket

Posted: 14 Feb 2011 12:29 PM PST

Cray

Here's tip for you, add the word 'Crayonne' to your list of favoured eBay searches. Why? Well, in Habitat's formative years, Crayonne designs were sold in the stores, offering an affordable twist on period space age design. We featured one example last week and this Crayonne for Habitat space age ice bucket is another.

Examples of this design are currently being offered for £20+ on 'buy it now' deals, but this one is much more affordable at the price as I write. For your money, you get a simple and stylish ice bucket, complete with lid, liner and original 'Crayonne made in England' sticker on base plus embossed logo.

£7.99 right now, but keep an eye on the brand for other items in a similar style.

Find out more at the eBay website

Sailor Swing Dress by Stop Staring!

Posted: 14 Feb 2011 11:05 AM PST

Stopstaringnavy

Military influences have carried throughout fashion eras, with each putting its own stamp on the inspiration. Few did it quite so well as the naval-inspired looks of the forties and fifties, however, taking nautical uniform firmly into women's fashion.

This Sailor Swing Dress by Stop Staring! is a pitch perfect interpretation of that look, with a simplistic but effective piece. The contrasting white trim creates real impact at the collar and waist, while the swing style skirt balances the silhouette to create that classic body shape.

It's available online from Stop Staring! for $138.

Find out more from the website

Chiffon Pleat Dress by TFNC

Posted: 14 Feb 2011 11:00 AM PST

Chiffonpleat

With girly sixties styles, it's all about the balance of elements to prevent any piece looking over the top or clichéd. This Peter Pan Collar Dress by TFNC is a great example of a great use of feminine design points to create a chic retro look.

The mini dress shape balances a daringly short hemline with a high collar and long sleeves, while the loose a-line fit provides a chic sixties silhouette. Details like the peter pan notched collar are instantly vintage inspired, while the chiffon pleats add a cool sixties feel that's not often seen from high street designers.

It's available now from ASOS for £42.

Find out more from the website

View Quest Retro 1 radio - retro-styled DAB radio with iPod dock

Posted: 14 Feb 2011 08:55 AM PST

Retroradio

The old meets the new with the View Quest Retro 1 radio, which offers digital radio and a place to park your iPod or iPhone.

It's designed to look like a vintage radio, complete with leather casing and the all-important carrying handle. On looks alone, it's a winner. But it also has the modern-day functionality, with DAB/FM radio, 10 presets, an auto-scan function for finding stations plus the dock for playing your iPod/iPhone tunes through the 2x 2 watt speakers. A back-lit LCD screen finishes things off.

Just the red available right now, with other colours to follow. £99.99 is the price. See another image over the page.

Find out more at the Play.com website

Retroradio2

Baracuta 1950s-style G35 Dean Windcheater

Posted: 14 Feb 2011 08:40 AM PST

Dean

It's a classic 50s-style jacket, but there's one bit of detailing might make this Baracuta G35 Dean Windcheater a love/hate thing.

The jacket is undeniably classic though, a jacket with a 1950s influence and heritage (think James Dean in 'Rebel Without A Cause'). It's made of cotton canvas, unlined and with a two-way zip, button cuffs and semi-elasticated waist.

But it's all slightly ruined by the use of the modern-era Baracuta logo, something that certainly wasn't around 'back in the day'. Shame about that, but if you can deal with it, £99 gets you one.

Find out more at the Baracuta website

Via His Knibs

Ceramic Door Numbers from Pussy Home Boutique

Posted: 14 Feb 2011 05:57 AM PST

P_old-style-numbers-all
At a touch of the old time fairground to your front door with these vintage style Ceramic Door Numbers from Pussy Home Boutique. The glazed ceramic numbers are hand painted in a Victorian circus-style font and finished in gloss.

A subtle retro statement for the outside of your home that's unique, weatherproof and purse-friendly at only £1.99 per tile.

Available from Pussy Home Boutique. Visit their website for more details.

ISAK Harvest Wallpaper

Posted: 14 Feb 2011 05:28 AM PST

Harvest wallpaper
This Harvest Wallpaper is another great design courtesy of ISAK.

With its depiction of fish, onions, peas and herbs, this design references Marianne Westman's classic 1956 Picknick design (which was reissued last year). The same basic ingredients have been given an update with ISAK's distinctive Scandinavian 70s style and have been made available for your wall, not just your dining table. Like all of ISAK's wallpapers, you send them the width and height of the area you want covering and they custom make the rolls for your wall. 

The paper costs £38 per square metre. 

Order it online

Anfibio Sofa Bed

Posted: 14 Feb 2011 05:23 AM PST

20-12 
The Anfibio Sofa Bed is something of a cult classic, first being produced in the early Seventies and selling more than 31,000 since.

When it was first produced it was upholstered in tartan, denim or leather, fashionable fabrics at the time. Of those, only leather remains an option today, along with a plain fabric, but it still retains its Seventies look thanks to its slouchy laid-back appearance. Unlike a lot of sofa beds, this actually looks comfortable enough to be your regular sofa too - which is a good thing given the hefty price tag.

It costs just over£3,000 in fabric or an extra £1,200 for leather. Buy it online at StyleStore.

Red Perspex Lips Clutch by Lulu Guinness

Posted: 14 Feb 2011 03:00 AM PST

Lips
Just in case you hadn't noticed the shops bombarding you with tacky cards and heart-shaped ephemera recently, it's Valentine's Day today. Before you reach in a blind panic for the same old flowers and bubbly, why not really treat the retro devotee in your life with the Red Perspex Lips Clutch by handbag designer extraordinaire Lulu Guinness.

In 2011, Lulu celebrates her 22nd year as one of the UK's best handbag designers and this piece really captures the spirit of what she's about. Inspired by Salvador Dali's iconic Mae West Lips sofa from 1937, the clutch is a show-stopping scarlet perspex lined with black grosgrain. If you order online before midnight on Valentine's Day and enter the code LOVELULU01, you will receive a free 'Glamour Girl' bracelet. Virtually guaranteed to please your favourite lady more than a teddy and a box of chocolates.

The clutch is £225 and is available from the Lulu Guinness website.

Nina Campbell's Heart Bathroom Accessories

Posted: 14 Feb 2011 02:42 AM PST

Website_cotton_wool_jar 
 
Today being St Valentine's Day, it seemed fitting to feature Nina Campbell's Heart Bathroom Accessories.

But we aren't normally given to such romantic sentiments without good reason - more than just featuring shabby chic cute hearts, it is a pattern that dates back to the 1970s, being one of the first designs created by Nina Campbell. The print, in either blue or print, is currently available on a range of bathroom accessories, including soap dispenser, toothbrush holder, soap dish and cotton wool jar.

Prices range from £6.99 to £17.99. View the whole collection on the Nina Campbell website.

Old England watches relaunches

Posted: 14 Feb 2011 02:39 AM PST

OE116LR_1

Old England watches were originally launched by Accurist in 1967 and were seen on the wrists of some of the most famous stars of the period, ranging from Twiggy to Princess Anne. They even produced a special watch for The Beatles' Apple boutique. The brand is being relaunched this week with a new concession at Selfridges. 

The new unisex watches take their stylistic cue from the originals designed by Richard Loftus. They've produced three lines: 'Be Brave', watches coloured with bright yellows and pinks; 'Classic Roman', monochrome designs featuring Roman numerals, and 'New Union'. Like the watch pictured above, these are Pop-style watches which, as the name might suggest, all use the Union Jack. 

As well as the wrist watches pictured, selected designs are also available as pocket watches and pendants. 

Prices start at £90. 

Find out more online

via Alex Loves

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...