| 1970s Puma Basket trainers reissued in white and black Posted: 04 May 2011 11:16 AM PDT 
Looking for a non-nonsense trainer with pedigree? Check out this latest reissue of the Puma Basket trainers, offered up in white with black detailing.
The trainers have been around since the 1970s, pre-empting the better-known Clyde, but like that shoe, designed initially for the basketball court. Still loved for their old school looks, the Clyde is reissued here with a premium white upper, contrast stripe and a style pretty much faithful to the original.
Limited numbers (as is the case with almost every trainer reissue these days), you can bag a pair for £55.
Find out more at the End Clothing website  |
| Jet Pocket Shirt from Dorothy Perkins Posted: 04 May 2011 10:32 AM PDT 
Much of the fifties reproduction fashion available both in the mainstream and from dedicated retro brands leans heavily on a hyper feminine look. But from the decade that truly brought menswear into womens fashion there's plenty of untapped influences to be explored. This Jet Pocket Shirt from Dorothy Perkins is a great fifties-styled piece that manages to combine a masculine influence with some feminine flair. The use of a bowling/diner style collar and pocket detailing creates an instantly rockabilly mood, with the sleeveless cut and loose fit keeping things just androgynous enough. It's available from Dorothy Perkins for £20. Find out more from the website  |
| Alice Ivory Dress from Monsoon Posted: 04 May 2011 10:15 AM PDT 
Denim is the flavour of the moment for high street designers this summer, feeding well into the resurgence of seventies influence. The versatile fabric isn't limited to jeans and jackets, however, as shown by this decidedly more delicate Alice Dress from Monsoon. The dress starts with a fifties-look swing dress shape, with delicate straps and a full circle skirt creating a light and summery silhouette. The addition of a denim applique design adds some eighties influence into the dress, in fitting with the 1980s love of fifties fashion updates. It's available now from Monsoon for £180. Find out more from the website  |
| Julia Davey VW Vans & Caravans Ceramics Posted: 04 May 2011 09:16 AM PDT 
Julia Davey has produced a small collection VW Vans & Caravans Ceramics, similar in style to her Retro Robot Ceramics we featured in the past.
This collection currently consists of a jug, a mug and a bowl, although other items may be added in the future. The designs start off as pen and ink drawings which are then scanned and transferred onto the ceramics. A particularly nice touch is that as well as the design on the outside, there is a van or caravan on the inside of the piece too. The bowl costs £16, mug £17 and jug £19. Buy them online from Julia Davey's website.  |
| Night Time is the Right Time T-Shirt Posted: 04 May 2011 08:52 AM PDT 
Not quite up there with Yesterday or Hey Joe in the number of covers, but "Night Time is the Right Time" has certainly been covered by plenty of people, including Ray Charles, The Sonics and The Animals.
Now those lyrics have found their way onto this t-shirt by Adam Hayes. Adam is a graduate of the Royal College of Art and is particularly interested in typography as this design shows. The t-shirt is navy and available in small, medium or large, priced £30. Buy it online at Magma.  |
| Jaeger Boutique Ric Rac Print Skirt Posted: 04 May 2011 07:47 AM PDT 
Embrace this summer's seventies trend with this Ric Rac Print Skirt from Jaeger Boutique. Drawing inspiration from the "rick rack" zigzag trimming which became popular during the seventies, Jaeger have updated a homespun aesthetic into something altogether more sophisticated. The colourful design and apron style pockets are given a luxe look as the skirt is 100% silk and finished with a red bow at the back. The Boutique collection features polka dots, breton stripes and colourful prints on a range of retro-inspired designs. View the whole collection and buy the skirt (for £130) here.  |
| Dancing Horses Print from Sideshow Design Posted: 04 May 2011 06:49 AM PDT 
The flamboyant lettering of circus and vaudeville posters accompanies a Wild-West style image in this Dancing Horses Print from Sideshow Design. Inspired by original billboard artwork and screen-printed on to handmade archival cotton paper in a limited edition run of 500, this is a unique piece of art that recalls the magic of Barnum & Bailey and their Greatest Show on Earth. The colour is created from a hand-mixed pigment ink ensuring depth and vibrancy that won't fade over time. The print measures 16 x 20 inches unframed and is available in either blue or stone. It costs £65 from Sideshow Design here.  |
| eBay watch: Fully-restored 1971 Fiat 500 Lux Posted: 04 May 2011 06:45 AM PDT 
To be fair to Fiat, the company has done a superb job with the modern-day reissue of the Fiat 500. But the vintage ones just offer that little but more character, as this fully-restored 1971 Fiat 500 Lux demonstrates well.
This is an impressive, low-mileage model - just 25,000 on the clock over those 40 years, would you believe. It's also a 'fully and thoroughly restored' Fiat 500 with 'all works carried out by a UK Fiat authorised dealership'. That means all mechanics, electrics and bodywork, with the car ready to go as a regular ride or for shows.
Sold with the original handbook and Italian logbook (yes, it's a left-hand drive), the current price is £1,020. Many more images on the website.
Find out more at the eBay website  |
| Chic on a Shoestring: Simple to Sew vintage-style accessories book by Mary Jane Baxter Posted: 04 May 2011 05:53 AM PDT 
If you have an urge to get crafty, you might want to check out Chic on a Shoestring: Simple to Sew vintage-style accessories book by Mary Jane Baxter.
Mary Jane Baxter is a hat maker, crafter and journalist, with all those of those skills no doubt coming into play here as the author shows how to convert vintage and throwaway items into something 'stylishly vintage'. A tie into a purse, knitting needle holder, cute corsage and a belt, silk scarves as a top or skirt or t-shirts as 40s-style turbans for example. There's also advice on how to find 'treasures' at markets, charity shops and vintage stores.
The 160-page book is published by Kyle Cathie, available online for £9.49.
Find out more about the book at the Amazon website  |
| Postcard Records tote bag by Edwyn Collins Posted: 04 May 2011 05:27 AM PDT 
As a record label, Postcard Records was and is both influential and cool. So this Postcard Records tote bag by Edwyn Collins is certain to be popular amongst fans of jangle indie pop.
The label was founded in Glasgow in 1979, as a vehicle for Orange Juice and Josef K releases, sub-titled 'The Sound of Young Scotland'. It's widely credited as the key influence for modern-day indie pop.
The tote bag features the 'drumming cat' logo from the original record label, with the image signed by illustrator, Orange Juice man (and musical legend in his own right) Edwyn Collins. Grab one directly from his online store, it's just £8.
Find out more at the Edwyn Collins website *apologies for quality of image.  |
| Marhult decoration stickers from Ikea Posted: 04 May 2011 03:50 AM PDT  After the Keith Haring stickers we featured last month, Ikea have offered up some more designs: the Marhult decoration stickers.
The designer of these designs is unknown but the stickers show food stuffs such as ice-cream, cherries and pineapple, all depicted in a bright retro palette and a suitably Scandinavian flavour. These stickers are suitable for using on tiles so - if they're to your taste - they're perfect for brightening up a kitchen. The stickers cost £5.99. Available in-store only, find your nearest stockist online  |
| Cardboard rocket from Rose & Grey Posted: 04 May 2011 03:38 AM PDT 
This isn't the first cardboard rocket we've featured, but we figure no kid, or household, should be without their own retro rocket. This design is available from Rose & Grey.
This particular rocket is a flat pack number, made from recycled cardboard. Once assembled the rocket is about a metre high with plenty of space for crawling around inside. It comes in a suitably space age white - though that leaves plenty of scope for your kids own decoration. The rocket costs £39.50 Buy it online  |
