Retro To Go

Royal Mail to introduce classic British album cover stamps

2009-11-06T22:43:15+00:00

Stamps are about to get cool when the Royal Mail introduces its classic British album cover stamp range.

Set for launch in early 2010, it's a set of 10 first class stamps designed by Studio Dempsey, covering albums from the 60s to the present day - The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, Mike Oldfield, The Clash, New Order, Blur, Primal Scream, Pink Floyd and Coldplay. So something for everyone - even fans of dull, middle of the road, modern-day rock.

How did they decide on these? Apparently by asking music journos and graphic designers. Why they missed The Beatles and opted for Coldplay (or why they pted for Division Bell ahead of at least five other classic Floyd sleeves) isn't clear, but if you can deal with those oversights, you can pick up a set from January 7th 2010.

Royal Mail website

Via Creative Review

Gense 1950s Shakers by Pierre Forssell

2009-11-06T21:30:21+00:00

A design classic that doesn't cost a fortune - the Gense Shakers by Pierre Forssell.

In fact, it's three design classics - sugar, salt and pepper shakers all dating back to 1955 with that eye-catching conical design that's made from stainless steel and black plastic for the base.

As we said, this is affordable classic design, with the three-piece set available online for £43.39.

Find out more at the Scandinavian Design Center website

Lacoste 30th anniversary 101 sunglasses

2009-11-06T21:17:53+00:00

30 years ago, in what Lacoste refers to as 'the golden age of tennis', the label expanded its range from clothing into eyewear, offering up the Lacoste 101 sunglasses. Now they're back in 30th anniversary limited edition form.

Although little else has changed. These are still the classic aviator-style shades, with a sporty look and made of premium materials. Perfect for that winter sun, or indeed summer if you put them away.

The reissue is limited to 1,000 pairs, each one numbered for authenticity. Colette has the first batch, available for £223.82.

Find out more at the Colette website

Photographing Fashion: British Style in the Sixties by Richard Lester

2009-11-06T20:54:40+00:00

If you've any interesting in 60s style, you'll want to get your hands on Photographing Fashion: British Style in the Sixties by Richard Lester.

Published this week in hardback by ACC Editions, the book features 'newly discovered' images of British fashion taken by world famous photographers for The Sunday Times during the 1960s, using the top models of the day. Indeed, these photos are published for the first time since their original appearance in editor Ernestine Carter's fashion pages.

Photographers include John Cowan, Terence Donovan, John French and Patrick Hunt, fashion designers include Mary Quant, John Bates, Gina Fratini, Foale & Tuffin, Biba, Jean Muir, and Ossie Clark. What's not to love? See one of the shots over the page and if you like what you see, this 160-page book is available at Amazon for £23.10.

Find out more at the Amazon website

Baracuta opens pop up shop in Covent Garden

2009-11-06T20:29:10+00:00

Looking for a cheap Harrington? Get yourself down to Covent Garden for the newly-arrived Baracuta pop up shop.

Available for the next three months, you'll find it at 9 Shorts Gardens, London, WC2H 9AT, where you should be able to pick up plenty of classic Harringtons at half price along with the new A/W stock.

Not sure about the opening hours, give them a call on 020 7836 2636.

Baracuta website

Via Modculture

Vintage Teapot cushion from Winter's Moon

2009-11-06T19:28:05+00:00

This sweet Vintage Teapot cushion is part of an eclectic range of vintage, recycled and handmade items on offer online from Winter's Moon.

The cushion features a vintage fabric with a really clean graphic design and great colours that would work really well in a kid's bedroom or one of those lovely big kitchens that have enough room to fit a sofa in.

Priced at £28, you can buy the cushion and see the rest of the range which includes furniture and ceramics here.

Elephant Coat Rack at Shakshuka

2009-11-06T19:24:22+00:00

This Elephant Coat rack from Shakshuka is entirely practical and very cute too. With three hooks ready and waiting to take a hat, coat and bag it would be a very useful addition to a hallway. The simple design would stand the test of time too, although your youngster may well grow out of it unfortunately.

It is made from sustainable wood in India and is also available in pale blue. Priced at 38.95 Euros you can buy them from Shakshuka.

Whitbread Wilkinson launches the Eames Satchel Bag

2009-11-06T14:21:54+00:00

Whitbread Wilkinson (aka W2) has a new range of products on the market featuring classic textile designs of Ray Eames, including this rather smart Eames Satchel Bag.

Two Eames designs for one here - the inside features the 'dot pattern' fabric, while the outside (as you can see) has the Eames Starburst logo, combining to offer something smart, stylish ad above all, useful.

The bag itself is made from a fine weave canvas with cotton interior lining, an interior zip and an outer coating for water resistance. It's also big enough for a small laptop or an A4 folder. Take your pick from various colours, all selling for £49.

Find out more at the Whitbread Wilkinson website

Floral Prom Dress from 125 Years at Marks and Spencer

2009-11-06T14:10:37+00:00

Since its launch in May of this year, Marks and Spencer's retrospective 125 Years range has brought us some of the best styles from their huge archive of womens fashion. The looks keep on coming with their latest collection for Christmas, from forties to eighties styles.

This Floral Prom Dress by Per Una is a fifties look with just the right balance between luxurious and demure. The circle skirted dress has an instantly 50s silhouette, complimented by a floral design and high waist belt detailing. A satin finish gives it some modernity without losing the vintage inspiration.

Get it now from Marks and Spencer for £75.

Find out more from the website

Ben de Lisi's 1950s-influenced homeware range for Debenhams

2009-11-06T13:52:00+00:00

Following on from the Jamie Oliver doormat earlier in the week, here's another range of slightly unexpected products: dress designer's Ben de Lisi's homeware range for Debenhams. The whole range is apparently influenced by his love of the 1950s modern movement, resulted in products like the mug pictured above, the 'Blocks mug'. He's also used the same bright colours and pattern on canvas prints.

There's more tableware available too. Shard is another mug, this time decorated with grey and red slants of colour, while the Chatter collection is a white crockery range, each item trimmed or covered with a colourful brick-like pattern.

The whole range is definitely worth a browse, with prices starting at £5 for the mug.

Buy it online

Leigh cabinet collection by & then design

2009-11-06T13:45:19+00:00

There's something reassuringly traditional, but at the same time, very distinctive, about the Leigh cabinet collection by & then design.

It's modern-day midcentury if you like, those angle legs and oak construction offering something of a 1950s twist, while the splashes of colour throw in a more up-to-date feel.

Check out the other cabinet in the range over the page, not forgetting the sideboard, which you can check out at the designer's site. Price? From around £750.

& then design website

Via Switched On Set

Paint-Your-Own flying ducks

2009-11-06T13:45:00+00:00

Flying ducks are forever associated with Hilda Ogden's sitting room on Coronation Street and many other hallways across Britain in the sixties and seventies. Here's a chance to update a classic, with Paint-Your-Own flying ducks.

Yes, it's three plain ducks with mini paint pots so you can interpret the ducks as you choose. Given the colours of paint available it looks like the finished result isn't going to be too naturalistic.

A bit of silly fun, you can buy the set from Urban Outfitters, a shop that seems to specialise in silly fun gifts, for £20.

Buy them online

Driade Pavo Lounge Chair

2009-11-06T10:14:00+00:00

The Driade Pavo Lounge Chair looks just like the wicker chair my mother owned in the 1970s, but this is actually a more recent design.

The other difference is that whereas my mother’s chair was made solely from woven wicker, this chair has been made with the all together more sturdy steel, then covered with wicker. The chair is finished off with a leather-covered cushion.

The chair costs just of £1400 from Nest, which I presume is considerably more than my mother paid for her version.

Unity Peg Text Transfers

2009-11-06T10:11:00+00:00

Unity Peg has designed a range of Text Transfers to liven up your blank wall space. The collection consists of a choice of 19 different phrases, each one being the name of an album.

They have chosen titles that are “groovy, curious or fun” so the words that adorn your walls will be interesting. Most of the titles come from albums from the Sixties and Seventies, although they are not always the most obvious ones. Highway 61, Hunky Dory and London Calling sit alongside the Brian Eno title “Taking Mountain Tiger by Strategy” Fairport Convention’s “Unhalfbricking” and the jazz opera “Escalator over the Hill”. The letters measure 8cm high with the length of the transfer obviously varying depending on the length of the album title.

Available in a choice of black or fluorescent red, all designs cost £32 and can be bought from Unity Peg.

Advent Calendar from the V&A

2009-11-05T18:34:16+00:00

I know Bonfire night is still echoing in our ears and we are onto Christmas already, but advent calendars are needed in place by the 1st December any later just isn't good enough!

This lovely calendar from the V&A has a great classic feel to it and not a nasty cheap chocolate in sight. The design was adapted from a game found in a Russian book in the V&A collection, which explains the lovely font and illustration. The calendar is printed in the UK on FSC paper stock with vegetable based inks so ticks the environmental box too.

Priced at £6.50 buy yours here.