George Nelson Coconut Chair

We do love the designs of George Nelson here at Retro To Go, but we've focused in the past on his clocks. Well, it's about time we shifted our eye elsewhere, starting with the George Nelson Coconut Chair.

Another of the man's designs that defies its age - this originally appeared in 1955, taking its name quite obviously from the look - the designer himself compared it to a segment of coconut, albeit with a reversal of colour.

The chair itself, now reissued by Vitra, comprises of a white fibreglass-reinforced plastic outer shell, with black upholstery sat on a chromed tubular steel base. And prices vary according to your choice of upholstery, starting at £517.50, rising to £3208.50 at Nest.

Find out more at the Nest website

Recycled London Transport cloth shopper

Looking for something eco-friendly with a bit of heritage? You need this recycled London Transport cloth shopper from Rennies Seaside Modern.

Yes, as you can probably tell, the bag, which is sized at 14 inches x 11 inches, is made of vintage (but unused) District Line moquette, along with a leather shoulder strap for carrying.

And it's been made in very small numbers - so if you get one, chances are that no-one else you know will have one. The bag retails for £65.

Find out more from the Rennies Seaside Modern website

And thanks to Kavel for the tip off!

Mid Century Chairs tea towel

Everyone needs a tea towel - and if you're in the market for a new one, how about something a little quirky like this Mid Century Chairs tea towel.

Pretty much as the name says - this is a superb reference to a range of mid century seating, or even  party game of 'name that chair'! The tea towel has a black print on a white 100 per cent cotton towel and of course, is machine washable.

And while many of these chairs might be out of your budget, this 78cm x 50cm tea towel shouldn't be - available now for £9.

Find out more at the Grace and Go website

Laura Ashley retro Darwin chair

I still associate Laura Ashley with that 'grandma' look, but if you dig enough, they do have the odd item worthy of consideration, the latest of which is this Laura Ashley retro Darwin chair.

It's a really attractive chair, ideal if you're going for a 50s vibe, with its curved wooden arms and retro-styled upholstery. It looks like a dream to sink into too.

It's due in stores next month, although you can order online now, with a lead time of around 1 weeks. Not cheap though - £446.25.

Find out more at the Laura Ashley website

Hardy Amies - ABC of Men's Fashion reissued

First issued in 1964, long out of print and sought after by just about everyone with an interest in classic/vintage fashion and style, The ABC of Men's Fashion by Hardy Amies is finally scheduled for a reissue in the coming weeks.

It's re-appearance is down to the V&A, which is reissuing the book as part of its Golden Age of Couture exhibition. And if you have any interest in men's fashion, this is pretty much essential, breaking down just about every fashion term and item into an A to Z listing, with descriptions for each in Mr Amies' own witty style.

So if you want to know the difference between a flare and a bell bottom, The ABC of Men's Fashion will tell you when it's released in October, with a new introduction by Ian Garlant, priced around £9.99.

Find out more at the V&A website

Rock Scissor Paper Tea Towels

Sisters Susie and Heidi Bauer were inspired by the pop culture and mass-produced items they grew up with in 1960s California, and this has formed the basis of their design company Rock Scissor Paper.

Rock Sissor Paper produces a wonderful range of stationery and homeware, including a selection of cheerful tea towels, featuring prints in teal, orange and lime. The ‘Tree’ tea towel is particularly lovely and reminiscent of Orla Kiely’s prints.

They are available to buy individually for $14 (approximately £7) or $39 (£20) for a set of three. Further details can be found on the Rock Scissor Paper website.

70s Fashion: Vintage Fashion and Beauty Ads

It is all too easy to look back at the past with an air of sneering superiority especially where advertising is concerned. Old advertisements are often considered to be naïve and unsophisticated by modern standards. However, this book, 70s Fashion: Vintage Fashion and Beauty Ads, proves that is not necessarily the case and that advertising as we now know it really began in the 1970s.

Admittedly, with the benefit of hindsight, an endorsement of Dingo Leather boots by OJ Simpson with the line “Like OJ, we always mean what we say” will raise a wry smile or two, but there is plenty more to this book. Advertisements for long-forgotten brands like Hubba Hubba dresses and Pachouli Cologne, can be found alongside classic Adidas, Converse and Levi. The Levi models wearing high-waisted, wide-legged jeans actually wouldn’t look out of place in this season’s fashion spreads.

Besides the hundred plus glossy pictures, the book also has an excellent introduction (in English, German and French!), which places the fashions and advertisements in context in relation to music, film and the wider culture.

You can buy this book new from Amazon for £4.49 or even cheaper from their marketplace sellers.

BMW launches Mini Clubman - the luggage-friendly Mini

Following in the tradition of the original Mini, BMW has launched a luggage-friendly version of the car under the previously-used Mini Clubman name.

It hits the UK on November 10th, with a choice of three models and allsorts of colour combinations, all packing a vertically split tailgate, a single rear-hinged door and of course, more length along with more legroom in the back compared to the standard Mini. The boot has 260 litres of luggage space, increasing to 930 litres when the seats are flattened, while the engines are claimed to be cleaner and quicker than previous Mini engines and the suspension is a little bit firmer.

Prices have also been announced - the Cooper Clubman costs £14,235, the Cooper D is £15,400 and the Cooper S is £17,210. That's just over £1,000 more than the standard Mini for each model.

Get an interactive tour at the BMW MIni website

Karlsson Vintage Dome clock

Karlsson has done some interesting and indeed cheap retro-styled items in the past - and they're at it again with this Karlsson Vintage Dome clock.

Available in three colours (orange, black and white), it has a glass face and polished steel 3D numbers, with the clock sized at around 35cm.

Powered by a single battery, it sells for £30.

Find out more at the Utility Design website

Georg Jensen Mosaic cufflinks

I'm a fan of Georg Jensen designs - stylish and minimalist, they're almost timeless and certainly a good investment. But these Georg Jensen Mosaic cufflinks by Magnus Steffensen break that mould a little.

Yes, there's a splash of colour, creating a retro-style design that's a little bit op art or indeed, a little bit like a mosaic tile or table. The cufflinks are made from sterling silver with an enamel design in a range of colours.

And of course, they're not cheap, with prices around the £175 mark. Then again, everyone needs at least one pair of good cufflinks.

Find out more at the George Jensen website