Worth it for the brand name alone, the Dumpling Dynasty Shoe Shine Kit is a cute but practical little gift set. It is part of a series of Dumpling Dynasty sets that are probably aimed at children, but this one is good enough for grown-ups.
Inside the decorative tin, you’ll find everything you need to keep your footwear in top condition – two polishes (one neutral, one black), two brushes and two cloths (one for each type of polish) and a shoe horn.
It costs £14.99 from Strawberry Fool.
You can’t beat a statement timepiece for adding a touch of class to your home, whether it is in the lounge, kitchen or hallway. Pedlars have just acquired a stock of Vintage Smiths Wall Clocks which would suit this purpose nicely.
Amongst the collection are some huge factory clocks (measuring an immense 75cm), as well as some smaller industrial and domestic clocks dating from 1930s to the 1970s.
Prices vary depending on the size and age of the clock, but start from a reasonable £95. For further details contact Pedlars.
There are so many retro mugs around at the moment that there is bound to be something that is your cup of tea, if you’ll excuse the pun.
Possibly the cheapest I’ve come across are these Retro Font Mugs, which are being sold by Pussy Home Boutique for just £3.99. There are four designs, each featuring ornate retro lettering. Take your pick from Mug, Drink Me, Love/Hate You or Tea.
Visit Pussy Home Boutique to order online.
To celebrate its 35th birthday, Monsoon has just launched the Heritage Collection. The collection comprises of original pieces inspired by Monsoon prints and designs from the 1970s.
This includes the Bombay dress (pictured here), made from 100% silk and costing £85, a smock of the same fabric for £65, a silk maxi dress (also £85) and a white cotton-silk mix tunic (again for £65). There are also two vests on sale on the website as part of this collection, but they aren’t particularly interesting.
The collection can be viewed online at the Monsoon website.
In May, The Hayward Gallery will be hosting an exhibition to jointly commemorate the revolutionary spirit of 1968 and its own 40th birthday. Entitled “May 68: Street Posters from the Paris Rebellion”, the exhibition is the first major display in the UK of posters produced during the strikes in France.
On 16 May students and faculty spontaneously took over the Ecole des Beaux Arts to form the Atelier Populaire, producing hundreds of silkscreen posters that were to be a key weapon in their battle. The brilliant bold graphics forcefully convey the discontent, anger and political struggles of the times.
The exhibition is a ‘must see’ for anyone with an interest in radical politics or social history, as well as graphic design. It is part of All Power to the Imagination! 1968 and Its Legacies, a season of events across London and we will, no doubt, be covering further highlights of this season over the coming weeks.
May 68: Street Posters from the Paris Rebellion runs at The Hayward Project Space, Southbank Centre, London from 1st May to 1 June. Further information can be found on the South Bank Centre website.
Rockett St George are currently selling two retro patterned wallpapers.
There is a pink, purple and silver design that make me think of disco. Then there is this green version, which is a fresher option.
Illustrated is their claim that you can even use it to decorate your bath! I’m not entirely convinced by thishere use of it and think it would be better kept to one wall or panel.
Regardless of where you hanging it, it costs £35 per roll and can be ordered from the Rockett St George website.
