Author: modculture

Categories / Cars and Bikes, Travel

Retro Retreat: Tour round Florence and Tuscany in a vintage Fiat 500

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Fiat_tour

The new Fiat 500 certainly has its merits, but for authenticity, you can’t beat the original. And you can hire one for a holiday, courtesy of the 500 Touring Club.

Once you’ve touched down in either Florence or Tuscany, you can hire a vintage Fiat 500 no an hourly, daily or weekly basis. Or if you want some structure, the club also has a range of guided tours – everything from a classic tour through to candlelit dinners, picnics, wine tasting or a chauffeur-driven ride around the scenery, all with local knowledge behind you.

Prices obviously vary according to what you want, check out the site for specifics or drop the company a line for private hire details.

Find out more at the 500 Touring Club website

Categories / Gadgets and Tech

Ricoh launches retro-styled R10 digital camera

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Ricoh_r10

If yesterday’s Lomo Lubitel was just a little too old school for you, the Ricoh R10 camera might be more your cup of tea.

That bronze exterior and those classic looks give it a seriously retro look, but this is very much the modern camera, with features including a 10 megapixel sensor, 7x wide-angle zoom lens, a 3-inch LCD screen and plenty to improve your amateur photography, including anti-shake, auto-level (for better landcscape shots) and a battery that’s good for 300 photos.

But best of all is an option to take vintage style snaps – just press shoot to take the same image in colour, black and white and sepia. Expect it in the coming months for a price of around £200.

Find out more at the Ricoh website

Categories / Design and Interiors

Zanotta Allunaggio three-legged stool

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Zanotta_stool

Not your everyday stool, the Zanotta Allunaggio three-legged stool comes with insect-like looks.

It’s the work of Achille Castiglioni, dating back to 1965 and designed (rather like an insect) for the outdoors. Those legs are made of steel, while the seat is an aluminium alloy, all in either a ‘grass green’ or natural finish.

You can pick one up for around £500.

Find out more at the Nest website

Categories / Design and Interiors

Pierre Paulin anniversary Ribbon Chair

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Ribbon_chair

A 60s classic that’s back on the market to celebrate three anniversaries – the Pierre Paulin Ribbon Chair.

This new version celebrates Pierre Paulin’s 80th birthday, his 60 years as a designer and Paulin’s 50 years of working with Artifort, with each chair sold with a commemorative book signed by Pierre Paulin himself.

Aside from that, this is still the space age classic, with a metal base and a seat that looks like a piece of ribbon, albeit a firm/comfortable one with upholstery of your choice giving it a personal touch. Not cheap at £2,538, but one for the auction houses of tomorrow.

Find out more at the V&A website

Categories / Men's Fashion

Fred Perry 60s-style knitted polo shirts

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Fred_textured

Something of a holy grail for vintage clothing spotters, the Fred Perry knitted polo shirt is now back on sale.

Looking almost identical to the originals, the textured shirts are made of a cotton/acrylic mix, with ribbed hem and cuffs and a choice of detailing – black/yellow or black/red.

I’m guessing these also wear better than the vintage ones too – which had a habit of losing shape after just a couple of washes. The new versions retail for £99.

Find out more at the Oki-Ni website

Categories / Design and Interiors

Arne Jacobsen AJ Royal 1950s pendant light

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Aj_royal

Another mid-century design classic that’s still on the market today – the Arne Jacobsen AJ Royal pendant light.

It was designed by Jacobsen back in 1957 as a fitting for the AS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen. And it still looks ever bit as stylish 50 years on, especially when you flick the switch, with light from the bottom as well as through the stepped rings on the top to create an eye-catching ceiling effect.

Two sizes of the aluminium light fitting available, with prices starting around the £400 mark.

Find out more at the Icone website