They might have had some relevance to the serious sportsman back on the 1980s, but these reissued New Balance 410 trainers are back from the company’s archives very much as a fashion shoe.
Originally designed as a lightweight running shoe, they feature a nylon upper and rubber gum sole, with a choice of colour schemes. If you didn’t feel a fondness for them "back in the day", you’re unlikely to have changed your mind since.
But if you did, you can pick up as pair again for £45.
Brionvega has been making TVs since 1945 – and with some style. A number of their TVs (and indeed radios) have positions in design collections and museums – in fact, you can still pick up old designs like the Cuboglass in the smartest stores – how many other TV makers can say that?
New designs aren’t exactly commonplace, but one has recently surfaced – albeit as a concept so far. This Alpha TV was designed by V12 Design and has a fine retro feel of curved chrome, a cool orange colour scheme and a chunky metal vintage-style remote control that you’ll not lose in a hurry.
If it makes it into production, I’ll be at the head of the queue.
More images at the ICT Blog website (in Italian)
To celebrate Le Grand Départ of the Tour de France in London, Rapha has teamed up with fashion designer Sir Paul Smith to produce a commemorative Sportwool jersey in strictly limited numbers.
The limited edition Paul Smith & Rapha jersey is probably as near to fashion as the classic Rapha look gets, but it’s still very much a practical cycling top. Made of Sportwool, which is lightweight, itch-free and odour-resistant, the shir has a slim fit, classic collar, button front and various pockets.
The Rapha tricolor design also features embroidered logos, along with the route of Stage One of the Tour in embroidered onto the back. Unsurprisingly, it isn’t cheap, retailing for £175. It will be followed by a range of "classic" cycling hats from June in tweed and houdstooth, again a joint collaboration between Rapha and Paul Smith. More details when we get them.
Moooi might be a contemporary design company – but they make furnishings with a classic look – and in the case of this Moooi Mellow Armchair – one that could fit into any retro home.
It’s made from solid European oak and available in a variety of different finishes, and in this case upholstered in Moooi’s retro Kvadrat Divina cloth, but is also available in your own fabric at special request.
It’s available in a single, double or triple seater, with prices between £2163 and £4352.
A must for anyone into fashion, in particular for any budding designers, is 100 Years of Fashion Illustration by Cally Blackman.
Packed with around 400 images from the last century, it offers an overview of fashion through the years through illustration. From the restrained to the exotic, through to the "pop" images of the 60s and into the technology-assisted images of the modern era.
And if you want a taster of the book before you buy, there’s an exhibition featuring the pick of the illustrations at the William Ling Fine Art Gallery in London.
The book retails for around £18.
If you prefer a genuine classic as opposed to an Ikea copy, how about something that screams the 1960s – the Eero Aarnio Bubble Chair.
It was introduced in 1968, very much in the style of the Ball Chair, but a little more stripped down. The idea was to make a chair that allowed in the light, but swallows the sound – so you still feel isolated from the outside world. The shell is made of acrylic, with a chromed steel bar around the edge. There’s also a two metre chain and hooks for hanging and a silver fabric or leather inside cushioned seat.
You can still buy the Bubble Chair, but it’s not cheap. An officially-sanctioned version should cost you around £2300.
