I’m a big fan of no-nonsense footwear – and these YMC Premium Plimsoles are very much a throwback to traditional gym shoes – and all the better for it.
Predominantly in cream with black detailing, they have a canvas upper with a contrasting rubber midsole and cream laces.
Ideal spring/summer footwear and available now, priced at £55.
Does this design look familiar? it featured on the cover of the excellent Scandinavian Design book by Charlotte and Peter Fiell. And you can now pick up the Marimekko Kaivo design as a duvet cover and pillow case.
The design, by Maija Isola, is something of a classic and dates back to the 1960s. Now available as a duvet set, the actual duvet is sized at 150cm x 210cm, while the pillow case comes in at 50cm x 60cm, with both made from 100 per cent cotton.
You can pick up the duvet set online, priced at 90.50 Euros (around £61).
Something to file under "good value" – these pop art mugs featuring Roy Lichtenstein designs, complete with collector’s box for just over £10.
In fact there’s more. As well as your two 10cm-high mugs, you also get two spoons and a lunchbox-style cardboard box with metal fastener and handle. Or alternatively, you can pick up a cup and saucer set in the same packaging or a cappuccino set in a heart-shaped box.
Each set is available online for £11.
Andy Warhol wasn’t always everyone’s favourite pop artist – he started out with more modest illustration work – and it’s those designs that make up this Andy Warhol Shoes Galore rug.
His work in the 1950s was as an illustrator for fashion magazines, in particular for drawing shoes. Those 50s drawings are used on this officially-licensed rug, available in several sizes, but all made from 100% polypropylene.
You can buy one online, with prices starting from $199.99 (around £100).
Saint Etienne are premiering their new film – This Is Tomorrow – at the Royal Festival Hall on 29th June.
The 75-minute film documents the history of the site, from the 1951 Festival of Britain, through years of boom and neglect, and up to the new refurbished Royal Festival Hall. It includes interviews with people who worked on the Hall and the Festival Of Britain, including Robin Day, Jim Cadbury-Brown and Sir Terence Conran, as well as Waterloo residents who once lived on the site.
Saint Etienne will play a live, specially-written soundtrack, backed by a 60-piece orchestra conducted by John Cameron – famed for his scores for Ken Loach’s Kes and Poor Cow.
Tickets are on sale now, priced from £15.
Very much in the style of the plastic pop-art furnishings of the 60s is this great retro Apple chair.
A nice (and quirky) alternative to the Eero Aarnio Ball Chair, this is similarly made of a ployresin, with a deep padded seat for your behind and a high-gloss finish.
It’s available in white or red, priced at £1099.
