What's new pussycat? Well, for one thing, this adorable Siamese Cat Brooch from Tatty Devine.
The design of our little feline friend here was based on ceramic cats that were seen adorning mantlepieces the 60s & 70s. The cream and caramel perspex retro kitty features intricate brown speckles in all the right places and a handsome blue ribbon collar to match its pretty blue eyes. Purrfect.
Available in two other colours. £54 from Tatty Devine. See the website for more details.
Fancy creating your own Andy Warhol artwork on the go? You can with the newly-launched The Warhol: D.I.Y. POP app for iPhone and iPad.
The work of the Andy Warhol Museum, it's a way of turning your own photos into Warhol-style imagery – or 'digital silkscreen print' as they call it. Take a photo with your camera or use one from your library, then use crop, expose and underpaint to create your image. It might take time, but you'll get there eventually.
Also throwing in some words from artists and curators at The Warhol, plus 'inside information' on Warhol and his art, the app is available to download now, priced at £1.49.
Find out more at the iTunes website
Also, we're using Instragram right now for retro imagery. If you want to follow, check out 'retrotogo'. We'll happily follow you back.
One of the most enduringly appealing aspects of mid-20th century womenswear was the ability to cover everything up and still ooze sex appeal. Fifties inspired looks arguably capture this mood best, with items like this Red Leopard Shift Dress from Topshop displaying that sexy sophistication.
The shift dress shape is simplistic, tailored to create a defined waist and accentuated hips. While a high neckline and knee-length skirt cover up, the use of a racy red leopard print taps into the pin-up aesthetic to create instant retro appeal.
It's available now from Topshop's Edited collection for £46.
There's no question that the proliferation of summer festivals has taken the fine art of camping to a whole new audience. Most of us are used to a modern tent which can be put up in minutes but there's a lot to be said for the traditional Bell Tent too.
Bell tents require a bit more effort to put up; they have a separate ground sheet and you need to peg out the canvas to make the shape of the tent rather than just inserting the poles to form a skeleton as you do with most tents these days. One key advantage is that the canvas is cotton and therefore breathable, so you don't get that nasty sweaty feeling when you wake up on a sunny morning – and if it gets really hot you can roll up the tent walls to allow a breeze in.
Tents in varying sizes are available from www.belltent.co.uk, starting at £319 and if you're serious about camping you can buy all sorts of extras too – from stoves and mattresses to sheepskin rugs and tea-light chandeliers.
With so much of the appeal of mid-sixties inspired clothing lying in its structural, often buttoned up elements, it can be difficult to find pieces suitable for more stifling weather. Happily the look can still be achieved with much more summer-friendly fabrics, as shown in this Rossana Peter Pan Collar Blouse from Missguided.
The androgynous high collar and bust-minimising loose fit are still present to create that sharp mod-inspired feel, while a loose sheer fabric creates both a lightness and a daring glimpse of flesh. The contrasting black collar has an easy retro feel, with brass-look buttons to finish.
It's available online from Missguided for £16.99.
There is no reason why even the most mundane child's toy can't be stylish and beautiful – as with this Keith Haring Balance Game from Parisian concept store Colette.
The Balance Game is created by Vilac, a long-established French brand, crafting quality children's toys from wood in the forests of Jura. It's 18 pieces of brightly coloured wood in the shape of Keith Haring's distinctive figures which can be stacked on top of one another in a game which develops concentration, hand-eye co-ordination and fine motor skills – never mind a fine appreciation of modern art at the same time.
The game costs 28 euros from Colette here.
