For most, long gone are the days when glasses were a sign of the uncool in the playground or otherwise. One of the most important of accessories for specs wearers, stylish frames are a must for something that’s worn almost always.
Retrospecs is a great site which has gathered together a huge range of designer labels and more affordable vintage inspired glasses frames for sale. Men’s, women’s and unisex frames are available, from all decades of style inspiration.
Part history, part interior design and quite possibly part shrewd investment – these vintage London Underground signs are certainly eye-catching.
Where are they from? Well, the Underground obviously – they were used until around 30 years ago as ‘temporary’ signage when the standard signs were obscured, perhaps because of maintenance or fault.
They’ve been rescued from a dusty storeroom, framed and mounted professionally and now are ready to give your walls a quirky pop art vibe. Email Pedlars for availability, with prices from £199.
Find out more at the Pedlars website
Thanks to Karen for digging up the Marks & Spencer Classics kettle and two-slice toaster.
Both offer the retro (dare I say Dualit-style) looks, but without the high prices you usually expect for kitchen appliances with a polished metal finish. The toaster has room for two rounds of bread and offers a rolling dust lid, temperature sensor and browning regulator. The kettle has a hidden heating element (so no limescale) and 360 degree rotation on the base.
The price is the same for both items – £39.50.
Find out more at the Marks & Spencer website
Style is timeless – and this Frank Lloyd Wright Meyer May writing desk certainly proves the point.
Dating back to 1908, it still cuts a dashing figure 100 years on, even if the art of letting writing is on the decline. Ideal for sorting your correspondence, the Meyer May offers a rack of slots, two slide drawers and just about enough room for a small laptop, should you want to catch up with your emails too.
Everything is made from natural cherry wood, with the desk produced by Cassina and selling for £2,408.
I’ve still not been sold on the idea of an iPhone, but the iStylophone could push me nearer a purchase.
No stranger to Retro To Go, the Stylophone was the original consumer-friendly electronic keyboard, even making the charts in 1970, courtesy of David Bowie’s Space Oddity. And you can re-create it on your Apple phone (and iPod Touch), replicating all the sounds and features of the original right down to an authentic look.
It’s available from December 1st from the Very Cool Software Company for around £3.
Designed by Finnish company Tonfisk, this tea and coffee set is a super-stylish way to take tea (or indeed coffee) and when not in use, it will look good on display (preferably on a retro sideboard).
It comprises of two handmade ceramic cups and a pot, surrounded by bracelets of laminated bentwood to insulate and act as handles. These come with a matching walnut serving tray and a removable stainless steel tea and coffee filter.
The set costs £145 and can be bought online from the Caroline McGrath website.
