An interesting twist on a classic casual shoe – the Fred Perry Perf leather plimsole.
The ‘Perf’ obviously means perforated – the white leather upper packed full of holes for an eye-catching effect (and quite possibly to offer your foot some breathing space too).
Other features include the gum base and embroidered Fred Perry logo – and you can pick up a pair for £55.
A very new design with a distinctly late 60s look – the BiOrb Life aquarium.
Yes, if they kept fish in Space 1999, it would have been in something like this, with a coloured acrylic finish and clear front, along with a circular port at the top that offers access to the actual fish and water. Clever stuff too – an easy-to-change filter system makes fish keeping a doddle, while an LED lighting system changes to create sunrise, sunlight, sunset and moonlight.
Three sizes available (30, 45 and 60 litre), with prices starting at around £190 when it launches in the next few weeks.
If you’re willing to travel a little off the beaten path, the Hotel Jested in Liberec, Czech Republic should be worth the effort.
It was the work of architect Karel Hubacek, who won a competition in the late 60s to design a communications tower and hotel. He managed to squeeze both into the same design – using carbon construction and motorcycle suspensions to support and protect the communications tower and the sloping exterior to create a ‘space cabin’ feel for the 20 rooms. It also offers superb views – Germany, Poland and the surround Czech countryside (which is popular with walkers) are all within eyeshot.
Another special edition of everyone’s favourite retro car of the moment – the Fiat 500 by Diesel.
Yes, this is the Fiat with a fashion makeover – the work of Diesel’s Lars Schwartz and the Fiat Centro Stile studio, it offers a military green paint job (with black and brown to follow), Disel logos on the side and mirrors, yellow-painted brake calipers, ‘unique’ air intakes and fuel filler cap, 16-inch alloy wheels, logos on the hubs and a yellow-stitched, denim-like interior.
It sells in Italy for 15,000 Euros, no news as yet of a launch elsewhere.
An Eero Saarinen Tulip armchair will set you back around £900, which is no surprise – it is a design classic after all. But what if your budget doesn’t stretch to that in these torrid financial times? Simple – get the look from Dwell.
Yes, officially called the Curve padded chair, it’s essentially an almost (but not quite) replica of the 1956 classic, lacking the option to swivel, but offering a virtually identical polypropolene frame, with matching fabric seating for comfort.
Take your pick from black or white, available for £115 each.
The greatest-ever rock spoof is getting a DVD reissue in November – The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash – 30th Anniversary Edition.
It’s the story of the Pre-Fab Four – Ron Nasty (Neil Innes), Dirk McQuickly (Eric Idle), Stig O’Hara (Rikki Fataar) and Barry Wom (John Halsey) – who take the pop world by storm under the guidance of manager Leggy Mountbatten. Yes, it’s essentially the story of The Beatles – but with a razor-sharp script, a superb soundtrack of Beatles-like tunes and a cast including George Harrison, Mick Jagger, Paul Simon, Ronnie Wood, Michael Palin, John Belushi, Bill Murray and Dan Ackroyd, it’s far more entertaining than anything the Fab Four produced.
This new version also packs in the extras, including Get Up And Go: The Making Of The Rutles (Featuring interviews with Neil Innes, John Halsey, Rikki Fataar, Gary Weis & Michael Palin), Inside Shabby Road: The Music Of The Rutles (A look at the composition and recording of the seminal soundtrack), Audio commentary by Eric Idle and a bunch of deleted scenes. It’s released on 17th November 2008, priced around the £17.99 mark.
