Sadly C&A is no more, which is a shame as we no longer get the chance to wear the kind of classy gear being shown off by Man at C&A in this advert from the 1970s.
Although the fashions on display aren’t a million miles away from some of the clobber back on the shelves in other retailers today. What goes around comes around…
We featured the Ericofon (or the Cobra as it’s known in Europe) some time back, describing it as the world’s coolest house phone. Well, it must be – I have one! But there is a downside, which is the ever-increasing price of good condition originals on the vintage market.
That could change with the introduction of the ScandiPhone by Wild and Wolf. The company doesn’t use the word ‘Ericofon’ in its advertising, but you only need to look at the picture to see that this is pretty much identical to the early models of the handset. But there are some differences – this new one-piece phone has push button dialing (like the later model I own and use daily), a redial button, ringer volume and a tone/pulse switch.
The company will be selling these in a variety of colours, but you can only pre-order one on red right now at the V&A, priced at £45 – considerably cheaper than a mint condition vintage model.
Find out more at the V&A website
Show me a drawing of the Queen and I’ll think of Jamie Reid’s artwork for the Sex Pistols. Whilst these Queen Elizabeth II cushions aren’t as iconic as Reid’s work, there is something of the punk ethos in the bright coloured makeover that’s been given to the monarch.
Made by London designer Karen Hilton, there are six colourways to choose from, each priced $50 (approximately £26) from her Etsy shop.
God Save the Queen!
Retro phones and fifties diners are mainstays of Retro To Go, so here is a something that combines those two – the 1950s Diner Telephone.
Actually it is an update of the original fifties model – the dial is now push button and you don’t have to put in a dime to make a call, but if you want to drop in a coin, it doubles as a money box.
It is available to buy for approximately £60 from Bloomsbury.
Whilst browsing through Ikea recently, I checked out the upmarket (and retro) Ikea Stockholm range, noticing its similarity to vintage G Plan furniture. G Plan was launched in 1952, with a heyday in the 1960s and into the 70s. And that heyday means there’s a lot of it about – and it’s cheap to buy.
The styles gradually changed over the years, but if you find a look that suits your home, you shouldn’t have a problem finding the entire set. And with G Plan, that means just about everything for furnishing a house – from a sideboard, display cabinets and a dining table through to wardrobes and a dressing table.
Design is just as important as functionality when it comes to selling a mobile phone – but you do feel that the people behind the Shenzhou VII mobile phone have taken that a little too far.
Yes, it’s shaped like a 50s sci-fi movie rocket – or indeed, the kind of rocket you might have found in a vintage comic book. But it still does everything you would expect – playing back music and video, making your calls and offering storage via microSD cards and connectivity via USB cable.
China only right now, but who knows…we may yet see this relic of the past in UK shops in the near future.
More images and details at the Phone Daily website
Via Technabob
