Categories / Design and Interiors

Robin Day Poly Armchair

Polyarmchair
We have featured lots of Robin Day’s designs before, including the Polo chair from Loft. But we also think this variation, the Poly Armchair, is worthy of your attention.

The Poly Armchair was designed by Robin Day in 1967 and was originally named the ‘Tub’. It’s another affordable classic, really practical for use around the house – in fact, I’d like four to go with my IKEA copy tulip dining table.

Loft
have reproduced it with the original handcrafted textured seat, rolled over edge and hidden frame fixings. It is available in 5 colours including the featured green version, and comes with the option of a seat cushion if you think the plastic is a bit too hard on its own. It’s priced from £79.

Find out more on the Loft website.

Categories / Art and Photography

Adrian Johnson retro prints at Paul Smith

Adrian

If you happen to be passing Paul Smith’s Tokyo store, you can browse the Happy London show, an exhibition of new artists and illustrators picked by Paul Smith for embracing "the positive spirit of London in 2007". If you’re not in the area, you can pick up prints of some of the exhibits, including these Adrian Johnson prints.

For an artist picked as an example of 2007, the artwork here is very much reflective of the late 1960s – in fact, it’s not a million miles away from the classic Magic Ball cartoon from that era.

The two prints above are Lionheart and Penny, part of a series of very limited editions of just 20 per print. If you want one, they retail for around £150 each and should be available for delivery in the next two weeks.

See the full range at the Paul Smith website

Categories / Design and Interiors

Otto wooden fan by Carlo Borer

Wooden_fan
You might not need a fan right now, but when summer kicks in, you’ll be desperate for something stylish to keep you cool – and for me, that’s the Otto wooden fan by Carlo Borer.

Using an old-style industrial fan, the air circulation can easily be varied according to your needs (everything from a breeze to a gale they say). And as it’s wood (as opposed to plastic or metal), this is going to fit in neatly with your vintage sideboard. The frame is actually solid European wood, steam-formed and oiled twice for good looks and long life.

It’s sized at 36.5cm x 35.5cm x 19cm and retails for £295.

Find out more at the Panik Design website

Categories / Design and Interiors

Alvar Aalto 60 stool – special edition

Alto_60stool
We featured the recent Alvar Aalto exhibition at the Barbican some weeks back, but we didn’t mention the Alvar Aalto 60 stool – special edition, which as been produced to coincide with it.

It’s both a special edition and a limited edition from twentytwentyone, with just 50 pieces available worldwide. The difference is the colour – this features a painted top (just like the original 1933 stool), with the colour selected being a pale blue, complemented by the honey-coloured legs.

It’s slightly more expensive than the standard reissue, but is more exclusive and comes in gift box. You can pick one up for £139.

Find out more at the twentytwentyone website

Categories / Bags

Topshop Patent 70s luggage range

Topshop_luggage

If you’re on the look out for stylish luggage, chances are you’re not going to be popping into Topshop. But that’s actually the place for this Patent 70s luggage range.

Very 70s in terms of colours used – and that shiny plastic look is probably indicative of years gone by too. There’s two items currently available, the Patent 70s trolley suitcase, complete with wheels and extendable pull handle and the Patent 70s vanity case with multiple compartments.

Not badly price either. The suitcase sells for £70, while the vanity case will set you back £40.

Find out more at the Topshop website

Categories / Books, Women's Fashion

Shopping For Vintage by Funmi Odulate

Shoppingforvintage
Vintage fashion is everywhere right now, going hand-in-hand with the retro-inspired fashions on the high street. The great thing about it is that you can pick up individual pieces at very cheap prices – if you know where to look.

And a list of places to look can be found in Shopping For Vintage by Funmi Odulate. It offers a look at the work of over 70 leading designers from the last 120 years, key fashion pieces from each decade, tips on the kind of places to find it and how to haggle down a price when you do.

There’s also an exhaustive list of the names and addresses of vintage outlets all over the world, as well as vintage fashion fairs, websites, auction houses and flea markets.

The book is available now in hardback, priced at under £8 at Amazon.