Categories / Gadgets and Tech

Panasonic space age 1970s 8-track player

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I’m guessing I’m not the only person reading this site who has dabbled with 8-track players. Very much of their era and often very stylish. But there’s a downside – 8-track cartridges are clumsy, clunky and not often found in great condition.

But it’s worth hunting some down if you can pick up a player as stylish as this Panasonic space age 1970s 8-track player. Whether it works or not, this will look the part in any retro home. But this actually does work – with only minimal wear from its years of use.

You can buy it from the excellent Dutch site Original Design, which has a pile of 70s items at very reasonable prices. If you want this 8-track, it will set you back 42 Euros, which is just over £28. Sounds like good value to me.

Find out more at the Original Design website

Categories / Men's Fashion, Women's Fashion

Linda Farrow Vintage Gold Arm sunglasses

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The sun is out, the sky is blue – and we now feel it’s time to start writing about sunglasses again, kicking off with Linda Farrow Vintage Gold Arm sunglasses.

Exclusively available from Oki-ni, these aren’t vintage (as the company name might suggest), but in a vintage style, not dissimilar to the range offered up by the original Linda Farrow company. What you do get is a pair of aviator-style sunglasses, with gold metal frames and arms and dark polarised lenses with a UV 400 protection rating.

Sold with case, card of authenticity and lens cloth, they retail for £180.

Find out more at the Oki-ni website

Categories / Bags

Orla Kiely vinyl weekend bag

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Orla Kiely is no stranger to these pages – and for good reason. She’s always reliable for some stylish retro-inspired designs. And this new season is no different – we’re currently loving this Orla Kiely small vinyl weekend bag.

It’s probably the vinyl that gives it that retro look, along with the choice of colours in the range (there’s a brown and a white alongside the red featured here). There’s also a car print lining, three studded exterior pockets, inside zip and mobile pockets and a key chain.

If all that appeals, you can pick one up now, priced at £175.

Find out more at the Orla Kiely website

Categories / Watches

Dent Parliament watch – Big Ben on your wrist

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In 1852, the contract for the House of Parliament Great Clock (aka Big Ben) was awarded to Edward J Dent. And the Dent company is still making timepieces. Indeed, just to come full circle, it has just produced its first new watch collection for 40 years – and based a number of the watches on that design for Big Ben.

The watch featured here is just one of the models in the Dent Parliament series, with the range featuring a choice of straps and materials. This particular one has an 18ct rose gold case, 18ct rose gold bracelet and white face with black detailing and hands.

We know they’re due on sale in the coming weeks, but right now, it’s almost impossible to find any prices – although I suspect that it’s one of those if you have to ask, you probably can’t afford one.

View the full range at the Dent Watches website

Categories / Art and Photography, Design and Interiors

Surrealist cloud light shade

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There’s currently an exhibition of Surrealism at London’s V&A – so the V&A shop is selling surreal items to sit alongside it – including this extremely quirky cloud light shade.

This cloud shade apparently pays homage to Magritte, whose floating clouds were a recurrent theme in many of his paintings of the period. And if you want to keep theme going, painting your walls in a sky-like blue and white would really freak the neighbours out.

Sized at 42cm x 27cm and made from rigid plastic, it retails for £45.

Find out more from the V&A website

Categories / Design and Interiors, Food and Drink, Gadgets and Tech

Whirlpool Max – microwave like a 70s TV

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Microwaves – those white or grey boxes in the corner of you kitchen, known to occasionally go "ping". Not exactly stylish – unless we're talking about the Whirlpool Max microwave oven.

It was unveiled in the US, but is now available in the UK. At first glance, this looks every bit like a colourful 70s space age TV. But instead, it's every bit the modern appliance, with "crisp plate" system to avoid burning and super-fast defrosting – seven times as fast as a traditional machine. And it'll warm up your ready meals too, as well as doing a bit of steaming.

Available in a variety of colours (including some cool limited editions), you can pick one up from just £87.

Find out more at the Amazon website