Categories / Watches

Swiss Army Cavalry watch

Swiss_cavalry
First the bad news – this Swiss Army Cavalry watch doesn’t have built-in scissors, blades and nail files. But on the plus side, it’s an impressive watch with a great vintage look.

Made in Switzerland (of course), it has a very stylish throwback face – and that should be enough. But anything made by Swiss Army can’t be that straightforward, so you can add to the list water-resistance of 100m,a stainless steel case in a gunmetal finish, luminous hands and markers, scratch-resistance, a black leather strap and of course, the Swiss Army logo.

It retails for $175 (around £90).

Find out more at the Swiss Army website

Categories / Design and Interiors

Snowden Flood Battersea Power Station suede cushion

Battersea_cushion
Yes, you can pick up a cheap cushion just about anywhere, but if you want something with impact (and a price tag to match), check out this Battersea Power Station suede cushion by Snowden Flood.

They’re pitched as art as opposed to everyday items, with the idea that they’re "modern heirlooms" that should retain their value in years to come. Crafted from soft leather and suede, the design is laser cut and then bonded by hand to the backing. And if you’re looking for iconic design, Battersea Power Station is certainly that.

Sold with a feather pad and made to order, they retail for £164.95.

Find out more at the Hidden Art Shop

More retro design

Categories / Bags

Funtote canvas tote bags

Funtote

New York-based design team Funtote have a range of interesting bags available online, including some very cool retro-styled looks.

Every Funtote Side Zipper bag comes with 4 pockets, ideal for storing your essentials when you’re on the move – wallets, keys, coins, iPod or mobile phone. And the designs include everyday objects or just eye-catching design, typified by the Paperclip and 70s-styled Hawaiian Floral bags above.

They’re priced from $30 (around £15).

Find out more at the Funtote website

More bags

Categories / Art and Photography, Film and TV

Habitat’s Polish Blow-Up canvas

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A short while back, we featured Habitat’s League of Gentlemen canvas, part of a new range of canvas art available instore and online. But dig deeper and you’ll find a rare gem for the sale – the Polish Blow-Up film canvas.

So why is this so special? Well, the film poster for Blow-Up is one of the most famous in the world. Except possibly in Poland, where a new image for the film was created by artist Waldemar Swierzy. And in my view, it’s every bit as appealing as the more widely-known Hemmings and model image and indeed more true to the film title – this is a "blow-up" of a photograph.

Swierzy’s original poster does command a hefty price tag these days. The Habitat canvas, sized at 70cm x 100cm and ready to hang sells at £95.

Find out more at the Habitat website

More retro art

Categories / Design and Interiors

Marks and Spencer Deco Glass Mirror

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I can’t say I ever used to visit Marks and Spencer – years of playing it safe led to a dull and lifeless range of clothes and home design. But things seems to have changed over the past 18 months – the clothing is worth a look and their homeware in particular has come on considerably.

A recent example is this Deco Glass Mirror. If you’re going for an Art Deco period vibe in your home, this mirror is ideal for hanging over the fireplace – and if you mix it with some original pieces, no-one will know it’s off the high street.

Sized a 47cm x 34.5cm, you can pick one up for £39.50.

Find out more at the Marks and Spencer website

More retro design

Categories / Design and Interiors

Reviewed: Joe Colombo exhibition in Manchester

Jo_colombo_1
As I’m sure most readers already know, there’s a lot more to Manchester than the Arndale Centre. If you’ve been to the city in the last few months, and were near the Art Gallery, you might have noticed the image of a neatly dressed urbane European man, 3 button suited and his pipe at a jokey angle, friendly grin on his face, reclining on a plastic bodied, oval-padded throne. It’s not an image that tends to fit into the same compartment in your mind as ‘Art Gallery’, but if you passed it by, you missed one of the year’s top exhibitions! 

This weekend, me and my other half decided to combine a visit to the city with a great night at the famous Hideaway Club, and an afternoon taking in a little design culture at the Joe Colombo exhibition. So it was a short hop on the train to Manchester Piccadilly, Friday evening relaxing over an Italian meal and some ruinously priced cocktails at our hotel, and (somehow) we managed to surface in time for the 10 o’clock opening of the exhibition the next day.

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