We’ve featured both retro-styled military coats and pea coats for men in the past – but this River Island db pea coat sits somewhere between the two.
In black and featuring epaulettes, metallic buttons and military-style fastening, it’s made of 70% wool, so should be good enough to keep you warm as the temperatures plummet in the coming weeks.
And coming from River Island, it’s not too expensive either – retailing at £69.99.
Recently picked up on a spending spree on Amazon Japan were these superb Ivy Illustrated books. All the text is in Japanese, so much so that I don’t even know the name of the author/illustrator – though the ageing gentleman does look very cool on the inside sleeve in Harrington, button-down shirt and jeans.
Don’t worry about the language, the books are all about the images. All hand-drawn, they cover every conceivable detail (as Japanese books tend to do), from outfits, accessories and luggage through to food, plants and even famous wearers of the Ivy League style – all using the same drawing style as the front cover.
Really nice things to own – they retail for around 1680 Yen each – that’s around £7.30.
Make a date in your diary for Saturday January 20th 2007, when the V&A in London will host Costume Society Study Day: Reconstructing 60s Fashion – a study day covering 60s fashion, with some of the era’s biggest names in attendance.
The event runs from 10pm until 4:30pm and features contributions from Mary Quant, Paul Gorman, Zandra Rhodes, Felicity Green, Barbara Hulanicki, Marit Allen, Marion Foale & Sally Tuffin, Paul Reeve, Justin de Villeneuve and Sylvia Ayton. Themes to be discussed (with audience participation) include Design and Education, Journalism and Photography, Boutiques and Shops, Music and "The Scene".
Tickets are priced at £38, £32 (senior citizen), £20 (Costume Society members) and £12 (students with ID).
Daisy Rock describes itself as the "girl guitar company" (as opposed to catering solely for men with bad perms and body odour). We’ll do a proper feature on some of their more retro guitars at a later date, but in the meantime, check out Heartbreaker Guitar bag.
Based very much on one of the company’s big sellers – in fact including all the detail from the Heartbreaker’s body – it also features a zip fastening and matching red strap.
Available online, you can pick it up for around $25 (around £13).
Right now, skateboard decks seem to be a good place to look for some cool retro artwork. While we wait for the hisknibs-designed skateboards next year, check out these retro guitar skateboards from Evan Hecox.
Renowned US artist/illustrator Hecox has designed these decks for skateboard firm Chocolate. All feature a classic guitar model – I’ll certainly be picking up the Vox Teardrop guitar.
The one drawback is finding them for sale – so far I haven’t seen them in any stores or retailing online. But when they appear, they’re likely to retail for around £50.
Just spotted over on the Sainsburys website (which has recently undergone something of a facelift) is this rather interesting Abstract Circles Pillar candle.
Cadles aren’t something we get excited about, but the pattern on this one looks not unlike vinyl records in several shades and sizes. And as it’s both winter and Christmas, you’ve got every excuse to light a few around the house.
It also retails for just £2.49 – so you price shouldn’t be an issue either.
Find out more at the Sainsburys website
