Categories / Books

It’s Vintage, Darling!: How to Be a Clothes Connoisseur

Itsvintagedarling If you like vintage clothes, but don’t know where to look to buy them or how to find the right piece then It’s Vintage, Darling!: How to Be a Clothes Connoisseur by Christa Weil could be the book for you.

It’s easy to get carried away when buying vintage, with either buying everything you can find in charity shops because it is cheap, or just buying something because it is fabulous and you have to have it.

This books arms you with insider secrets about recognising quality, and how to dress to suit your figure, so you can transform your look. Full of fantastic stories and useful information, it is the perfect companion for anyone who loves clothes (and bags and shoes!). At £9.89 it’s a great stocking filler.

Find out more at Amazon.co.uk

Categories / Cars and Bikes

Own one of the last-ever original VW Beetles

Vw_beetle

Interesting auction on eBay right now – one of the last 300 original Volkswagen Beetles with just 40 miles on the clock is up for grabs.

The last 300 Beetles came off the production line in Germany in 1978. This particular model (number 214) was stored/garaged, but only driven essential distances – hence the mileage. It comes with allsorts of history, including newspaper articles, the original bill of sale, the original battery still shrink-wrapped and three original bottles of oil.

When I last looked, the price was at £9,600 with a few days to go – so it’s not too late to get a bid in!

View the full auction details and extra photographs at eBay

Categories / Music

Cool Yule: Rhythm and Blues Christmas

Randbchristmas
We covered James Brown’s soulful Funky Christmas earlier in the week, but if you want your soul going back even further, how about Rhythm and Blues Christmas from soul and blues specialists Ace Records.

Don’t expect jolly 60s soul ditties and household names here – this is very much the roots of soul – blues, early R&B and doo wop – all with a festive message. Saying that, there’s also some party tunes too – give Dig That Crazy Santa Claus by Oscar McLollie & The Honey Jumpers a spin if you want to get things moving!

Guaranteed to get someone asking "what’s this?" when you give it a spin, you can pick up this 20-track album for around £8.

Find out more at Amazon.co.uk

And thanks to Rachel for the tip!

Categories / Design and Interiors

De La Warr Pavilion chair

Delawarr
This chair might look vintage, but that’s intentionally so, because the De La Warr Pavilion chair has been created as a modernist tribute to a 1930s building.

The chair has been designed by BarberOsgerby and manufactured by Established and Sons specifically for the restored 1930s De La Warr pavilion in Bexhill, East Sussex, where they’re currently in use in the restaurant.

They’re made of aluminium, with hooped back and legs creating that 30s feel and are available commercially in a choice of black, green or mirror-polished finish. Not cheap though – prices start at £388, but can rise to over £700, depending on your choice of finish.

Find out more at the Established and Sons website

Categories / Design and Interiors

Tid retro ceramic clock

Tid
There’s a definite touch of the art deco about the Tid ceramic clock, but this Swedish clock by Marianne Abelsson for Design House Stockholm is very much a modern design.

It’s a circular clock (12cm diameter) that sits on top of a plinth (or table rack as it’s described), with a choice of numbers of markers for the time. There’s also a colour option too – black and white or white and brown.

Available now for around £30.

Find out more at the Scandinavian Design Center website

Categories / Design and Interiors

Midcentury Modern returns to London

Midcenturymodern_march
If you missed the Midcentury Modern show in London in October, here’s the good news – it’s returning in March.

65 leading dealers will be present in a light and bright 60s concrete and glass building. Head downstairs to dealers selling Aalto, Panton, Eames and Nelson and upstairs for Britain’s best contemporaries before checking out the new room of specialist collectables in Dulwich College’s arched cloister.

If you’re serious about retro design, it’s the place to be,

Date: Sunday 4th March. 2007

Location: Christison Hall, Dulwich College, Dulwich Common, London SE19.

Entry for trade and serious collectors 9am (£7), general public 10am – 4pm (£5). Under 14s free.

Find out more at the Our Show Home website