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10 of the best 1970s-style watches

10 of the best 1970s-style watches

Five of the best vintage Adidas trainers reissues

Five of the best vintage Adidas trainers reissues

Vintage and 1960s t-shirt designs by Mr B’s Soulful Tees

Vintage and 1960s t-shirt designs by Mr B’s Soulful Tees

Categories / Books

Junkshop Gems: Ladybird books

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Ladybird_books

You probably remember Ladybird books from school or the local library – short, image-packed reference guides to the past, present – and even the future. Unfortunately they dated and got discarded, finding their way into junk shops and secondhand bookstores. Well, here’s some good news – Ladybird books are definitely a collectable for the future.

They’re great little guides – well-written, superbly illustrated and if you pick the right ones (like the ones above), fantastic period pieces. Very old copies are already worth a small fortune, but the 60s titles can be picked up for very little – and are probably the best of the lot.

We paid no more than £1 for any of the titles pictured above, yet they’re great reads, great to look at and if you put them away for a few years, possibly very shrewd investments.

See all Ladybird books currently on eBay

Categories / Design and Interiors

Recycled vinyl record Christmas decorations

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Record_ornaments
Something a little different for your Christmas tree – rather than bells and fairies, how about these recycled vinyl record Christmas decorations.

The decorations are cut out of discarded 45 records and come with chains to hang from your tree. Even better, each has a yellow removable centre, so if you’re short of one for playing one of your collectable singles, just pop it out and use it!

Made in New York by artist Jeff Davis and sold as a set of 3, you can pick them up for $18, which is around £10.

Find out more at the Uncommon Goods website

Categories / Cars and Bikes

Paul Smith Mercian cycles

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Mercian

Apparently, Paul Smith was a wannabe pro cyclist as a youth, but an accident put paid to that – and he moved into fashion. He still owns his original Mercian cycle – and is now working with the company, producing a range of bikes in Paul Smith designs.

Two models are available in collaboration with the vintage bike-maker, the Mercian Track and the Mercian Tour bike, each available in six custom colour schemes. The Track is designed for road training and track racing and is finished with colour split frame and finest, up-to-date fixtures and fittings. The Tour bike (pictured above) is for touring in the city or countryside – or in other words, for everyday use. It’s finished with a handcrafted saddle and bar tape made specifically for Paul Smith by Brooks.

Not cheap – prices are just short of £3,000. You can buy online via Mercian or from a Paul Smith store.

For full bike specification and more images visit Mercian Cycles

Categories / Retro Men's Fashion, Retro Women's Fashion, Sportswear

Karhu Originals Olympic trainers

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Karhu_olympic
We’ve featured Karhu previously – it’s a small Finnish company taking advantage of its sportswear legacy by reintroducing classic designs under the Karhu Originals banner.

We previously highlighted the Karhu Field shoes, but if you’re after something more stripped down, check out the Karhu Originals Olympic trainers. These low trainers are available in leather or suede and in a range of colours. They’re so named because they were part of the Olympic uniform for the Finnish team in 1972 – but as they looked so good, the company decided to mass produce them.

They retail for around £70 – the Karhu site has a list of places where you can buy them. If there isn’t a place in your country, email [email protected] to buy online.

Find out more at the Karhu Originals website

Categories / Design and Interiors

Vintage Owl Lavender Bags

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Vintageowls
If your room (or your wardrobe) needs a bit of freshening up, you couldn’t find a more hip way than these Vintage Owl Lavender Bags.

As the name suggests, each Owl is filled with lavender and made from a vintage fabric, with a small hanging loop at the top. Obviously the vintage material means you might not get exactly the Owl pictured – but you’ll certainly get one in a similarly bright and retro fabric.

The Owls are 18cm in size and retail for £7.

Find out more at the Plumo website

Categories / Books, Kids

Martin Pebble by Jean-Jacques Sempé

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Martinpebble
2006 and we’re still borrowing French kids entertainment. Yes, around 40 years after we dubbed the likes of the Magic Roundabout and Hector’s House, Phaidon has issued the first translation of the classic French children’s book Martin Pebble by Jean-Jacques Sempé.

Originally from 1969, Martin Pebble is the story of a little boy whose face keeps turning red for no particular reason. He meets Roddy Rackett, a little boy who keeps sneezing for no particular reason – and begins a great friendship – until they’re separated, only to be reunited years later on a crowded bus in the city.

Told through images, speech bubbles and short linking text, the book is the work of famous/much-loved French illustrator Jean-Jacques Sempé, translated for the first time by award-winning translator Anthea Bell.

It’s available now from Phaidon, priced around £10

Find out more at Amazon.co.uk