Featured

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

Retro Cassette Table by RJ Wood Projects

Retro Cassette Table by RJ Wood Projects

Categories / Books

Classic Penguin and Pelican book covers

Posted on | Leave a comment

Penguin_books

Go in any secondhand book shop and I guarantee you’ll encounter a whole rack of old Pelican paperbacks from the 60s and 70s. I’ve picked up plenty – not for their content (which is usually high-brow academic), but for the strange and wonderful covers.

Designer Joe Kral is another man obsessed with these vintage gems – and he’s started an online gallery of vintage Penguin and Pelican covers. Great graphics, intriguing titles and vintage art you can pick up for around £1.

Visit the Penguin and Pelican book cover gallery

Categories / Gadgets and Tech, Toys and Games

Fisher Price View-Master

Posted on | 1 Comment

Viewmaster Did you know that the View-Master was first invented back in the 1930s? Originally it was pitched as an alternative to the scenic postcard (a 3D collection of images from your destination), but over time, it became more known as a children’s toy – with images to match.

The 3D images are just a clever manipulation of two images – viewed together, they fool the eye into seeing the depth. If you don’t believe me, you can find out for yourself as the View-Master, now owned by Fisher Price, is still available to buy.

The View-Master retails for around $8 online (that’s just £4.25), with discs available for around $5 per set (around £2.65). An inexpensive design classic that’s sure to give you and friends plenty of enjoyment.

Find out more from the Flight 001 website

Categories / Watches

Mondaine Swiss Railway Watch

Posted on | Leave a comment

Mondaine
I love a watch when it comes with a heritage, especially when it’s as stylish as the Mondaine Swiss Railway Watch.

This watch is modelled on the Swiss Railway Station Clock which has been displayed in every Swiss railway station since the 1940s – an d originally designed by a Swiss Federal Railways employee – Hans Hilfiker. He designed the face to be easily readable from a distance, with a red second hand to enable passengers to judge precisely when trains would arrive and depart.

With a quartz movement and water-resistance, you can pick one up for £98. A women’s version is also available in a slightly smaller size.

Find out more at the Design London website

Categories / Homeware

Matalan’s 40s-style mirror

Posted on | Leave a comment

Fortiesmirror
We love it when the high street do retro, as it means you can get some cool style for your home without breaking the bank. For homestyle Matalan has some great bargains, and one of them is this 40s mirror with chain.

It may remind you of something out of your gran’s house, but it is spot on for helping to create that mix of old and new styles that design magazines are so fond of. It even has the bevelled edging and chain to hang it with. At £10 you could just keep it until you get bored and want to decorate again.

Find out more on the Matalan website.

Categories / Bags

Lacoste retro sports bag range

Posted on | 2 Comments

Lacoste_bag
Looking for a cool retro sports bag? You need to pop into your local Lacoste store – they’re packed out with them, with this Lacoste retro shoulder bag being just one example.

The bags come in all sizes, from toiletry bags through to mini suitacases. all available in blue, white, black and this Lacoste green, all made from a a thick PVC. My personal favourite is this shoulder bag, very much in the style of a vintage flight bag, with adjustable strap, large zipped central area and smaller zipped outer pocket.

Prices obviously vary according to your choice, check with the store for specific prices and check the website for the full range.

Find out more at the Lacoste website