07/01/2012
Analogue inspired retro-progressive redesign
A nostalgic love of designs from previous decades has resulted in the booming market for vintage products. Whilst one-off vintage pieces are still much sought after, vintage inspiration is being incorporated into modern designs, creating arty, retro-inspired fashion accessories and home furnishings. Analogue influences from the machine age are becoming popular, alongside retro-progressive creations, influenced by postmodernist, pre-digital popular culture. Look out for reinterpretations of items such as typewriters, cassette players, pre-digital cameras, old fashioned camcorders – and even vintage fighter jets:
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30/09/2011
Jewellery and accessories inspired by memories and past lives
Jewellery and accessories designers are increasingly taking their inspiration from bygone eras. The desire to prolong memories of retro experiences, people and places is reflected in choice of materials used, as well as design, packaging and promotional material. From broken porcelain to old coins and cotton reels - however small and insignificant the contribution, every single item has a role to play in telling the story of generations past.
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03/08/2011
Psychedelic retro style in home furnishings and accessories
Retro style home furnishings, kitchenware, handmade accessories and objets d’art are starting to look a lot brighter. Neon colours from hot pinks and oranges to acid yellow and lime green, together with ‘60s teal, avocado and purple are giving a surprisingly modern makeover to traditional products, from cushions and jewellery to ceramics and rugs.
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29/07/2011
Vintage hair styles and accessories
1940s and ‘50s hair styles and retro hair accessories are an emerging trend. For men, the quiff is making a big comeback. For women, hair rolls have been popular for a good few years (or decades in Suzy Menkes’ case). But retro hair styles and old fashioned accessories like hair rollers and hairnets are now being reinterpreted by artists and designers in curious and inventive new ways:
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09/07/2011
Vintage advertising: shopping for nostalgia
Vintage advertising signs have been around for a while,especially at niche retailers and vintage themed events - but are now on the road to becoming mainstream. Retro kitchens will soon be all the rage and vintage lettering will appear everywhere, from shop fronts and festivals to food packaging and phone apps.
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07/04/2011
Retro sea shanty style in art and interiors
Design art and interiors are increasingly taking their inspiration from the sea, retro maritime memorabilia, fishing boats, fishermen and seafarers. Here are some examples from past and present:
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01/03/2011
Retro maps and vintage style travel in design
Retro maps have been appearing on items of clothing and furniture for a few years now. Our desire to re-chart the journeys of yesteryear appears to be ongoing, and tinged with nostalgia - perhaps in an attempt to cling on to the world and as we used to know it and re-engage with our heritage. But has our interest in vintage cartography and travel related memorabilia reached its peak? Maps showing the pink parts of the Commonwealth, old nautical charts, antiquarian-style globes and well worn leather luggage are just a part of the curious trend that currently shows no signs of going away:
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06/01/2011
Antique chintzy boudoir style
Whilst art and design led interiors still tend towards the minimalist, lovers of retro style and collectors of vintage memorabilia are snapping up genuine old fashioned vanity and dressing table sets, perfume bottles, trinkets and photograph frames to put on their French boudoir style kidney-shaped dressing tables. (photo courtesy of
The Paris Apartment blog).
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25/09/2010
Childlike curiosity
Evidence of a bygone era, mementos of childhood and antiquated reminders of our history and lost innocence continue to be important themes in decoration and product design.
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12/08/2010
Shooting party style
The trend for classic British country style and all things retro continues, with animal skulls and antlers turning up all over the place. And it's not just recycled retro, there've been some progessive new variations on the theme by a number of innovative new designers:
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10/07/2010
Retro cool gains a curious new flavour
Nothing beats a nice cooling
ice cream at this time of the year, but the advent of high-tech Italian style ice cream parlours means there are ever fewer ice cream vans on our streets. In fact, the prosaic ice cream van has become something of a retro curiosity, and conferred with near iconic status by design professionals.
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