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I love a bit of retro. In fact, I love a lot of retro. I could go a bit mad with some of the 50’s/60’s/70’s kitsch pieces of furniture or the odd mad lamp, so I have to be careful …
But I love to mix old with new. It looks good and can create a fantastic, vibrant but comfy look to a room. I’ve been finding some amazing new places: firstly, oddlimited.com – this website is worth looking at, even if you don’t want to buy anything. Its wonderful – from beach bags made with vintage fabric to throws made from old tweed coats and wonderful swinging sofas for your garden with awnings (sounds mad, but trust me, they look like heaven).
Then there’s cabbagesandroses.com – another wonderful place for sourcing that fabric that looks like it has been faded in the sun. Fully blown florals in shades of worn out red, blue and pink. Give a shabby chic look without even trying! If you can sew yourself, then the fabric is available, or you can buy ready-made cushions.
Cath Kidston, of course, is the sort of modern vintage chic – she has taken over the high street with her take on florals and old-fashioned patterns and given them the ‘cool’ appeal!! Her book ‘Tips for Vintage Style’ (available from Amazon
I’ve just see that Cath Kidston is now doing even iPhone and iTouch cases. My fave is the retro floral one, ‘Spray Flowers‘. Fab!
Ooh, loving the Cath Kidston iphone cases, the electric flowers is my favourite. I might just get it for myself as an early 30th birthday present!
I pride myself on my love of what are now called Vintage shops. I’ve been buying in 2nd hand shops all my life, finding unique, one-off items that are so much cheaper than any other shops. My favourite shopping days are filled with 2nd hand bookshops, flitting to Oxfam (or other charity shops) scouring them for bargains, a pop into a few antique shops to peruse the jewellery and then onto my one concession to modernity TK Maxx, I love that they often have oddities which are quite often in the sale section.
I posted a reply to your baking post but it never posted correctly but I wanted to highlight some of my favourite baking links. There are a few mixed links with things other than baking. Perhaps you’ve already seen them but if not, they are worth a look:
http://www.eatdrinkchic.com/
http://adozeneggs.com/wordpress/
http://www.notquitenigella.com/
http://www.bakerella.com/
http://www.sophistimom.com/category/well-fed/
http://blog.pinkcakebox.com/
Very drool worthy – http://www.tastespotting.com/
And lastly, something to chuckle over and make you feel so much better about your own creations – http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/
Leah (aka cakesandbakes)
Leah – again thanks soo much for these links!!! Fab!!! Going to do more on vintage stuff as there is so much out there and have been sourcing some great new places (particularly websites for amazing vintage fabrics…) so watch this space! Also thank you so much for the baking websites – just great!!
Dear Emma. I have just read your blog and wanted to say thank you very very much for mentioning Odd. Its funny that Cabbages and Roses was next as I started that company with Christina in my garden. I left after about three years due to the normal problems of children and husband ! I hope the Odd bags were a success. Thank you again and I will now follow Forbes Style with interest. Have a lovely summer. Brigette.