Mojo King shop in Cardiff

Mojo1

If you're on the look out for mod-styled clothing and accessories in South Wales, you need to get yourself to the newly-opened Mojo King.

Owner Paul Reeves (who also co-runs Cardiff's Fabulous night) has used redundancy money from his previous job to set up the store in the Roath area of Cardiff, offering the likes of  Soul of 65, Gabicci, Fred Perry, Aertex, Baracuta, Warrior and Ikon, along more obvious items like parkas, desert boots, sta-prest and retro bags and accessories.

The range is mostly for men, but some female items are carried too. You'll find the shop at:

Mojo King
Unit 1, Wellfield Court Arcade
Wellfield Road
Roath
Cardiff
CF243PB
Telephone: 029 20499968

Open Tuesday to Saturday 9.30 to 5.30  (but closed on Cup Final Day). No website as yet, but you can get an interior shot of the shop over the page.

Continue reading "Mojo King shop in Cardiff" »

Dance - and win a Savile Row suit

Magicbus

We have mentioned the Magic Bus night before - and if you've not been down, here's an added incentive for you. You could win a Savile Row suit.

How? Well, Magic Bus at the Cock Tavern on Friday 13th June will feature special guest DJ William Hunt of Savile Row alongside Eddie Piller, Ivor Jones, Johnny Valatone and Dean Rudland. And there's a dancing competition with the prize of a bespoke Savile Row suit from William Hunt - male or female suit.

Flyer above, but if you can't see it, the address is The Cock Tavern, East Poultry, Smithfield Market, London EC1 (20 yards from Fabric), running from 9pm until 2am, £5 on the door.

Find out more at the MySpace site

Martin Freeman in the Daily Mail

Freeman Interesting interview in the Daily Mail (of all papers) with actor Martin Freeman, talking about his 'mod' leanings, his career, his record collection and his thoughts on just about everything else.

Luckily for those of us who don't buy the newspaper, the full interview is online - and you can view it via the link below...

Read the Martin Freeman interview

Ruby retro scooter helmets

Retro_helmet

If you have cash to burn and want to invest it in some stylish headwear for your scooter or motorbike, you should check out the retro Pavillon scooter helmets from Ruby.

Designed by Jerome Coste and available online from high-end Parisian retailer Colette, the helmet range has vintage looks, a carbon exterior and plush leather interior. And there's a range of classic and bold designs, including the one above, all with the vintage-style Ruby plate on the front.

Various sizes available, all retailing for around £443.

See the full range at the Colette website

V&A's Supremes Love Child t-shirts

Lovechild

In 1968, The Supremes had something of a makover - ditching the ball gowns for 'street' styling and going for a grittier sound for the Love Child album. And you can get that look with the V&A's exclusive Love Child t-shirt.

Based on the top worn by Diana Ross on that album sleeve, the t-shirt is being made available in limited quantities by the V&A to coincide with The Story Of The Supremes exhibition being held at the museum.

You can pre-order now, with the shirts shipping from mid-May. Could be one of the t-shirts to be seen in this summer - and it retails in various sizes for just £18.

Find out more at the V&A website

Via Retro To Go

BBC wants mods for TV show

Bbc_logo The BBC are currently working on a new five-part series exploring British style and fashion. And they want you to appear in it.

One of the five episodes is looking at post-war British street styles - from Teddy boys to mods to skins and football casuals - working class street fashions as well as the influence of black culture.

For the show, the Beeb is keen to make contact with genuine mods and those who 'know about the clothes and history of the mod style'. And they also want people to appear in film reconstructions and sequences with people dressed authentically in mod-styled clothes, from early modernist jazzers through to skins and suedeheads.

If you want to appear in the show or have a say in it, get in touch with the man from the BBC by emailing Tony Higgins at tony.higgins@bbc.co.uk.

Film publicity shoot - 60s models required

If you fancy yourself as a model, we've just been informed about some paid work available to promote a film in pre-production.

The movie is called Within You Without You, described as a 'psyche-out 60s feature film' and the people behind it require 'two mod/60s "Dollybird"-type girls and one mod/60s guy' for the fashion shoot.

This has nothing to do with Modculture, so do not contact us. Instead, contact Steve Kemp on 020 7 350 0917 or 07955 170097 (mobile)  or email stevekemp9@hotmail.com.

Fred Perry Sample Sale

Perry_sample

If you are after a Fred Perry bargain, you'll find one at the Fred Perry Sample Sale, which takes place on Thursday 1st May and Friday 2nd May 2008, running from 8am to 7pm on each day.

You'll find it 33-35 Endell Street, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9BA. Expect clearance stock, end of range clothing and more interestingly, a number of items that were never actually put into production (due to various reasons) plus limited editions.

All will be at a fraction of the retail cost.

Fred Perry website

Gola anniversary Harrier Suede trainers

Gola_suede_2

Following on from the anniversary Harriers last year, Gola has just launched the 40th anniversary Gola Harrier Suede range.

As the name suggests, this is also to celebrate 40 years of the Harrier, with the leather swapped for suede and with four colour ranges to choose from - all faithful to the original 1968 design.

Every pair comes in a 'vintage' orange box and commemorative leaflet, selling for just £35 per pair.

Find out more at the Cazual website

Via Retro To Go

Fashion In Film Festival

Tenth_victim_1

Returning for a second year is the Fashion In Film Festival, mixing talks, exhibitions, newly-commissioned film works, but best of all, some rarely-seen cinema classics that show how fashion of the day was just as important as a good plot and scenery.

Some superb films on show this year too, with highlights (for me) including the visually stunning (see image above) 10th Victim (La Decima Vittima) from 1965 and Get Carter (1970) at the ICA, Mario Bava's Blood and Black Lace (1964) at the Horse Hospital, as well as a double bill of delinquency curated by fashion designer and former mod Roger K. Burton (The Violent Years from 1956 and The Boys from '62), Dario Argento's The Bird With Crystal Plumage (1970) at the BFI plus Plein Soleil (1960) and Fata Morgana (1965) Ciné lumiére.

Much more besides, including some rare silent flicks and classic US film noir. Check out the full programme at the website - the event runs from 10th - 31st May 2008.

Fashion In Film Festival website

Via Cinedelica

French Connection mini dress

71x7p

New summer collections on the high street means mini dresses are currently ten-a-penny again. If you're looking for an authentic retro style then look no further than French Connection.

This block dress is a great Mod reproduction, with a simple structured A-line shape. The high scoop neck and it's contrast colour detailing really make this just sharp enough to look the perfect modernist dress.

Get it online or in UK stores for £60 now.

Find out more at the FCUK website

Via Retro To Go

APC Checked Harrington jacket

Apc_harrington Yes, yet another Harrington jacket - this time the Checked Harrington jacket from Parisian label APC.

A bit bolder than your average jacket with that navy and purple check, this 100 per cent cotton jacket has a full zip front, button fastening collar, two waist pockets and ribbed cuffs and waist.

Yours for £140.

Find out more at the End Clothing website

Fred Perry's Terry Hall V-neck sweater

Perry_hall

Coming in September is the latest fashion collaboration from Fred Perry - the Terry Hall-inspired V-neck sweater.

It's based on the one that Hall wore in a copy of The Face (the first edition), a late 70s version with oversized Laurel and a deeper V, but keeping the original shape.

It will be made in pure British lambs wool in a choice of black or maroon in a quantity of just 500.  And that's a worldwide figure - so expect demand to be high when it officially launches in September.

Fred Perry website

Via Retro To Go

What do you want on the site?

We're about to start our re-design of the website and to go along with it, we want to stick up a load of new content. We hope to expand and improve existing sections, but we need to know specifically what you are interested in.

Do you want more listings? More news? More reviews? And if so - what kind of reviews do you want - clubs, events, films, books, music or anything else?

And do you want more articles - and if so, what kind of articles? And who do you want us to interview? Or perhaps you want something more technical - like a radio station or downloads? Would you be interest in well-designed merchandising?

Please let us know your thoughts abut the above and anything else by contacting the site or leaving a comment below. And if you fancy contributing in any way at all, we're ALWAYS happy to hear from you.

Contact the site

APC slim-fit cardigans

Apc_cardigans

Liking the new slim-fit cardigans from APC.

Both are high-fastening, made of 100 per cent cotton, with the tennis cardigan featuring the white tipping and chest cuff. while the plain cardigan has an extra-wide collar and intricate link stitch detailing.

The tennis cardigan retails for £109.99l while the plain cardigan sells for £114.99.

Find out more at the Oi Polloi website

Footwear with a famous name

Two shoe styles that are inspired or endorsed by well-known mod faces have come to our attention.Gary_boots_5

First up is the 'Buckler' basketweave shoe, available from Atom Retro. Named after The Jam drummer Rick Buckler (but not designed by him), these shoes are a passable attempt at a mass-produced woven/lattice leather brogue. Usually such shoes are very expensive, so hats off for their attempt to bring the style to a wider audience. How comfortable and durable they are is another question of course.

And secondly we hear DJ Gary Crowley has designed his own desert boot for Ikon Footwear. Following the companies' Bruce Foxton tie-in shoe a few months ago comes this take on the classic mod casual footwear. The design is very close to  Clark's original design (if it ain't broke...), and is available in a choice of colours: chocolate brown, dark green, stone (corduroy), ice (white) and black.

The 'Buckler' retails at £59.99 and is available to pre-order from Atom Retro here. The Gary Crowley designed desert boots are expected to retail for £50 when on sale at the end of this month. For more see the Ikon website here.Buckler_preorder_3

The Story of The Supremes at the V&A

Mary1

The V&A goes 60s soul from next month with its Story of The Supremes exhibition, showing the performance costumes of the band from the Mary Wilson collection.

It runs from 13th May to 19th October, with over 50 outfits on display, charting the changing image of the group from their dresses in the early days (when they were known as The Primettes) to the glamorous Hollywood designs they wore at the height of their fame. The exhibition will also explore the inspirational role The Supremes played in changing racial perceptions and their influence on today’s performers.

Continue reading "The Story of The Supremes at the V&A" »

Sir Peter Blake limited edition Pop t-shirt

Blake_shirt

Regular readers will know we are big fans of the work of Sir Peter Blake, so no surprise to see this Sir Peter Blake Pop limited edition t-shirt featured.

It's also great value and a superb design - typical Blake with the bold target and star motifs amongst other imagery, combining to form the word 'Pop' on a grey t-shirt background.

Sold with a certificate and in a gift box in just about every size imaginable, it retails for £29.

Find out more at the Ink-d website

Via Retro To Go

Hartford tailored-fit check shirt

Hartford I cant say I'm familiar with French label Hartford, but Oi Polloi currently has some stock in, including slim-fit chinos, retro-styled polo shirts and this Hartford tailored-fit check shirt.

Unusual for the cut really a very slim, body-hugging cut, along with double button cuff, chest pocket and made from a light cotton fabric.

Available online or in the store, priced at £79.99.

Oi Polloi website

Tara Jarmon 60s-inspired coats

Tara_2

Last week we featured a 60s-styled dress from Tara Jarmon. And if you liked that, there's a good chance you'll love these 60s-inspired coats from the same designer.

The 'orange' coat is three-quarter sleeved, approximately 35 inches in length, with a chunky belt and made with a touch of lycra for fit and comfort. The 'yellow' coat has three yellow and gold buttons as well as a collar button, measuring around 33 inches from the nape of the neck to the hem.

Prices are £290 for the orange, £265 for the yellow.

Find out more at the Jem Boutique website

Falke three-button knitted polo shirt

Falke

If you fancy a change from John Smedley, you have a look at the Falke three-button knitted polo shirt.

Very much in the style of the Smedley classic, it features the three-button placket, side tab and a durable yarn that's cotton in the inside and wool on the outside.

You can pick one up in a range of colours for £69.99.

Find out more at the Oi Polloi website

Paul Smith silk knitted ties

Smith_knitted If you want something a little more upmarket than vintage polyester knitted ties (and you have money to spare), you could invest in a Paul Smith silk knitted tie.

Choose from stripes or spots in various colours, all with a 5cm width and made of 100 per cent knitted silk, with a lining of silk in the colour of your chosen tie.

Italian made, each one will cost you £69. Alternatively, if you're on a budget, we're currently clearing out both vintage and knitted ties in batches for basement prices.

Paul Smith website

Mods - Sunday Times 1964

Mods64

If your eyesight isn't up to it, the caption reads...

They have been called the "anti-hoorays".

"But you can tell us by the way we walk - feet out", said one Mod.

"Rockers are hunched. We hope to stay smart for ever, not shoddy like our parents."

More snippets like this to follow over the coming days and weeks.

More photos and snippets at the Modculture Gallery

Lambretta's latest Who-themed t-shirts

Lambretta_who

The Who's collection of clothing with Lambretta produced strong feelings last year, so I'm guessing the latest batch of Who-themed t-shirts will produce similar opinions.

Nothing much to say really, except the designs are above and are new for spring/summer, likely to be retailing for around £30.

Lambretta Clothing

Tara Jarmon 60s-inspired shift dress

Jemboutique A new dress with a very vintage look - this 60s-inspired shift dress by Tara Jarmon.

A guaranteed eye-catcher, it features a pop art design in yellow, black and grey on a white background and is made with viscose and polyester with a touch of elastine for a better fit.

The dress is is fully lined and approx 33 inches from the nape of the neck to the hem. You can pick one up online from the Jem Boutique, priced at £195.

Find out more at the Jem Boutique website

Via Retro To Go

New Paul Weller-designed Fred Perry top

Weller_newfredperry

After the success of its first Paul Weller collaboration, Fred Perry has again teamed up with Paul Weller to produce the Paul Weller Limited Edition Shirt.

This isn't an adaptation of an old design, it's a brand new style designed by Weller, based on his own drawings and other reference material, with the aim of creating something 'contemporary' and 'on the money'. Although to these eyes, it has a distinctly sixties look.

Continue reading "New Paul Weller-designed Fred Perry top" »

Baracuta G4 harrington jacket

G4 Yet another twist on the harrington jacket, with Baracuta launching the G4.

It seems to be slightly longer than the usual harrington, with a tailored hem replacing the usual elasticated waist, as well as a button cuff and belted waist adjusters. Other details include the Baracuta check liner, two-way zip, button fastening collar and button-fastening, flapped, hand pockets.

Expect to pay around £120.

Find out more at the Oi Polloi website

PF Flyers Poplin Harrington

Pf

An interesting twist on the classic Baracuta is this PF Flyers Poplin Harrington jacket.

Available in red and blue, it's made of a soft cotton poplin fabric with a zip front, elasticated hem, button cuff and handwarmer pockets, with a more traditional collar rather than the usual Harrington two-button.

You can pick one up online, priced at £94.99.

Find out more at the Oi Polloi website

Armadillo's retro-styled scooter mac

Arm_mac

Remember the Urban Parka from Armadillo? Well, the company has just launched its new range of scooter-friendly clothing - including a classic mac for both men and women.

The coats are pictured above, with the men's Classic Macintosh on the left, the women's Scarlett Macintosh on the right. Both feature a double-button front and belt fastening. And as they're designed for scooter riding, there's also d3o impact protection, wind and water-proofing, Thinsulate insulation and the use of a breathable fabric for all garments.

Both will be available online in the very near future, alongside new male/female parkas and a variety of accessories. Pricing to be confirmed.

Armadillo website

The Supremes display at the V&A Museum

A display of costumes worn by the most successful Motown group of all time, The Supremes, is coming to London.Supremes72

The display at the Victoria & Albert Museum will show the changing image of The Supremes from their early Primettes days right through to the more glamorous, Hollywood-designed outfits they wore at the height of their fame. The exhibition will include dresses worn by all three members - Mary Wilson, Diana Ross and Florence Ballard - from a selection of live performances, television appearances, album covers, and more. As well as the clothes the V&A exhibition will display archive television footage, photographs and magazine articles to help contextualise the impact the band had on America and the world.

Also expect to hear news shortly of a special event featuring an appearance by Mary Wilson accompanied by soul scene DJs.

The Story of the Supremes from the Mary Wilson Collection
13 May - 19 October 2008
The Victoria And Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL
£5 entrance

For more on the the exhibition see the V&A website here.
 

Exclusive 20% discount at John Smedley

Johnsmedley

John Smedley recently made it into our top five modern-mod labels. And to make it easier for your to pick up some of the company's fine knitwear, we have arranged an exclusive 20 per cent discount at the company's online shop.

Yes, 20 per cent off everything - and there's no catch at all. All you have to do is visit the John Smedley online store, add what you want to your basket, then enter our exclusive code at checkout. You'll magically see the price cut by that 20 per cent.

The code you must enter at checkout is: MDX44

You have until 30th April 2008, but note there is only one discount allowed per customer - so fill your basket before you get the money off. Want to view the John Smedley range? Check out the online store by following the link below.

Visit the John Smedley online store

Baracuta Ben Sherman Harrington jacket

Ben_baracuta

I'm still not sure about the thinking behind it, as both companies already make similar garments, but you can now buy the limited edition Baracuta Ben Sherman Harrington jacket.

There are just 1,000 of the British-made jacket available worldwide, with 400 for the UK market in a choice of red (above), white and navy blue. Detailing includes a Baracuta tab on the front, an embroided Ben Sherman 'Plectrum' logo on the chest, an inner lining mixing the Baracuta and Ben Sherman 'house' check, two inner labels (one for each company) and as you can see from the image, the phrase 'History Is made and never bought' (which is sure to bring strong opinions I'm sure).

There's also elasticated waist and cuffs, button pockets and the button collar. You can pick one up from Cazual (which has a quarter of the UK stock) for £135.

Find out more at Cazual website

Fred Perry mid-season sale

Perry_sale If you happen to be near a Fred Perry store in the next few days - or if you check the Fred Perry website - you might pick up a bargain in the mid-season sale.

There's a few things dotted around the site, but you'll have to browse it as there's no specific sale section. Nipped into one of the stores yesterday and there's quite a lot marked down there - especially polo shits and sweaters - tank tops and long sleeve. All with a good chunk of money off too.

The sale seems to be running for just 10 days - March 20th through to March 30th.

Fred Perry website

Orla Kiely 60s-style leather bags

Orla

New for the season from Orla Kiely is something very much influenced by the past - the Orla Kiely 60s-style Two Tone leather holdall and shoulder bag.

Aside from the retro looks, the leather bags have a contrasting leather trim, a leather belt across the top and an embossed metal clasp. Inside there's a cotton stem print lining and space for your mobile phone and keys separate from the the main storage area.

As you might expect, they're not cheap, with the shoulder bag selling for £280 and the holdall retailing for £350.

Find out more at the Orla Kiely website

Via Retro To Go

Baracuta G10 slimfit nylon Harrington

Nylon_harrington With the weather still a bit variable (in the UK at least), the Baracuta G10 slimfit nylon Harrington jacket might not be the jacket to wear right now. But in the summer, it could be just the thing.

A departure from the norm, it's a fully-lined nylon jacket adding a twist to a classic look. Available in cream, it also has button-down pockets and collar plus a contrasting (elasticated) black and white cuff and waist, as well as a very slim fitting. So small that the retailer suggest buying a size up.

One to buy now and put away for a couple of months maybe, it sells for £129.

Find out more at the End Clothing website

Via Retro To Go

Tretorn Nylite 1960s trainers

Tretorn

Looking for some authentic 60s footwear? That's what you get with the Tretorn Nylite trainers, now selling at Oi Polloi.

Originally introduced in 1967, the Nylites were the tennis shoe of choice for an era running into the early 70s, with a distinct toe shape and lightweight rubber sole. Over 40 years on and they still look sharp in either the white/yellow or white/blue colour combinations.

For a former luxury sports shoe, not expensive either at £49.99.

Find out more at the Oi Polloi website

Via Retro To Go

Fred Perry Laurel store in Brighton

A perennial favourite of course, but the opening of a new Fred Perry branch in mod mecca Brighton is still exciting news.Fredperry2

The Dukes Lane branch, which has just opened, is a 'Laurel' store, meaning it is run as a boutique with a small number of staff there to help you choose from the more specialised, top-of-the-range Fred Perry items currently available. The stock range focuses primarily on the Italian and British knitwear, larger Laurel items (see photo, right), and those collaboration items the label regularly puts out.

The shop itself has the feel of a modern boutique: strong lighting, plenty of wood, glass, and steel, plus a large rustic bench to rest your tired legs on should you so wish. Prices aren't exactly cheap of course: you are paying for quality and access to lines you cannot find stocked elsewhere (the short collar polo shirts for example). The newest addition to the Laurel range appear to be some very slim cut trousers that are sure to go down well with the modernist crowd.  Check them out if you're anywhere near Brighton soon.

Fred Perry,
Unit 2,
Dukes Lane,
Brighton, BN1

For more on Fred Perry see their website here.

Mod Cloth offers Mod Patent Boots

Mod_patent The appropriately-named Mod Cloth has just introduced these Mod Patent Boots.

Very much the swinging London look, the boots are made from a soft black patent leather with grosgrain ribbon and white leather trim. Apparently, they're a 'snug' fit, but should give with a bit of wear.

Probably not built for long life, but with a price of $59.99 (around £30), that's not surprising.

Find out more at the Mod Cloth website

John Smedley factory sale

Smedley_top If you're on the look out for a John Smedley bargain, there's only one place to head - the John Smedley factory sale.

As you'd expect, it's on at the John Smedley factory or more specifically, the Lea Mills Factory, Matlock, Derbyshire DE4 5AG. It's on over the weekend of April 5th and 6th and prices will start at just £10 - so make sure you have plenty of boot space.

View the current range at the John Smedley website

Modern-day mod labels

Dnagroove_blog As part of our stop/start series of beginner's articles for the site, I've just published a new one, this time in the area of fashion and more specifically, covering modern-day mod labels.

Essentially, it's our pick of the labels you can find online or on your local high street, carefully avoiding the target-branded rubbish you might see i various bargain bins and low-end retailers. You know what I'm saying.

Anyway, you might not agree with our pick of labels for both men and women, but I'm sure you'll want to find out what's there. You can by following the link below. And don't forget our beginner's guide to mod books from a couple of months back.

Read the modern-day mod labels article

Alice & Olivia Beaded Tunic Dress

Index

If you're looking for a designer treat with some retro style then you needn't look further than designers Alice & Olivia.

Each of the fashion house's designs has a flavour of something 60s, making them stand out from the fashion crowd.

Typical is this Beaded Tunic Dress, clearly inspired by a sixties shape and style with the boat neck and contrast coloured trims. The dress is available in the UK at Net-a-Porter for £360.

Find out more at the Net-a-Porter website

Via Retro To Go

J. Simons set to close?

J_simons

It's probably true to say that J. Simons in London's Covent Garden is one of the most significant and important men's retailers in the UK. And it could be set to close its doors next year - unless you can help.

If you're not familiar with the store, it's a longstanding mods' favourite, with John Simons opening his first store (The Ivy Shop in Richmond) in 1965. As the name suggests, its aim was to sell genuine/timeless American Ivy League clothing - a modernist look at odds with the 'way out' look of Carnaby Street at the time. The current J. Simons was a continuation of this ethos, opening in the 70s to sell a mix of classic old and new styles, again primarily sourced from the US market. If you're after a Harrington, an Oxford button-down or a good pair of loafers, it's the place to check.

Continue reading "J. Simons set to close?" »

Original Ikon unveils Bruce Foxton shoe

Ikon_foxton

This particular writer has no intention of watching From The Jam (the Foxton/Buckler Jam spin-off), but I've no issue if anyone is looking a night of nostalgia. Likewise, I'm not going to be rushing out to buy the Bruce Foxton shoe from Ikon - but if you fancy a pair, here they are.

Original Ikon will be selling the special edition Bruce Foxton styled shoe this spring,  a four eyelet Gibson shoe with light punch detail across the vamp and toe. The upper is pure white, full grain leather, with black and white checkerboard calf linings, finished off with contrast black stitch detail.

Bruce’s signature is laser etched onto the white sole and each pair will be limited and numbered, sold in a cloth shoe bag and in a 'luxury shoebox'. You'll also get a photo of Bruce on the current tour thrown in. Price? No idea, but all will surely become clear in the coming weeks.

Original Ikon website

Footnote:
A very similar pair of shoes is on the Ikon website right now called the Wilson. None of the limited edition detailing, but selling for £55. Interesting to see the difference in price against the new pair.

Louis Feraud 1960s dress

Louid_dress When it comes to this Louis Feraud wool dress, it's all in the detailing.

A 1960s dress, made of wool and fully lined in taffeta, featuring short sleeves and V-neck trimmed with navy. But check those buttons and that belt - which use the target design and might just be worth the price tag alone if you have plans for using them on something else.

Just one of these available as a size 12 - priced at £40.

Find out more at the Vintage Revival website

Twiggy bath hand puppet

Twiggy_puppet Not just a plaything, this Twiggy hand puppet is a bath time mitt too.

Available from Twiggybits in association with MonkeyInADryer.com and Frothco.com, the Twiggy puppet is individually handmade before being colour  screenprinted with the cartoon Twiggy design. And the back made of terry cloth - which means Twiggy can give you a rub down in the bath (although we'd rather not go there).

You can pick one up online for a limited time, you can pick one up for $20, which is around £10.

Find out more at the Twiggybits website

Via Retro To Go

Ben Sherman Spring collection out now

Ben Sherman have just announced details of their 2008 spring collection to buy instore and online. All the usual mod and casual wear essentials are present as usual. But of particular interest this season is the range of items that have the Ben Sherman logo, rather than the usual ‘Ben Sherman’ words, placed on the left breast pocket area. Influenced by Fred Perry perhaps? Regardless of inspiration, they definitely add a touch of class to a range which hasn’t changed too much over the years. Ben_sherman

Pick of the men’s section has to be their polo short with vertical stripes, whilst the pick of the women’s section is a toss up between the lovely long lined black Mac and the knee length skirt with waist bow detail. Ben Sherman also seem to do a rather nifty line in headwear, including the classic skinhead pork pie hat, checked flat cap, and the Pete Doherty-approved Trilby. As always with Ben Sherman, try to avoid the shoes...

To buy online and check where your nearest stockist is see the Ben Sherman website here.