Vintage fashion, vol. 1: Instagram inspirations

Posted: Jan 20, 2016 | Tagged: fashion, instagram, photos, retro, textilles, vintage

Inspired by vintage... Clips & animations

As we mentioned couple of times, we like to follow vintage things as well as to watch contemporary projects inspired by vintage mood, style and aesthetics: fashion, design, art, movies and animation. Here we have three examples from the last field: movie shorts inspired by...

Effects of connecting old and new things can be classy and nostalgic or funny and suprising - and that's the point! For more contemporary projects inspired by vintage things - check also our previous post When past meets future - modern projects based on vintage elements.

Posted: Dec 01, 2015 | Tagged: animation, music, photos, retro, video, vintage

Paper magic, part I: Paper Theater

Some time ago we showed our selection of inspiring vintage toys, now it's time for another special thing, which gives a lot of joy since late 18th century - for little owners, as well as for adults. Tiny paper theaters - richly decorated scenes with illustrated sceneries, printed on paperboard and ready to assemble at home. It's not only a charming decoration, but also a kind of interactive toy, a great tool which can be used to play and to learn at the same time. That's why in some places paper teathers are still popularized and really appreciated. Older versions of theaters from previous centuries can be seen in toy museums, such as Toy Museum in Karpacz (Poland), where this paper scene is a part of collection of Henryk Tomaszewski (founder of Wroclaw Mime Theater):

Here's also an example of paper doll from the exhibition of Toy Museum in Roden (Netherlands):

A cradle of toy theaters is based in London, in Pollock's Toy Museum which is famous mainly because of this kind of toys. There is also the Pollock's Toy Shop where you can buy your own toy theater. Shop was originally established in the 1880s by its namesake, Benjamin Pollock - creator of paper teaters.

On this 1920 newsreel you can see how Mr. Pollock created his toy teathers:

Pollock's Toy Museum even prepared an app which gives an opportunity to create your own victorian "paper" teather - of course, digitally:

And even though the real charm of toy theatres is hidden in paperboards, from now, if you can't take your own paper theater with you, there's always a possibility to take an alternate, digital version.

Other great sources of images and infos about whole paper theaters and single elements - backgrounds, scenes, pieces:

50 Watts

This Pinterest feed with really good examples of toy theaters

Photos: Magdalena Koscianska (more about toy museums - here)

Posted: Sep 08, 2015 | Tagged: paper, retro, theatre, toys, video, vintage

Vintage bicycle fashion vol. 2: the Tweed Run - retro cycling

In Vintage bicycle fashion vol. 1 you could find insprations from the past. This time we will show you how they inspire people today and how vintage fashion, connected with cycling, became stylish and popular way of spending their time. If we're talking about stylish retro cycling, classic garments and vintage fashion on two wheels, we just can't miss the Tweed Run: The Tweed Run is a metropolitan bicycle ride with a bit of style. We take to the streets in our well-pressed best, and cycle through the city's iconic landmarks. Along the way, we stop for a tea break and a picnic stop, and we usually end with a bit of a jolly knees-up - we can read here, on official Tweed Run website. First edition took a place in 2009. From this time, year by year, people in London go across the city centre on their vehicles, in traditional British cycling attire. 

Of course, vintage cycling is popular not only in London. Other countries also have their version of retro cycling festivals, such as Tweet Ride in Alabama (below - photos by Todd Douglas, see whole series here):

and Tweed Run Budapest (photos by Zsolt Szabo, more - here):

See also vintage Cycle Chic from streets of Copenhagen, here. Those people truly show that bicycle is not only the lovely way of transport but also very stylish element of their vintage image. 

For more vintage inspirations check also our Pinterest set - Vintage Bicycles.

Posted: Jul 16, 2015 | Tagged: bicycle, cycle chic, cycling, cyclist, fashion, retro, vintage