Old fashioned seaside fun

I was rummaging around in a drawer the other day, when I found this funny old photograph. Like many images of the time, it comes in postcard format, and Margate is mentioned on the reverse. Judging from the age of my aunt (centre, in a curiously old fashioned bathing suit), the picture was taken in the 1930s. My grandmother (on the left), and a rather matronly looking older lady, are wearing stockings and shoes… on the beach!





Fashion codes and swimwear styles excepted, a trip to the British seaside hasn’t changed that much over the years. Simple seaside pleasures remain much the same. There are still donkey rides, deck chairs, amusement parks, ice cream vendors and buckets and spades.












In fact, retro seaside style has become fashionably cool of late. At Clerkenwell Design Week, I posed in a vintage vermillion striped all-in-one swimsuit at the Camira stand. I only did this to be rewarded with a bar of rock – another traditional seaside treat.







Our nostalgia for the cheeky seaside postcard never seems to wane either... If you’re a fan of classic British holiday fun, you’ll love Fake London’s Wish You Were Here t-shirt from ShopCurious.













Tony Husband’s characterful cartoon captures the essence of the chavish chap enjoying a soaking of sun, sea and suds. Wish you were there?

Do you?

Vintage royal mementoes

Plans for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to travel abroad have apparently been put on hold, to avoid being hassled by an international media circus. ‘Wish you weren’t here,’ is the message the royal couple are most likely to send on a postcard home, as they strive to achieve some semblance of privacy.












As the happy couple spend a quiet pre-honeymoon weekend in the UK, recovering from the Royal Wedding, I discovered that a relaxing local getaway is very much in keeping with royal tradition of yesteryear (see my Retropgressive column at The Dabbler).





Meantime, I’ve also found the perfect selection of stationery for the Cambridges' official honeymoon greetings: A collectable set of six vintage postcards at ShopCurious, featuring royal portraits dating back to the reign of King George VI.








These curiously posh postcards are actually original photographs, ranging from formal state portraits of Her Majesty The Queen, to informal shots of the royal family at home. The artists include child photographer, Marcus Adams (1875-1959), whose work is currently on show at The Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh (until 5th June).










There are also photographs by the late Dorothy Wilding, probably Britain's most famous female photographer.







Wilding was the first woman to be awarded a Royal Warrant to be the official photographer to a King and Queen at their Coronation, and one of her photographs of the present Queen (known as the 'Wilding Portrait') was used for a series of definitive British postage stamps, used between 1953 and 1967.

If they’re not snapped up for the Royal Collection, such charming, old fashioned ephemera would make a lovely family heirloom. Alternatively, you may wish to mail a few royal memories to your friends from your own holiday hideaway…

Do you?

Sending love in style

In this age when so many of us are curiously self-obsessed, there’s still a chance to prove that genuine love is well and truly alive. Valentine’s Day may seem to you like a commercial conspiracy, but it’s also a rare opportunity to express our appreciation of and affection for our loved ones.

Valentine greetings can be traced back as far as Medieval times, but Valentine cards were first made in Britain in the early 19th century. Since then, all manner of cards, gifts and curios have appeared on the market. Last year, our custom made curious pop art rings were very popular - these were mainly requests from girls ordering miniature paintings in their likeness on the rings to give to their husbands and boyfriends.





There was also one memorably romantic request from a man wanting us to replicate his image, (from a photograph), on a ring to give to his girlfriend when he proposed to her. Fortunately, she accepted, and we’re very happy for both of them. He also told us that his portrait on the ring bears an uncanny resemblance - and that his girlfriend wears her curious Valentine ring, with his picture, all the time. How sweet!







If you’re not quite ready for a personalized Valentine ring, or a piece of statement jewellery - a card, perhaps even a postcard - should suffice. At ShopCurious, we’ve some lovely old-style postcards, adorned with rather stylish vintage brooches, that will make the perfect gift of love. They’re especially useful if you’re not quite sure what to buy, as they’ll serve as a Valentine’s gift and a card all in one.




Valentine’s Day is a time to indulge in a little nostalgia – and an original, vintage brooch will add a touch of unique colour to your day. The weather (at least here in London) is depressingly grey and gloomy at this time of year, so why not brighten up an existing outfit with a stylishly unusual embellishment? It’s less expensive than buying a new set of clothes – and the association with a loved one will make this small and inexpensive gift more precious than any luxury designer accessory.










Alternatively, you may prefer to treat yourself to one of these beautiful brooches. With or without a partner, some of us will always be romantic at heart...

Are you?