Fans of vintage literature and 20th century design will no doubt love Postcards from Puffin: 100 Book Covers in One Box.
It is just that, 100 postcards in a books-shaped box, each of the postcards featuring a different classic/iconic cover from a Puffin gem you might well remember from childhood.
70 years of British design and illustration history in one box – and yours for just £7.29.
Find out more at the Amazon website
If you fancy yourself as a modern-day 'dandy ', you might want to see how it was done in its heyday. Luckily for you, a book has just been published by the V&A showing that very thing – The Day of the Peacock: Style for Men 1963-73 by Geoffrey Aquilina Ross.
Geoffrey Aquilina Ross was the men's editor for Vogue in the 1960s and in this book, he recalls the era’s most dashing figures, including Tommy Nutter, Mick Jagger and Patrick Lichfield, as well as discussing iconic shops and tailors such as Granny takes a Trip, Blades, Hung on You and Mr Fish. Christopher Breward’s introduction throws in some social and cultural context too.
Packed with colour illustrations too (150 in total), the hardback book is available now, with Amazon discounting it to £19.99. If you're into vintage clobber, it looks like a must-buy. Some black and white images over the page.
Find out more about the book at the Amazon website
Via His Knibs
If your planning a vintage twist with your big day, you might want to get your name down for a copy of the forthcoming Vintage Weddings book by Marnie Fogg, which is published by Carlton Books.
According to the pre-release write-up, it's a 'visual journey through 100 years of wedding styles and dresses', looking at key periods, styles and designers, as well as significant ceremonies and cultural influences in wedding fashions. Organised chronologically, the book shows how to recognise the silhouette that will best suit your body shape, how to pick the right fabrics and how to source appropriate accessories, from gloves and shoes to flowers, veils, jewellery and table decorations.
Designed for both the collector and the future bride looking for inspiration, the book is out on 12th May, but available for pre-order now, discounted at Amazon to £16.25.
Fans of weird and wonderful extreme, space age and brutalist architecture will no doubt love CCCP: Cosmic Communist Constructions Photographed book by Frédéric Chaubin, which is published by Taschen.
Photographer Chaubin highlights 90 buildings that were constructed from 1970 until the break-up of the Soviet Union, a diverse range of architecture that has one thing in common – all of it has the power to amaze. From a crematorium adorned with concrete flames to a summer camp inspired by sketches of a prototype lunar base and a technological institute with a flying saucer crashed on the roof, it's all here and more.
Supported by words of explanation over the 288 pages, you can 'browse' the book at the Taschen site and you can see another image over the page. It's much cheaper to buy at Amazon though, with around a third off the RRP, selling for £22.74.
With all the hype surrounding the Soulboy movie still fresh, it's perhaps the perfect time to update a book on the subject of northern soul. That book is The Story of Northern Soul by David Nowell.
Published by Portico and now on the shelves (virtual or otherwise), it's essentially an updated version of the long out of print Too Darn Soulful, kicking off with the emergence of sould music in the mod clubs of the 1960s, working its way through the northern scene as it developed, throwing in some anecdotes, photos and flyers plus, in this new version, a chapter covering developments and changes since 1999, when the original book was first published.
Amazon has it in stock, with this 330-page book selling right now for just £7.67.
Find out more about the book at the Amazon website
Via Modculture
Fans of concrete structures will no doubt love the idea of owning Brutalism – Post-War British Architecture by Alexander Clement, which is published by The Crowood Press later this month.
Brutalism describes architecture that appeared between the years 1945 – 1975, intended to be uncompromisingly modern and striking. But over time, it's a style that has divided the public – some love its bold shape, others see it as nothing more than soulless concrete, steel and glass.
Now we are far enough away from the era, Alexander Clement evaluates the architectural style, its impact and its future over 160 pages, which includes 150 colour photographs of key buildings. Published on 24th January, you can pre-order now for £18.95.
