| Retro" is no longer a term limited to talking about the | | | | or "mod generation" are popping up everywhere . |
| rock and roll years of the 50s; "retro" is anything | | | | Designs that are clearly inspired from the Hippie |
| "cool" from "the past" . The past can be the 40s, | | | | generation are being reproduced on everything from |
| 50s, 60s, 70s and yes the 80s. Time is creeping by | | | | clothing to desk accessories and are sought after by |
| fast and antique dealers are catching on to the fact | | | | younger buyers in America and abroad. Mixing vintage |
| that 60s and 70s collectibles are now of interest to | | | | styles with newer looks is also very "cool" and a |
| collectors. | | | | popular decorating style today. |
| So what would you put in a "hip" home? For | | | | While 60s collectibles have moved more slowly in |
| starters...think ORANGE- SUNFLOWER | | | | brick and mortar shops than those of earlier periods, |
| YELLOW-BROWN-PINK-GREEN or BLACK & | | | | "hip collectibles" are gaining momentum. The children |
| WHITE. Some say these colors could stop traffic, but | | | | of babyboomers are interested in contemporary |
| it is important to remember that "day glow" colors | | | | interpretations of retro looks from not only the |
| were "in" during the "hip" years. Palettes of the 60s | | | | sixties but also the seventies and are buying lots of |
| were bright, bold, exciting and sometimes over the | | | | reproductions items from these decades. |
| top. There are no soft pastels here...and certainly | | | | Numerous on-line businesses with "shaggy sixties" |
| nothing muted about the sixties. | | | | websites catering to shoppers who adore palettes of |
| Patterns were often of optical illusions (Op Art), | | | | pink, brown and lime green as well as cutesy |
| geometrics, abstracts and of course vibrant flowers. | | | | patterns of stripes, polka dots and swirling designs |
| Textile designers who worked for firms such as Heal | | | | are growing. In fact there are web designers who |
| or Conran captured the attention of the "in crowd" | | | | specialize just in this look. |
| with their screen printed fabrics of contemporary | | | | It is helpful to track what is selling in department |
| designs. Psychedelic swirling designs inspired by the | | | | stores and home-kitchen outlets because these |
| mind-expanding experiences of the Hippie generation | | | | trends often spike an interest in buyers who are |
| became part of the popular culture and were used | | | | searching for " the originals". For example, right now |
| on home and kitchen accessories as well as on | | | | bright greens, pinks, yellows and oranges are |
| luggage, clothing, textiles and of course posters and | | | | considered "nifty" colors and collectibles found in |
| even buses. | | | | these colors with "groovy" patterns are becoming |
| British clothing "mod" designer Mary Quant' also | | | | important. One suggestion for antiques and |
| brought her look into the kitchen where her popular | | | | collectibles dealers is to pull out anything from the |
| daisy motif could be found on toasters and canister. | | | | 60s that they may have packed away over the |
| Colors of orange and sunny yellow combined with | | | | years and have some fun in re-living what Austin |
| earthy tones dominated kitchen cookware and | | | | Powers called "Shagadelic" style baby! |
| housewares. Accessories also included designs with | | | | "Twenty and thirty something " buyers are getting a |
| whimsical mushrooms or vegetables. Le Creuset's | | | | kick out of ordering home and clothing related items |
| cast-iron cookware in its signature orange color was | | | | in "psychedelic" designs, baby boomer (who actually |
| found in kitchens abroad as well as in America during | | | | lived through the sixties) are still far more likely to |
| the "mod years". Ceramics, glassware, pottery and | | | | want to acquire the real thing at tag sales, shops and |
| textiles often featured abstracts and geometric | | | | flea markets. This is not to say that collecting "retro" |
| designs and were made in bright colors or black and | | | | is a pastime for only the "older generation", but let's |
| white. Heavy plastics was a popular material for 60s | | | | face it...babyboomers were there.....and can appreciate |
| housewares and furnishings. | | | | finding genuine "flower power" beverage glasses at a |
| Today, colors and patterns popular during the sixties | | | | thrift shop. |