November 18th, 2008
These really cool little bags are now back in the store. Astro Boy, the ‘Mighty Atom’ was from the original Japanese anime television series of the 1960’s and was one of the first examples of anime. The bags have a quirky retro look about them and are in a lovely cream-coloured faux leather.
Astro Boy Mighty Atom Bag
Posted in Fashion blog, Shopping, Bags, retro handbags, Cute gift ideas, Unusual Gifts, Unusual bags, Anime bags, Manga bags | No Comments »
November 14th, 2008
Here’s the second clue for the Dead Things competition:
Possibly gone
Posted in Larkin & Catcher competition, Fashion blog, free competition | No Comments »
November 14th, 2008
We’re now more Ruby Gloom Catfight bags in store. The Catfight bags are ‘cute goth’ as opposed to dark goth and they really are sturdy, well-made bags that combine good looks with efficiency of function. The newest of the Catfight bags is the shopper bag, which is perfect when a handbag is just not big enough but when you really don’t need a large shoulder bag.
Catfight gothic shopping bag
Then there’s the small Catfight gothic shoulder bag — which is just a perfect size for everyday, when you don’t need to carry around a load of stuff.
Smaller sized Catfight bag
The next one up is the medium-sized Catfight shoulder bag. Not too big for everyday but big enough for a few books and papers.
Ruby Gloom Catfight shoulder bag
The final bag is the large Catfight shoulder bag — this is the biggest and strongest of all and would carry a fair amount for school or college.
Catfight large shoulder bag
And don’t forget the Catfight phone pouch — it matches all the bags but it also makes a great inexpensive Christmas gift or cute birthday present.
Catfight Phone Pouch
Posted in Fashion blog, Bags, Goth and Emo Bags, psychobilly bags, Alternative Christmas, Gothic Christmas, Cute gift ideas, Inexpensive Christmas gifts for girls, Inexpensive Christmas gifts, Unusual Gifts, Cute Bags | No Comments »
November 13th, 2008
The much sought-after Miso Pretty shopper is now back in stock – though it probably won’t be for long. This is a rugged large-sized bag and serves the practical purpose of carrying all supplies which won’t fit in most totes or handbags.
But the real appeal of the Miso Pretty shopper is Fiona Hewitt’s artwork, which is enchantingly beautiful. Easy to see why the bag is sometimes described as a pop art poster with handles. I think we’ll be seeing more of that kind of thing in the future – practical items which are small works of art in their own right.
Miso Pretty Shopper Bag
Posted in Fashion blog, Shopping, Bags, Cute gift ideas, Inexpensive Christmas gifts, Miso Pretty Shopper Bag, Cute Bags | No Comments »
November 11th, 2008
Just a little reminder to visit the archive alternative clothing sale at the Larkin & Catcher store. There’s lots of really good bargains to be had and many of the items are pretty unique — definitely not the kind of thing you’ll see in the average high street. There’s a good few items of alternative clothing going at rock bottom prices, though numbers are strictly limited. There’s also a few pieces gothic jewellery left — mostly gothic mourning jewellery. The archive sale section also has some really gorgeous retro lingerie, which is now less than half the normal price — check out the retro babydolls and the rockabilly leopard print bras and panties.
The Dangerous Doll babydoll A really stunning and beautifully made little 1950’s style babydoll — pretty transparent but leaves enough to the imagination to make it an extremely flattering item to have in the boudoir.
Dark Doe Shoulder Bag An unusual shoulder bag — lightweight and cute but with a strong gothic look to it.
Funeral Flowers Gothic Bracelet A piece of gothic mourning jewellery, handmade with vintage lace and findings.
Posted in retro lingerie, Handmade jewellery, Fashion blog, Gothic Christmas, Inexpensive Christmas gifts for girls, Gothic Jewellery, Sale clothing, clothing sale, jewellery sale, gift sale, Unusual jewellery, Inexpensive Christmas gifts, Unusual Gifts, gothic clothing sale | No Comments »
November 10th, 2008
We think it was a great idea to stock greetings cards in the Larkin & Catcher store and our darling customers certainly seem to agree. We’ll be increasing the number of cards in the store over the next few months – so you’ll know where to come if you’re look for a cute birthday card or an unusual greetings card. We’re also thinking of stocking some wrapping paper (of the fabulous kind, obviously), so you can do all your gift shopping in one fell swoop. Now, I’m thinking we need to get some rolls of tape in too…
Bunny Girl Card This retro greetings card has a strong 1920’s/1930’s look about it.
Protection Card A great retro ‘Popculture’ card and one that could equally well be send by a daughter or a mother.
Thank You Card Say ‘thanks’ like you mean it with this fabulous showstopper of a card!
Posted in Fashion blog, Alternative birthday cards, Unusual birthday cards, unusual greetings cards, Cute greetings cards | No Comments »
November 9th, 2008
The kazoo is a simple musical instrument which has existed in various forms for hundreds of years. It was particularly popular with the Dixieland jazz bands of the 1920’s and the little tin Kazoo we have in the Larkin & Catcher webstore is made from the original 1930’s tooling. It comes in a little tube and includes instructions and a brief history of the instrument. There’s something delightfully appealing about it and — at a mere £4.50 — we think it would make a inexpensive gift or unusual Christmas present.
Original Tin Kazoo
The kazoo is one of a range of nostalgic, rustic and nature-related products from the independent English company Flights of Fancy. One of the best things about Flights of Fancy is that, although their products are environmentally sound and often educational, they’re never over-earnest but always fun, quirky and fabulously out of the ordinary.
Posted in Fashion blog, Shopping, Alternative Christmas, Inexpensive Christmas gifts for girls, Inexpensive Christmas gifts, Unusual Gifts | No Comments »
November 8th, 2008
We’ve just added two new postcards to the greeting cards section in the webstore;
1930’s Dolly Postcard. We really love this — it’s from an original in the Robert Opie collection. Some vintage dolls are creepy but this little one looks sweet. Postcards mostly went out of fashion years ago — you can see how it’s easier to phone or email and more private to write a letter that goes in an envelope. But we reckon there’s something a bit special about postcards, especially when they have some kind of strong visual appeal, like this dolly. This postcard is pretty large — around 8 inches high, so it’s not exactly a lame little thing to send someone and it can be also a nice little extra to put in with a gift, instead of a traditional gift card.
The I’m Sorry Postcard — this one has all the uses of the Dolly postcard but it’s obvious that it can also be useful for sending apologies to someone. How could they not forgive you?
Back to the Store
Posted in Fashion blog, Shopping, Unusual birthday cards, unusual greetings cards | No Comments »
November 8th, 2008
The combination of pulp art and double entendre go quite well together, I think. Cheeky but not totally sleazy. Here’s two little fridge magnets we’ve just put in the webstore — they seem to put a smile on most people’s faces and they make great little gifts to put in with a christmas card or a birthday card.
Bad Boys magnet
Crack the Whip magnet
Back to the Store
Posted in Shopping, Alternative Christmas, Inexpensive Christmas gifts for girls, Kitsch gifts, Unusual birthday cards, Inexpensive Christmas gifts, Unusual Gifts | No Comments »
November 8th, 2008
We’ve lots of lovely new products in the shop and even more to come. Most of them would make great inexpensive Christmas gifts, so we’ll be showing many of them here in the next week or so. But this post is really just a little reminder that Nookart are no longer going to be making their lovely kitsch compact mirrors, jewellery, purses, etc, (they’re going to concentrate purely on their decals).
So no more of these:



We’re going to miss those little guys — but there’s still some lovely Nookart items left to get your hands on, including these little beauties…
The Pray for Love necklace
The Dizzy Love Notebook and Pen
The Rebirth Lockable Tin Chest
Blood Ties Compact Mirror
And the delightfully camp Join the Navy bag
So if you’re a fan of Nookart or just love retro and rockabilly kitsch, try and get these as soon as you can because there’s a good chance that they’re heading to becoming collectors pieces at some point in the future.
Posted in Shopping, Alternative Christmas, Cute gift ideas, Inexpensive Christmas gifts for girls, Rockabilly Jewellery, Unusual jewellery, Inexpensive Christmas gifts, Unusual Gifts, Nookart | No Comments »