Cut-price kitsch

Chocolate-scented arm candy
by HRH, sale price: £34.95

I've been coveting the kitsch chic of Helen Rochfort Handbags (HRH) for quite a while and today they are half price until midnight (offer ref: SPRINGFLASH). These beauties are rightly billed by their creator as a "wonderland of pop art, quirky vintage styling and delicious eccentricity". But while they look like must own items would I actually use one, or just sit looking at it? Man-child is not convinced either (having been relegated to one third hanging space by my overspill of cute, impractical pur-chases).

"Mod kids",
by Lee

Broadcaster and self-styled culture vulture Lauren Laverne's been papped with the "Wonka" and every single design in the HRH collection is an editorial delight sure to brighten any fashionable dps.  Another reason for this brand's runaway success is its alignment with our lust for vintage 'mass market' art at a time when collectors are raiding for retro at boot sales, flea markets and online auctions everywhere. The wide-eyed appeal of Mattel's iconic Sindy doll marks HRH' latest commercially-savvy collaboration and has era-crossing appeal - from children of the eighties like me, to fans of the massively popular 'big eyed art' trend circa 1960s/70s. Red or Dead creator, Wayne Hemmingway is such an enthusiast he wrote a book about it, and I have two prints in my own collection.

"Tina" by J H Lynch

Most widely recognised is the sultry "Tina", painted by J H Lynch in 1961. Re-prints were originally sold in Boots, and later appeared in Stanley Kubrick’s 1971 cult classic "A Clockwork Orange", and on the cover of Edwyn Collin’s hit single “A Girl Like You” (1994).

I most recently saw an original 70s "Tina" print while checking out the chintz in Manchester's arty Northern Quarter with my friend Elizabeth. It came in at under £25, making her a cheaper way to feed that kitsch chic habit than a cut-price HRH, especially if all you're going to do is accessorise your bedroom with it!

"Tina" top right, and an unsigned
print in our spare bedroom