Culture | Feb. 2024
MATERIAL PURSUITS
By Contributor
This weekend’s curated luxury trends.
CHANGE IT
In celebration of National Retro Day earlier this week, Abt Appliances & Electronics in Glenview is rolling out some of its most in-demand retro gadgets. Crediting the resurgence of “retro tech” to flip-phone-loving, Generation Z hipsters, Abt—the nation’s largest independent, single-store retailer of electronics, appliances, and home goods—now sees onceobscure items like this Yamaha CD Player 5-Disc Changer back on trend. Engineered to harness Yamaha’s extensive Hi-Fi technology, the CD-C603 promises a superior auditory experience that elevates even this most discriminating audiophile’s music collection. With the capacity to play up to five CDs or stream music files from a USB device, this changer is designed to produce sound that’s dynamic, clear, and true to the original recording. Add it to your audio setup for $549.95 at abt.com
SHAKE IT
When kids were singing along to Outkast’s hit single “Hey Ya!” back in 2003, the line “shake It like a Polaroid picture” had very little context. Today, the generation that grew up listening to that song at neighborhood block parties is giving the Polaroid brand a reboot. Abt says the retro, black and white Polaroid Now Generation 2 instant film camera is preferred for its autofocus 2-lens system and use of sustainable materials, with 40 percent of its components being recycled. The Polaroids are coming out with the same vintage quality but with today’s state-of-the-art technology—processing images at higher speeds and featuring a timer for the perfect selfie. Its classic design pays homage to the iconic Polaroid cameras of the past, which makes capturing photos a fashion statement. Pick one up for $119.95 at abt.com
TAKE IT
The return of vinyl is hardly new but the Victrola Revolution GO VSC-750SB portable record player is taking the trend to the next level. Billed as the world’s first portable, rechargeable, and Bluetooth-enabled portable record player, this is hardly the orange plastic Close ‘n Play phonograph of your youth. The battery-powered device means you bring your classic vinyl to places you never would have imagined—from the back yard to the beach. The record player has a lid that can display five different albums and when it’s time to pack up and head home, do it in style by slinging the guitar strap over your shoulder (which can be changed out with one of your own favorite vintage guitar straps). Available for $199.99, just in time for spring, at abt.com.
