This is a post about vintage Christmas gifts for friends.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year–but it’s the most shopping, browsing, wrapping, packing and sending time of the year too. Sometimes Christmas shopping friends is even harder than family–especially that fabulous friend who doesn’t need anything. Bottles of wine or spa gift certificates are nice, but you can next level your gift giving with these vintage Christmas gift ideas for friends.
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Find cooler and more unique gifts for friends by going vintage. You can start simple with small plates and glasses, or go bold with a cool lamp or chair.
These are great vintage Christmas gift ideas for friends that will feel special and unique
Go retro: think more Friends and less Bridgerton. There’s more to vintage than tea cups and doilies. Yes, we love all vintage. But vintage is really anything more than 20 years old. (Antique, by the way, is technically used to describe things over 100 years old.) So this means that “retro modern” is another option. Think retro items from the 1980s and 1990s: cool concert t-shirts (or buttons or hats), fun cosmetic bags, vintage stickers or perfume bottles.
Yep, these are Star Trek plate replicas of those used on USS Enterprise in the 1993 film. What’s Klingon for “they’ll love it”?
Vintage–with your own twist. When you hear “vintage” it’s natural to immediately think of all kinds of dishes and old furniture. But if you narrow down to certain types of items, and then think of out of the box ways to use them, it all gets much cooler. For example, you could totally pick up a very cute set of cups and saucers that match perfectly. This is a classic vintage gift, and we love it.
But vintage isn’t limited to tea cups! Whether it’s a retro Thermos from the 1980s or a PacMan lunch box, there’s a ton of fun and unique items that could surprise and delight anyone who wants a little vintage in their Christmas.
Consider new ways to use old things: that’s the beauty of vintage.
But instead, if you get snack plates, these great vintage plates are designed to hold a cup on the plate itself–think ladies who lunch all politely holding their plates in their laps, but able to balance their cup on the plate itself. It’s actually really convenient for friends in dorms or small apartments. Ok, no tea parties planned, but how about a few friends balancing that slice of pizza while binging Netflix? These types of plates can be a fun and cool distinction from modern dishware.
Mix and match patterns and purpose. A lot of fine china dinnerware sets feature bread and butter plates, which are smaller than salad plates. A set of dishes this size is perfect as appetizer plates. But instead of matching them with the same set, pair them with champagne coupes. Now you have a very cool wine and cheese party set with a vintage feel. In fact, for a very cool look, we love retro glass dishes as much as traditional ceramic. Think Anchor Hockley, Indiana glass, hobnail glass and depression glass. These are all gorgeous alternatives. And they don’t have to be used for food. Small finger bowls become jewelry holders and snack trays hold toiletries in the bathroom.
This is vintage, but it’s not teacups and saucers or even porcelain (not that we don’t love that too). Surprise your friend with a pretty candy dish that can also be used as a trinket box like this gorgeous green MidCentury Modern green glass candy dish. If you want to relly next level it, add those gorgeous vintage bonsai tree bookends.
Pro tip: Check out estate sales for midcentury modern styles for a more funky look. Traditional floral snack plates can be great for anyone who likes to entertain, especially if they have a small space.
Think outside the box! Ok, fine inside the box, but a different kind. This metal vintage slide box has outlived its original purpose, but it is beyond cool as a gift box with attitude. And filled with china and crystal? You didn’t see that coming. (We pack ours very, very carefully!)
Look for modern retro. Technically anything over 20 years is considered vintage. So while we absolutely love “classic vintatge” from the 1970s and earlier, there is actually a lot of really cool 1980s and 1990s dishes and glasses that don’t have the traditional formal feel of decades before. These lend themselves well to anyone with a modern aesthetic, or just likes a more relaxed feel. Think “modern retro” brands like 80s Ikea and 90s Kate Spade or Pottery Barn. Keep an eye out (depending on your budget) for a cool desk chair, or table lamp.
This vintage lamp is a super cool find. And if you get lucky at a thrift store or estate sale, they are sometimes surprisingly affordable. This one would be amazing in an office space or living room. But, you can pair it with something modern, to tie into other decor.
Textiles and natural elements. You can find great fabrics from other eras and do lots of fun things with them. Obviously if your friend loves to sew, just beautifully wrapped yards of a great vintage pattern could be the perfect gift. And don’t forget to look at less common fabrics, you can go for a raw silk, or 180 degrees the other way and embrace velour or other retro textiles. But if you’re the one who likes to create, consider upholstering a cool chair with a funky pattern. Or, create unique pillow cases.
Artwork. Vintage artwork doesn’t have to mean big bucks. (Although believe us, it can. It CAN.) But whether it’s a retro poster or a classic oil painting, you can find super cool vintage items. And they don’t even have to be artwork. Old postcards, playbills and even letters can be framed and turned into great wall art.
Barware. Wine tastes better when sipped from crystal (obviously!), and a mostly meh beer gets a facelift with a vintage Waterford lowball. You could stay vintage and totally go old school with a crystal decanter and gold rimmed glasses. Or bring in something modern like a sleek modern decanter to balance your choices.
Level up their barware with vintage carnival glass wine glasses like these. The iridescence comes from a special metallic mix that is instantly recognizable. Use them outside to enjoy their full intensity!
Shop estate sales and thrift stores for even more vintage Christmas gift ideas
The point of the season of course, is the friendship, not the gift. And vintage items can be a fun way to reduce the pressure and stress of traditional shopping. Instead of running to buy the shiniest, newest thing that everyone is grabbing, consider the power of the personal. Finding vintage items are always a fun discovery, and it makes the giving just that much better. Good luck!
Our curated vintage gift boxes can help you with ultimate one stop shopping for vintage Christmas ideas for friends and family. We aren’t afraid to mix a pair of new comfy socks and Moleskine notepads with an 80s vintage gold rimmed cup and saucer. How we roll. Or, choose one of our mystery gift boxes for a true done for you gift.
Read more about how to shop estate sales for classic Christmas decor ideas or learn more about how to specifically find great vintage Christmas gifts for him.
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