Get a head start on holiday gift shopping (without breaking the bank!) by hitting thrift stores and estate sales in search of standout pieces for your friends and loved ones.
“By purchasing vintage and secondhand gifts, you help to reduce waste and extend the life of these special pieces,” says Emi Deilus, the co-founder of Lainey James Collective. “Vintage and secondhand pieces have charm and character that many mass-produced gifts lack,” she adds. “These gifts will be one-of-a-kind and much more meaningful and thoughtful.”
Here, Deilus and other secondhand enthusiasts share their favorite types of items to pick up as gifts. You’ll be surprised you haven’t thought of these ideas sooner.
Upgrade Your Hostess Gifts
No good guest arrives at a friend’s house empty handed! Rather than picking up a bottle of wine at the store and calling it a day, though, why not go for something a bit more personal?
Deilus shares some of her go-to ideas below.
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Many people will gift a pack of festive paper cocktail napkins along with a bottle of wine or sweet treat. However, why not go a slightly different route this year?
“Consider giving a set of vintage embroidered or linen napkins or tea towels, which add a touch of elegance and are reusable,” Deilus says.
a set of vintage embroidered or linen napkins or tea towels,.
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Who doesn’t love receiving a beautiful bouquet?
“Pair fresh flowers with a vintage planter or a crystal vase,” Deilus suggests. “It’s a gift that can be enjoyed long after the flowers have died.” Better yet, your hostess won’t be scrambling to find an empty vessel when you arrive!
Vintage vases can be enjoyed long after the flowers have faded.
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Baking something for your host to enjoy during or after a gathering is always a thoughtful gesture.
“Instead of handing over your cookies in a basic Tupperware container, consider gifting your homemade treats on a beautiful vintage platter or tray,” Deilus offers. “It’s a functional keepsake the host can use again.”
Online auctions are great place to find beautiful vintage platters or trays.
This fantastic set of 12 - Waterford Lismore wine glasses is perfect to take your gift to the next level.
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Candles are always a nice gift, especially during the cold, dark winter season. Deilus likes to pair a candle with a vintage candle holder, dish, or matchstick holder.
“This is such a fun and personal way to elevate an otherwise ordinary hostess gift,” she says.
Some candle holders you can’t find anywhere else are available in online auctions. Click here to find them.
Cater to Their Interests
Know your host loves a particular color, hobby, team, etc.? Keep your eyes open for something that caters to their specific interests as you shop.
“The thrill of the hunt is just as fun as seeing the smile on my family’s face when they open a unique gift,” says Kristyn McCray, the co-founder of Lainey James Collective. “I found a vintage letterman’s jacket for my brother’s favorite baseball team and to this day, it is one of my best estate sale finds!”
Other interest-related gifts to look for include those relating to cooking, entertaining, and decorating, McCray adds. “Buy a silver bar tray and couple it with your favorite bottle of wine or vintage cookbooks for your friend who loves to bake, or pair several coffee table books together for your friend who loves to decorate,” she says.
Books that your friends can read and decorate with like this set? Excellent! Check it out here.
Pick a Theme
On a related note, you can’t go wrong with picking a theme for your recipient and sticking to it as you shop.
“That will always make the gift feel more curated,” notes Stephanie Wells, the founder of The Bonny & Blithe Collection. Possible themes include reading, new baby, the outdoors, and more.
For a reading-themed gift, she recommends the following. “Purchase a wicker basket, a cute dish towel or napkin, a mug (or two!), a couple books, and a candle,” Wells says. “Place the towel/napkin in the basket and set the rest inside. You can also personalize it further by purchasing their favorite coffee or tea from the store.”
You can’t go wrong with picking a theme for your recipient and sticking to it as you shop. Whatever your theme, find the pieces to complete it at online.
Have a hiker in your life? Try this option. “Find a comfy flannel, a couple tools, travel cup, cooler, blanket, and hat,” Wells says. “Take the blanket and set it in the cooler and fill it with the rest of the items! I’ve seen a lot of foldable outdoor chairs in thrift stores as well. That can always be added if the person needs them!
Opt for Cheeky Monograms
Nicole Letts, the founder of Grandmillennial Shop, loves to gift a good monogrammed piece that can read as playful.
“A sterling jelly spoon emblazoned with the initials MC or HH (Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, respectively) or the name Mary can instantly become a cheeky holiday serving piece,” she says.
Pick up Picture Frames
Thrift stores and estate sales are always full of picture frames that are just begging to be displayed. Allison Bannister, the founder of Antiques with Allison, likes the idea of picking up a gilt frame that can be gifted on its own or with a picture of the recipient printed and placed inside. This is an especially thoughtful gift for a couple who recently got married or welcomed a new baby into their home.
A heart shaped picture frame as a gift? Nothing screams thoughtful and unique more than it! And what’s even better? It’s available to bid online here. But you want more than one picture frame, click here to find more.
Help Someone Build Their Collection
Have a friend or loved one who’s a collector? They’ll appreciate you doing a little extra scouring for them.
For example, Letts says, many people collect discontinued holiday patterns, such as Tiffany & Co.’s holiday set, and will always appreciate receiving a few additional pieces.
Elevate a Gift Card
Even if all your recipient really wants is a gift card, there are ways to make that feel more special, too.
“Find a cute little trinket dish, tissue paper, and some small accessories along with the card,” says. “Presenting a gift card in a special way makes it feel so much more special!”
Written by:
December 8, 2024 Updated 12:01 PM
Sarah Lyon is a Washington, DC, native living in New York City. As a freelancer, she frequently covers pieces pertaining to interior design, travel, and other lifestyle topics. Her pieces have appeared in outlets including Apartment Therapy, Architectural Digest, MyDomaine, the Washington Post, the New York Times, and more. When she isn't writing, Sarah works with designers to help them style spaces for photo shoots (and can't stop rearranging and redecorating her own apartment, either!). She has a penchant for shopping secondhand and loves giving preloved pieces new life. Sarah’s own spaces have appeared on Apartment Therapy, The Everygirl, Houzz, and Washingtonian.com. Her Dupont Circle apartment was featured in both the spring 2019 print edition of Small Space Decorating and the January 2019 print edition of Washingtonian Magazine.
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