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Secondhand Gifting – Gift Ideas for All Ages & Styles
Why buy something cookie-cutter and mass-produced when you can find unique and fun gifts at your local vintage store?
Holiday shopping in the US is expected to surpass $1 trillion for the first time in history. Despite the inflation, tariffs, and economic uncertainty, American consumers seem to be determined to spend a lot of money during the holiday season.
“When you gift secondhand, you can pretty much guarantee the person receiving your gift is getting something totally unique. So, no need to worry that someone else might be getting them the same thing. Plus, you’re supporting eco-friendly shopping and most likely a small business. It’s winning all around", says Maegan Hayward from the East Village Vintage Collective in NYC.
We asked our vintage seller friends to share their best second hand gifting tips – read more below!
Unique Trinkets
“My best secondhand gift idea would be a vintage home decor item or unique/personal trinket! It’s a great gift because it’s unique, can be linked to a personal interest, or something for utility purpose in the home! I gift most of my family trinkets and things of this nature, the most important part is the meaning and story behind it.”
Danny Colon / Electrix Vintage
Deadstock Jewelry
“This fun 80s star necklace is deadstock (new old stock) from a department store that closed. A wonderful weight and fantastic quality, you can wear it long or doubled. A fun and easy layering piece to wear every day.”
Laura Gray / Kimono Dragon
Handmade Knitwear & Jewelry
“All of these items were hand-made and are unique, one-of-a-kind. All made of quality, long-lasting materials. They are all personalized and rare in that they were never mass-produced.
The hand-knit woolen cardigan with butterflies and apples is most likely from the 80s or 90s. The wool sweater with horses is made in Ecuador, and the 50s-60s plaid mohair scarf is made in Scotland. The hand-knit mohair hat is from the 90s/Y2K and made in NYC.
The sterling silver spiral necklace and the sterling silver Mexico chunky hoop earrings are most likely from the 60s-80s.”
Kendahl Light & Heather Hatcher / Bunny’s Vintage
Things To Keep You Warm
“My idea for a winter secondhand gift is to keep my friend warm, dry, and chic this winter. I picked a pair of Jean Paul Gaultier gloves; it would be a good gift because everyone needs warm gloves for winter in NYC.
I love wearing suede items in winter, and I always try to keep myself dry. So I picked a Christian Dior foldable umbrella, and this would keep friends who like wearing suede dry.
Something red for the holiday season is a must! This red, cute Prada top with a fur collar is perfect for my holiday friend who likes holiday parties.
As a vintage store owner, I always enjoy telling a story of the previous owner, sharing the stories makes a pre-owned item more special. I believe giving a pre-owned gift with a good story is giving good CHI.”
Meca Chung / Wait A Second
Framed Vintage Ads
“My holiday gift idea is framed prints from vintage advertisements! These images can be easily sourced from vintage magazines of one’s choosing! The images above were taken from vintage copies of Playboy and TV Guide from 1984. I have a lot of friends who are fans of cigarettes, so I found advertisements that corresponded to their preferred brands. My partner loves reruns of Miami Vice and Murder She Wrote, and she immediately hung up these pieces after I gave them to her! The beauty of these gifts is the level of customization; you can pick just about anything to frame.
Secondhand gifting is all about ingenuity and purpose. The personal interests of the gift recipient can allow for infinite options for the content of the frame. Picking a magazine and taking the time to rifle through it, analyzing its print and selecting the ad, all show a level of care and thought. I’m excited to do this many times this holiday season for my friends and family!”
James Murphy / Hog Time Vintage
Coach Bags
“Our favorite secondhand and vintage gift idea this holiday season is vintage Coach bags! If you talk to anyone who loves vintage clothing, they most likely know and love vintage Coach bags. Vintage leather Coach bags immediately add a chic vibe to any outfit, and when you wear them out, you’ll get so many compliments on them. It’s one of those: if you know, you know items!
The secondhand fashion industry is growing much faster than the production side. Vintage and secondhand fashion has become way cooler and more exclusive in the past few years for fashion lovers. Receiving a secondhand or vintage gift is such a luxury and one-of-a-kind gift that feels so much more special than something you could purchase on Amazon.”
Hailey Grillo and Hallie Endresen / Shedhead Vintage
Hand-Painted Accessories
”We love gifting secondhand items, particularly accessories, since most are one size fits all. It is so much more fun to shop at a secondhand store for gifts instead of a department store. When we find something perfect for a friend, it feels like it was meant to be! Here are photos of a few accessories – these are thrifted items that we hand-paint.”
Caroline Beckwith & Shane Larrier / RevisedLeather
Specialty Knitwear
“Sweater season is our favorite, so we love gifting vintage, one-of-a-kind, and specialty knitwear. Everyone loves to wrap up in a big cozy sweater! Finding the perfect ones for friends has been really fun. I especially keep in mind the texture, fabric content, and weave depending on who I’m gifting for. Some folks run hot, some are allergic to wool, etc; so we aim to be really mindful depending on who we’re buying for.”
Vintage Brooches
“My go-to gift is vintage brooches! They’re a gift you don’t need to worry about size, and they come in all sorts of styles. They can sparkle or be cute animals. Endless options! They’re also often an item someone doesn’t buy for themselves. The best way to get a unique gift is to buy second hand. The positive environmental impact is an essential benefit to me as well.“
Alanna Goodman / SnootieSeconds
Vintage in Original Packaging
“It’s so good to give something special, meaningful, one of a kind, and affordable, especially when it is in original packaging. A 60s leather wallet in the original box is good for her or him. Embroidered handkerchiefs feel like a luxury item these days. This 60s set is in the original box with a gift note. For someone with a bigger budget and fashion sense, these Valentino Christmas red booties are a joy. They also come with an original dust bag and box.”
Jarka Cole / Thrift Lab
Collectible Playing Cards
“Our gift idea is vintage Delta Airlines playing cards. We think vintage playing cards make great gifts for pretty much anyone! One, they are small, so they're easy for both the person giving the gift, and the person receiving the gift to travel home with if they need to. Two, this is a gift that can be enjoyed right after you open it, with your family and friends, while you all spend time together. Three, if you aren’t celebrating the holidays somewhere you want to be, you can dream about being away somewhere else while you play. Four, these babies are collectibles. So, they’ll only go up in value!”
Maegan Hayward / East Village Vintage Collective
Find with Gem
brown windbreaker jacket- black sweater
- black headband
- 80s star necklace
- 80s deadstock jewelry
- 80s gold necklace
- 80s hand knit wool sweater
- mohair hat 90s
- mohair plaid scarf
- Jean Paul Gaultier gloves
- Christian Dior umbrella
- cardigan with a fur collar
- Marlboro merch
- Marlboro jacket
- Miami Vice t-shirt
- Coach bucket bag
- dark brown Coach bag
- black Coach shoulder bag
- brown suede hat
- suede cap
- long black leather gloves
- vintage novelty sweater
- multicolor handknit mohair sweater
- winter theme sweater
- vintage flower brooch
- statement costume ring
- flower enamel brooch
- 60s leather wallet
- vintage handkerchief
- Valentino booties
- San Francisco collectible