In case you missed the memo, one of the coolest places to shop right now is the thrift store. Well, anywhere secondhand goods are sold, really. That includes estate sales, flea markets, and even digital shops filled with curated items with some history behind them.
While shopping secondhand for yourself is always a fun treasure hunt, the holidays provide an opportunity to put on your thrifter-gifter hat. You can put together some genuinely beautiful, fully curated gifts with thrift store finds, and we’re sharing some of our favorite ideas below.
Chef’s Selections
Start with a thrifted cookbook tailored to what the foodie in your life loves. Maybe it’s a pastry book filled with sweet confections, recipes focused on crock pots, a vegetarian-focused book, or one that’s all about seafood.
“There’s a cookbook for every cook under the sun, and I always head straight to the book section of the thrift store,” says Loredana Buonopane, a vintage curator and founder of Sorellina Vintage on Etsy. “It’s one of the most overlooked areas, yet you can find some wonderful culinary treasures.”
Some additional vintage items to add could include a vintage butter dish (Buonopane says they’re trending!), cutting board, beautiful oyster plate, or an old-fashioned recipe box.
Round out the gift with items such as a gourmet finishing salt, or a package of delicious French butter (or homemade compound butter), specialty olive oil, or a beautiful set of linen tea towels.
Beauty Treasures
For this thrifted gift idea, start with a showstopper piece like a vintage hand mirror, a vanity tray, or maybe a retro perfume bottle, says vintage curator Victoria Kent, owner of Purple House Vintage.
“Thrift shops are full of beautiful vanity pieces that are from a time gone by that can make every day a little more glamorous,” Kent says. “Look for ornate gold trays, glass dishes, decorative perfume bottles, and little trinket boxes that reflect the recipient’s personality.”
You can place everything in a basket (thrifted or otherwise), and fill it out with new items like a luxe body lotion, beautiful soap, or some sheet masks.
Picnic Perfection
With this gift, your recipient will get a physical item and an experience. Shop around for a gently used picnic basket, ideally with a lid enclosure and handles that still work well. You can also source secondhand cups and melamine plates suitable for outdoor use, as well as colorful mismatched utensils.
For the new stuff, add a cozy picnic blanket (you could get lucky and find one at the thrift store, as well) along with artisanal jams, tasty crackers, and a bottle of sparkling lemonade.
Cocktail Curation
Thrift store aisles are filled with bartender supplies, so spend some time searching for things like vintage glassware, cocktail napkins, cocktail shakers, or even an ice bucket with tongs.
“You can find really beautiful vintage barware easily at thrift or vintage shops for a fraction of the price that you would pay for new pieces,” Kent says. “Plus, these are little luxuries people don’t often buy for themselves.”
Add items like bitters, dehydrated garnishes like orange slices, and other cocktail mixers or accessories that round out the gift. Kent says to arrange everything in a beautiful basket, wrap it in cellophane, and finish it with a dramatic bow.
Gardener’s Bounty
Friends with green thumbs will appreciate this thrifted gift idea. For the star, set your secondhand sights on a vintage watering can, a beautiful planter, or a gardening book, Buonopane says.
From there, she suggests adding items like a packet of seeds, a gardening tool set, or a new pair of gardening gloves. You could also tuck in plant markers, a ball of garden twine, or a few spring-blooming bulbs.
For presentation, arrange everything inside the watering can or planter, using crinkle paper or a folded tea towel to cushion the smaller items. Finish with a ribbon and you’ve got the prettiest gift.
Wendy Rose Gould is a lifestyle journalist who routinely contributes to Real Simple, Martha Stewart, Women’s Health, and House Beautiful, among others. She covers home and garden, wellness, and travel, focusing on thoughtful storytelling and detailed reporting. When not writing, you can catch her perusing thrift stores, singing, hitting the gym, and petting any cat or dog that'll allow it.
