a something borrowed, never new gift guide
over 50+ ideas of pre-loved for your loved ones!
Merry Thriftmas and happy holidays!
In response to the steals and deals marathon that was November with every email and social ad trying to make you believe you needed more new things, I created this gift guide with the intention that gifting should be thoughtful and meaningful to the person you are gifting and that doesn’t mean it has to be new. What makes a gift special is showing that you understand who that person is and what would bring them joy. I’ve curated gift ideas without buying new (except for a few f&b suggestions, and even those are a more sustainable option.)
Rather than sharing exact items or brands, these are concepts based on items that are very commonly found secondhand and vintage that you can tailor to whomever you are gifting to, as well as to your budget- you could go with $5 candle holders at your local thrift shop or go for the vintage Menu Tango candleholders by Mikaela Dörfef, it’s all up to you! I find most of the suggestions to be gender-neutral and apt for customization. I hope that you take these ideas, run with them, maybe give it a little DIY, and personalize them to your heart’s desire.
All of these suggestions can be found at a local thrift or vintage shop, eBay, facebook marketplace, 1st Dibs, Etsy, Charish, or wherever you prefer to shop pre-loved pieces! I also scoured the internet and created a long list of my favorites too.
The formula: A set of glassware + a sustainable spirit, boozy or not.
These vintage Cristal Whiskey tumblers or 1940s Chinz Coupes + so many other options here.
Farm House Regenerative Vodka or Gin made from 100% Regenerative Organic Certified wheat grown in Hudson, NY. Use code CHEERS10 for $10 off.
For non-alcoholic cocktails try Figlia, they are part of 1% for the Planet and give back to local NYC non-profit environmental organizations.
The formula: candle holder + meaningful matches
I have found some great iron candle holders on facebook marketplace, I also love this little Memphis-style post-modern squiggle or the 2023 color of the year cherry red candelabra (it’s $25 so would be great for that under $30 white elephant party you have next week)
I have been collecting matches since I moved to New York, I keep them in a glass cylinder on our bar and love looking at the ones on the bottom and remembering the places I frequented in my 20s. Recently I discovered troves of vintage matchbook collections for sale on eBay. You could gift an entire set of NYC (or any city) matches from popular spots of the time’s past or pick one up from a meaningful spot between you and the recipient. Some thought starters: your first date restaurant, your favorite spot catching up over cocktails, the bar you met at.
The formula: Vintage ashtray or dish + something to serve in it
A vintage ashtray or dish is another ripe opportunity to personalize. Let’s say they love Italy, try search words ‘vintage Italian hotel ashtray’ - you might even find one from a hotel you’ve stayed at.
There are SO many possibilities of what could be paired with a vintage ashtray/dish. Some thought starters: olives, maybe even get 2, 1 for the pits too! Candied Nuts (you can very easily make your own), a favorite candy, or the food that guests talk the most about when I host, Meredith dairy sheep and goat cheese a GP favorite but even before it was goop approved, we knew it at our house as “the good cheese” - it is marinated in oil that is also great for dipping bread. Just make sure to give the ashtray a good clean before adding food :)
The formula: A thrifted cookbook + vintage or deadstock napkins
There is no need to buy new books, secondhand shops are always filled with them, Thriftbooks.com has any title you can imagine and I always check out a lending library when I pass one.
An easy way to elevate any dinner party is a real cloth napkin. There are a lot of vintage ones on Etsy and getting them embroidered is a perfect way to personalize. Atelier Saucier also makes beautiful ones out of surplus fabrics.
I’m also very into the idea of a cloth cocktail napkin and found a lot of hand-embroidered holiday-themed ones included here.
The formula: Vintage jewelry or watches + a place to keep it safe
These are pieces that will be cherished forever. Think vintage watches, cuff links, earrings, etc. 1st dibs, Wilson Estate, and TheRealReal, are good for finding these online.
Even without a piece of jewelry or a watch, this vintage Cartier dish is stunning, It’s Michael’s favorite pre-loved item on this whole list.
This is another good place to gift a vintage ashtray or dish.
The formula: Record + a live music experience
One Secret Santa I was given a vintage Donna Summer album and it showed how perfectly that person knew exactly what I would want to listen to. Since then I have recreated this gift idea for others. Some ideas beyond their favorite band: soundtrack or score to a favorite movie or Broadway show, wedding 1st dance song, or holiday compilation.
The formula: A toy that won’t end up in a landfill + upcycled treats
Dog items are where I struggle to buy not new, so instead I find brands that have real sustainability values. I give Millie and Miel all of their meals out of the West Paw Toppl, this seems to be more fun than a boring bowl for them. What I love is that West Paw toys are circular—meaning when you send your worn-out toys back to them, they sanitize them, grind them up and recreate new products. 10% off West Paw Products with code Millie10.
Shameless Pets are dog and cat treats made with upcycled food, like the misfit market of produce turned into healthy dental treats for the fur-babies.
The formula: A thrifted book + a thoughtful note
Thought starters: a fiction book they can read during holiday travel, a biography on someone they find fascinating, an older edition of a favorite (a friend found an original version of James Bond books as a brother-in-law gift), kids books! What makes this a meaningful gift is that you found something you knew they would enjoy.
I recently bought an old Georgia O’Keefe coffee table book and inside was a handwritten note from whoever originally gifted the book signed 1987, as someone who loves handwritten notes for all occasions, this was so sweet to me.
If you are the type that goes above and beyond, print out photos for your notes- I like the Artifact Uprising paper ones for writing on get your own custom stationery, I love mine from Papier.
I stand by that any of the previous concepts are gender-neutral, it’s all about how you customize it! However, when I polled on IG what everyone was looking for secondhand, gifts for guys were top of the list. I asked around and here are what some guys are getting this year that aren’t on the previous ideas.
Vintage pocket square (get it embroidered with something special)
Tie-bar - this one is creepy and very cool
Sometimes (most of the time) we just don’t need more stuff, even if it is secondhand. Here are some intangible gift ideas:
Make a donation in their name to an organization they would like. You can make it personal by finding an organization that is aligned with their interests.
Some ideas: A dog rescue for a pet parent or World Bicycle Relief for a cycling enthusiast.
Adopt an animal to protect through a conservation program
A Membership to Billion Oyster Project- Help support the restoration of oyster reefs in New York Harbours plus you get vouchers for oysters at participating restaurants and other perks!
An annual membership to a museum. This could be a great option for families to a children’s museum or local zoo!
Gift certificate for self-care. Massage, acupuncture, meditation, or sound bath.
Thank you for taking the time to read this gift guide, I hope it inspires you to re-think what gift-giving means and consider pre-loved for your loved ones. I put all the suggestions into a large gift list here. If there is anything you are still looking for, please reach out, I love to help you shop secondhand!
Last year’s gift guide still holds up with a lot of other sustainable gift ideas as well!
Cheers,