Does this sound relatable? It’s the holidays and you’re doing some gift shopping. But sigh—you’re not just going gift shopping. No, you’re going vintage Christmas gift shopping!

Why? You’re shopping for your friend who loves vintage. Maybe this person believes they were “born in the wrong era” or maybe they have a rampant obsession for vinyl. Nevertheless, you’re stumped. What they like isn’t sold at malls (or even Walmart for that matter)—what do you do?

You’ve come to the right place: the ultimate vintage Christmas gift guide. This guide is your ins, outs, and arounds of how to find the best unique holiday gift for that special nostalgic someone. Oh, and guess what—you’re contributing to a circular economy and sustainable consumption by shopping vintage. Go You!

Ready for some ideas?

For the foodie with the fancy tea collection:

An elegant fine china tea set

Their favourite pastime is high tea. They enjoy cozy nights in with something warm to sip on. Oh, and they will notice if there’s just a bit too much bergamot in their earl grey! This person is a food snob who can be particular with their coffees. Whoever they are, they have fine tastes and they deserve the finest apparatus to enjoy it in.

For this friend, they know the pleasure of having a warm cup of tea on a cold day. But even more, they want that same pleasure served in a delicate piece of art.

That is the beauty of a fine china tea set—they’re delicate, elegant, and most importantly, a piece of art worth being displayed. Not only are they beautiful, but they also make anything served in it a whole other experience!

Gift tips

To find the crème de la crème of teacups, look at the bottom of your cup for Paragon, Aynsley or Royal Albert. These discontinued teacups were created with the historic craftsmanship that truly marks your gift as an artistic relic. The attention to detail on these pieces is the fine line between a true piece of fine china compared to artificial counterparts.

For extra oomph! Try gifting your tea set with a fine case of tea (my recommendation is ‘Heavenly Cream’ from Sloane Tea) or even with a matching fine china creamer, trinket, plate, or bowl.

For the aspiring writer, journalist, or soon-to-be best selling author:

A trusty old typewriter

They’re whimsical with words, a conversationalist, and intellectual—and they sure love to write as much as they love to read! They’ve got the best stories and you sometimes think that they may have a bit too much pride in being a “keyboard warrior”.

Whatever it is, the perfect gift for this friend is a typewriter. Not only are these trusty bad boys ready to type away through any power outage, but they also create the most beautifully raw fonts. You know, the truly old timely fonts that aren’t just typed using “Courier”.

The best part—there’s something oddly therapeutic about the clickity-clack sound of typing on a typewriter. There’s a reason why they’re making a comeback!

Gift tips

While certain manufacturers are perceived to be better than others (such as Underwood and Remington as the “gold standards”), the most important testament of a good typewriter is simply just one that works well.

Test it out for yourself before purchasing. Press every single key, check if it types well, and see if it advances properly when you type. As I always say; a usable typewriter that looks nice always beats a stunning keyboard that just sits there.

For the modern Audrey Hepburn:

A vintage pearl-beaded clutch

They’re an everyday Holly Golightly. They’re always running to and from one soirée to another. Why? They’re a social butterfly—they’re the life of the party. Their outfit of choice is a velvet black dress and pearl earrings, or something in silk. She’s elegant and ever so charming all at once.

Whether she’s at a gala, a work event, or she’s on an opera house date—this friend needs an accessory that pairs perfectly with her ‘je ne sais quoi’: a vintage beaded clutch. You know, one that holds a history of the debutantes before her and adds a kiss of glamour to any look.

A vintage clutch is functional as much as it’s enchanting—fitting just the right necessities in such a classic package.

Gift tips

To bring your gift up just another level, throw in some opera gloves, a silk scarf, or vintage brass earrings (I love these cameo ones on Ebay!).

For the collector of nostalgic moments:

A sturdy film camera

“I want to look back on this moment.” is one of their most common sayings. They’re a nostalgic soul and they are present in every moment they experience. For this friend, they love scrapbooks, they love polaroids, and they love remembering the good times. They also probably have a natural eye for composition so on nights out, you always give them your phone to catch that perfect shot.

For this friend, the perfect vintage gift for them is the film camera. This could be a big metal SLR or it can be a 90’s point-and-shoot. Whatever it is, this friend would love to capture their favourite moments in a nostalgic medium.

Best of all, shooting film can often feel like opening a time capsule. Since you can’t see the photos until you get them developed, receiving the scanned images back is like opening a little present of warm memories that are just far enough to be vivid for your mind.

Gift tips

I can’t stress this enough—please make sure your camera has been tested prior to purchase. Although many film cameras are manufactured so well that they’ve become virtually indestructible, they can still run into a plethora of issues due to their age. Fortunately, many working film cameras will come with a “tested” sticker on its’ surface, which essentially is a seal that screams “pick me! I work properly!”

It would also be worthwhile to make sure that the camera you intend to purchase uses 135mm (or 35mm) film rather than APS film. 135mm film is still in production, as APS film has permanently ceased production since 2011—rendering most of its film stock expired.

In laymens’ terms: camera that uses 135mm film = good, camera that uses APS film = pretty paperweight.

For more tips on how to find a good beginner film camera, check out my list of the Four Best Beginner-Friendly Film Cameras.

For the cozy introvert:

The classic embroidered granny sweater

This friend is an old soul. They love nights in with a good book over a bar night, and they prefer to host movie nights in with some hot chocolate over going to a theatre. They probably turn up the heat as early as they could in the winter season, and they somehow always feel cold.

For this friend, the perfect gift is something warm and cozy—an embroidered Christmas sweater.

You’re not sure if your friend will love it or hate it, but you can’t deny the power of warmth that only a wool sweater can bring. Best case scenario: they’re enchanted by the cute embroidered details that remind them so slight of their grandma. Worst case scenario: they’re the life of the party at their next ugly Christmas sweater party.

Whatever the case: sweaters + winter = classic combination.

Gift tips

To pick the warmest and softest one you could, head to your local thrift store and look for one made of organic materials. Look for sweaters made of wool, cashmere, angora, or cotton.

For extra cozy vibes, pair your gift with a pair of warm socks and a good read.

Best of luck with your vintage Christmas gift shopping.

Have the merriest Christmas and a happy new year!