11 Gift Ideas for Vintage Lovers That Are a Major Throwback

The term “vintage” gets thrown around a lot, and the true definition of the term casts a pretty wide net. Vintage things are usually thought of as at least 20 years old but not more than 100 years old – which means everything from the flapper dress in grandma’s attic to the 70s Chevy Chevelle dad has been restoring technically fits the bill. Which is all well and good, but it definitely also means that when it comes to shopping for a self-described vintage lover, finding something that fits their vibe can be tough.

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That’s why we’ve put together a list of gift ideas for vintage lovers to get you started. We’ve scoured the web (and the card catalog) for inspiration, so big or small, you’ll find gifts your loved one will, well, love, like:

• Modern stuff with a vintage veneer
• True vintage finds
• Even an experience gift they’ll never forget

So without further ado, let’s get into it!

1. Vintage Bluetooth Radio

Vintage style meets modern functionality with this handy vintage-style bluetooth speaker. Available on Amazon in a variety of old school color combos ranging from pink and gold to cream (labeled as “yellow”) to a bright and bubbly 50s blue, this little device will be a welcome addition to any vintage lover’s desk, nightstand, or even kitchen counter so they can blast all their favorite retro hits while they cook.

Your favorite vintage lover can just charge it up and bring it anywhere – with a 6+ hour playtime depending on volume and charge time of 2-3 hours, this portable player can take them back to yesteryear anytime and anywhere they choose. 

2. Makeup Mirror

Buy an ULTA Beauty gift card to complete the gift

Picture any of the iconic leading actresses of the Silver Screen like Audrey Hepburn and Sophia Loren or pinup sensations like Marilyn Monroe and Bettie Page, and you might just picture them double-checking their makeup in an elegant compact mirror. For the vintage loving lady in your life, a makeup mirror like this is the perfect gift – they can slip it into their purse to bring a little bit of vintage beauty with them everywhere they go.

Above is an embroidered floral option by Westminster California-based Vietnamese Artisans at the Etsy storefront QuinceFablesShop. But if you think they’d prefer a different design, be sure to check out other shops that offer beautiful recreations of this vintage beauty essential or even antique versions of the real thing, like:

• Norarosevintage
• AMtiques
• CrystalFiligree

Buy an ULTA Beauty gift card to complete the gift

3. Shaving Kit

Modern shaving isn’t quite the experience that it used to be, so why not take his grooming routine up a notch by taking it back in time? One of our favorite vintage gift ideas for him is a shaving kit like this set from the Art of Shaving, which contains everything he needs to get a closer and comfier shave, no hot towel required.

The full kit here includes everything he needs to get started: pre-shave oil, shaving cream, synthetic shaving brush (with stand), after shave balm, and heated razor by Gillette. 

However if you don’t have $250 to devote to the purchase, you can also find smaller bundles that offer great savings, or individually pick and choose the pieces you think he’d get the most use out of. 

4. Leather Cigarette Case

Smoking has gained and lost popularity over the last several decades, but globally the number of smokers continues to decline with less than ⅓ of Gen Z adults reporting that they smoked or used tobacco products during their teen years. But for the modern vintage lover, this iconic item doesn’t have to house cigarettes themselves – there are many options for repurposing a vintage case.

Depending on its size, you can stock a vintage cigarette case with items like these to complete the gift:

• Bandaids and disinfectant wipes for a small first aid kit
• Sticks of chewing gum – bonus points if they’re in old timey flavors like Beemans, Black Jack, Clove, or Teaberry
• Matches
• Business cards
• Gift cards/cash for use as a wallet
• Needle and thread in case a vintage fashion item rips a seam
• Glasses wipes
• Tissues
• Or even crayons or thin oil pastels, if they’re artsy

5. Vintage Clothing

Fashion trends come and go, but they do loop back around every so often. And it seems that some vintage fashion – the tailored mens attire of the 30s and 40s, swishy womens skirts and form fitting wiggle dresses of the 50s and 60s – haven’t really left the public’s imagination since they came out. So if your favorite vintage lover likes to let it show in their wardrobes – whether that means rockabilly or corporate goth, hipster or pinup or no frills wartime fashion – there are plenty of places you can find vintage fashion gifts for them online.

Try searching vintage-inspired brands and marketplaces for womens’ and mens’ vintage fashion, like:

• Atom Retro
• ModCloth
• Beyond Retro
• Vixen by Micheline Pitt
• Tailor Vintage

6. Vintage Furniture

Buy a Wayfair gift card to complete the gift

While there’s no denying that an antique colonial era apothecary table or snazzy 70s record player makes a great statement piece in any room, finding authentic vintage furniture can be pretty tricky. Sure, you can walk down to the nearest flea market and see what there is to see. But if you don’t feel like sifting through piles of stuff that may or may not be moldy or moth-eaten, you can always order vintage-style furniture online instead.

Brands like West Elm and Pottery Barn offer vast selections of modern furniture built with vintage style in mind for every price point. From inexpensive options like candles and light fixtures to bigger purchases like this chic 60s-inspired leather chair, you’re sure to find something for every budget. 

Buy a Wayfair gift card to complete the gift

7. Vintage Appliances + Gadgets

Thanks to evolving safety standards and a provenance that may be less than clear, shopping for vintage appliances and kitchen gadgets can be harder than it appears. But it’s difficult to deny that a milkshake maker would look great sitting in a place of honor on top of their fridge… and come on, who doesn’t want to have the impetus to throw together a milkshake looking them in the face when they’re eye level with this beautiful kitchen gadget every time they reach in the freezer for a pint of ice cream anyway?

You can go old school and find a real vintage milkshake maker like the one above, but you can also pick up the modern reproduction of this vintage-style milkshake maker like the Hamilton Beach Drinkmaster Electric Drink Mixer for a much smaller price tag. For some added retro flair, include a recipe book for floats and milkshakes, like Milkshake Monday: 80+ Frosty Treats to Make Any Day Special by wildly popular and downright charming social media personality Larry Canam.

Not sure a milkshake maker is the right pick? Consider the handy little countertop Dash Electric Popcorn Maker instead. Also available in this beautiful vintage mint shade, it will make every movie night feel like an Old Hollywood event. 

8. Vintage Books

Text a Barnes & Noble gift card to complete the gift

Did you know that old books smell so good because lignin, the chemical present in wood-based paper that becomes fragrant as it degrades, is chemically similar to vanillin, the scent behind vanilla? 

Give their shelves a little bit of antique flair when you buy them a batch of vintage books. You have a couple of options here. If you want to make sure everything looks amazing, you can shop for a batch of books by color and square footage (while saving the planet) with services like The Book Bundler, or you can individually pick special editions or old titles to fill their shelves.

We recommend shopping for vintage and special edition books places like:

• The Book Bundler - saves, bundles, and resells used books before they are permanently destroyed
• Etsy - great place to find lots of authentic vintage books
• Folio Society - interesting special editions of classic and modern classic works
• A Libris -  Shop common new prints or rare vintage editions of books in thrift shops across the country
• Homescapes - made to order leather bound book sets

Text a Barnes & Noble gift card to complete the gift

9. Engraved Lighter

During World War II, Zippo did what many other Americans and American companies did – they stopped focusing on the homefront and directed all of their attention to the troops. Thanks to its rich history and affiliation with WWII, Zippo lighters remain an iconic vintage item to carry even today. 

For your favorite vintage lover, we recommend picking up one of Zippos replica models – like the 1935 original Zippo or the slightly rounded 1941 model. Alternatively, you can pick up a Zippo in vintage Chevrolet green, with a cassette design, or even with a swing dance design.

10. Leather Notebook

Part of the appeal of vintage is that it harkens back to a time where not every product on the market place was so mass produced. So consider getting your favorite vintage lover some old school writing supplies like a beautiful Italian leather journal made by a small company in New York City? Impresso designs come in floral options like the ones above, as well as more neutral botanical or academic designs featuring bookshelves or maps. 

You could even finish the gift off with a nice fountain pen!

11. Thrift Store Shopping Spree

Any good thrifter knows that the key to finding great items is to keep checking back. So next time they head out to peruse the antiques, consider offering to purchase their finds for them. They’ll love having you along for the shopping trip and sharing something they’re passionate about with you.

Can’t be there in person? Text a Visa gift card that they can use at their favorite thrift shop, to order antiques online, or virtually any other way they want to.

That’s it for our gift ideas for vintage lovers.

We hope you found something on this list that they’ll love. Still not sure you’ve found the perfect gift for someone who loves vintage items and antiques? Be sure to check out the full GiftYa catalog for more inspiration – from the local retro diner to their favorite antique store, you’re sure to find a local or national brand that fits the bill. Happy shopping!