tips for finding vintage treasures as christmas gifts

Maybe it’s us, but the ol' act of festive gift-giving feels extra sentimental this Christmas. For many, it'll be the first time in a year (or two!) that we'll be in the same room as our nearest and dearest. What better reason to celebrate? Choosing vintage items is a lovely way to personalise your pressies. It's also super-sustainable because you’re avoiding buying new things which are often resource intensive when manufactured.

There's time to plan, so roll up those sleeves, head to your nearest Salvos or check out their brimming online store, and get hunting for some one-of-a-kind vintage treasures. It's a surefire way to make your friends and family feel extra-special. It isn't half as tricky as we often think, either, with many op-shops offering highly-curated collections and posting a large portion of their stock online. And if you want to make it super-dooper simple for yourself, we’ve curated a collection of our favourite frankie treasures on the Salvos website for you to peruse.

Keep reading for a few of our niftiest tips for finding vintage treasures as Christmas gifts.

Choose a gift they wouldn't buy for themselves
There's nothing quite like the buzz of finding a unique vintage treasure lurking in the furniture nook of your local Salvos. We're talking: antique sewing machines for your crafty pal, a pair of pristine binoculars for your bird-watching bestie, or a pre-loved film camera for your housemate that documents their days through photography. We even spotted a musical jewellery table on the Salvos website and quite frankly, we're confident in saying it deserves a place in any vintage lover’s home.

Look for classic brands they love
From designer clothes and handbags, to china and glassware, op-shops are bursting with timeless brands and labels. If you're heading in-store, look out for the jewellery cabinets and rows upon rows of neatly displayed kitchenware. If you're browsing the Salvos website, you can head straight to the 'antiques' and 'collectables' categories to get started. Know someone who would treasure their very own tea set? Look for the likes of Maxwell & Williams and Royal Vale, but don't overlook individual pieces if a full set isn't available. Building up things like a tea set over time, and from different op-shops, can add to the story of a collection.

Something that suits their Instagram aesthetic
Is your mate unironcially rocking '90s trends all over Instagram? Op-shops offer gifts galore from that decade. Get gawking at the knick-knacks: special edition mugs, beaded jewellery, a stack of vintage magazines, popular vinyls, sticker books, and, if in doubt, collectable Happy Meal toys. You can use a friend's social profile to fuel other gift ideas, too. If they can’t resist a certain colour, try shopping with that shade in mind and see where the inspiration takes you. It's amazing what you find when you're looking for colours, rather than specific items.

Shop by decade and trend
Focusing on a particular decade or fashion era is another handy way to narrow down the great gift search. The roaring '20s might resonate for the person you're buying for, or maybe they get buzzed on all things '70s and flared. If you're shopping for someone who already loves a certain style or trend, consider looking for accessories that fit with their existing wardrobe. Adding to collections they already own is an ace way to choose something they'll keep forever.

Don't panic buy if it's not perfect
Vintage shopping isn't always fruitful, and that's okay. Pop a list of pressie ideas on your phone for when you happen upon an op-shop. Don't panic if you don't find the perfect gift – it's out there, just waiting for you to claim your victory! In the meantime, keep an eye on vintage and op-shops online as they often release new items weekly – sometimes even daily. Huzzah!

Update the gift with a personal touch
So you've bought a lovely gift, but don't stop there. We're big fans of adding a personal touch to pressies. Scored a lovely vase? Pop in some fresh flowers before you gift it. Picked up a rad typewriter? Write a sweet letter that strikes a chord with your loved one.

Enjoy shopping sustainable
The sight of real-life shopping shelves is quite something when you've spent months in lockdown. Enjoy it! Browse! Take your time and rejoice in the process of perusing the shelves and imagining the story behind every second-hand treasure.

These smart and sustainable tips were brought to you in partnership with Salvos Stores. Why not make the “preloved promise” and ask your loved ones for second-hand gifts this Christmas to create change for tomorrow? Check out the huge range of lovely treasures in the frankie curated collection on the Salvos Stores website.