Giving secondhand gifts might feel cringe, but it doesn’t have to. Here’s how to shop (and style) thrifted, soon-to-be-gifted, items.
Search with a sharper eye. When thrifting for yourself, you may be ok with some telltale signs of a piece that’s well loved—and worn. When thrifting for gifting, pay extra attention to the condition and ensure it’s as close to new looking as possible. Even if being transparent about your gift being thrifted, you still want the item to be in top notch shape.
Stay focused on the recipient. It’s easy to get carried away when surrounded by all the different aesthetics you might see when thrifting. But just because you love an 80’s glam rock or 60’s mod moment does NOT mean your gift recipient will. Keep their vibes, likes and dislikes, and personality at the forefront when searching through secondhand items.
Hone your curatorial skills. Because shopping second hand is more budget-friendly, you can score and gift more than one item, in most cases. Get creative and maybe even moodboard your vision, plotting out the aesthetic elements you are hoping to find in the racks or online. As you browse the latest treasures, imagine how unexpected pieces can come together. The gift recipient will appreciate the extra care and intention!
Beef up your gift wrapping skills. With a second hand gift, the presentation can totally make or break the mood. Thrift some higher quality elements like woven baskets, luxurious fabrics like velvet and linen, ribbons, vintage pins, antique brooches, patterned handkerchiefs, even tablecloths. You can rework and repurpose these to create a truly unique and thoughtful gift.
And of course, when shopping for thrifting for gifting, don’t forget to get a little something for yourself too—you deserve it!