Buying holiday gifts doesn’t necessarily need to mean a trip to the mall or an online shopping spree. Instead, you can turn to NoVA’s thrift, vintage, and consignment stores to find gifts for anyone on your list. We spoke with the owner of one of Alexandria’s vintage stores for some tips on secondhand gifting.
Sustainable, Affordable, and Personal
The “Thriftmas” trend has been circulating on social media for over a year. Influencers share ways that shoppers can find vintage or gently used items — often for lower price-points.
It’s an idea that many shoppers are on board with. According to a study from Capital One Shopping, 66 percent of consumers are open to receiving a secondhand gift. And 62 percent think that gifting secondhand apparel is more socially acceptable than it was five years ago.
The study notes the top reason for shopping for gifts secondhand was affordability, followed closely by sustainability. (The holidays are a notoriously wasteful season, with Americans producing 25 percent more waste than the rest of the year.) The desire to find a unique gift was another key influence.
More Meaningful Gifts
Willow Wright, owner of vintage store Urban Redeux in Alexandria, adds that secondhand gifting can lead to a more thoughtful, meaningful gift than you’d find at a big box store.
“You’re limited with your selection, and you have to think, ‘Let me really dig down into this person’s personality and let me really think about what they might like,’” Wright says. “You have to work harder sometimes, but deeper down, I think the meaning is a little bit more special, too.”
Thrifting a gift also creates an opportunity to tell your recipient the story behind where you found it and why it made you think of them, either in person or with a note, Wright says.
“That little bit of extra thought and consideration sometimes overrides whether or not it’s a super high-value item or not,” she says. “If we get back to the point of gifting in the first place, it’s the thought that counts. Then it doesn’t matter where you get the item.”
Thrift Thoughtfully
So how do you pick out a gift that your recipient will love? First, make your list of who you’re shopping for and what they like. Then, go into the store with an open mind, Wright says.
“You have to really be creative and kind of look at each item as you’re going through,” Wright says. “You can’t just rush through if it’s your first time. You’ve got to be intentional.”
Rather than going in with a set idea of what you want to find, take the time to consider each item you see in the shop and think about who in your life might like it.
Bundling a few items in a mix of old and new is another way to create great gifts. “You might pick out a beautiful pair of brass candlesticks, but then pair that with a brand-new set of beautiful spiral candles or something in a color you think they might like,” Wright says. Some other examples she offers are to pair cocktail glasses with a bottle of whiskey or to gift a thrifted mug alongside gourmet coffee or hot cocoa.
To ensure the items you’re buying are still in good quality, Wright suggests: “Use all your senses when you’re picking something up. Your hands will never lie to you.” Run your fingers over a piece to feel for chips or cracks, or to see if an item feels too light. And if an item has an odor, it’s best to leave it behind.
It’s also not unusual to find items at thrift or vintage stores that are new with tags or have never been opened.
Where to Shop
NoVA has plenty of places to shop for secondhand gifts. For vintage shops, check out Urban Redeux, plus shops like Lucy Loves in Fairfax, Nostalgia in Purcellville, and Stardust Vintage & Gift in Alexandria.
Consignment shops are another option, with stores like Wardrobe Rescue in Vienna, N’Used in Herndon, and New to You in McLean.
When it comes to thrift stores, there are national brands like Goodwill, Salvation Army, and Savers, which also operates Unique in Mosaic.
Wright suggests looking for thrift stores that benefit good causes. Some examples are Inova’s thrift stores, the Look Again Resale Shop in Alexandria, the Second Chance Thrift and Gift Store in Fairfax, and the Blue Ridge Hospice thrift stores.
Feature image courtesy Urban Redeux
